Career Advice on How to Become a SurgeonGeneral Career Information |
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If you can’t stand the sight of blood, then just forget about this one. Seriously. As a surgeon you will be required to literally bathe in blood. This may seem too graphic and bit over the top, but it’s absolutely the case. It is not uncommon for a serious surgery to leave a surgeon covered in blood. And what you’ve seen in the movies is somewhat true; people do, on occasion “gush” blood. If that seems to gross for you, then perhaps your career planning and job search should head in another direction.
Stating that surgeons do good work and save lives is an understatement. The bottom line is that a motivated and competent surgeon can do wonders and save people that seem like they have no choice. However, the flip side of the coin is also possible. Incompetent surgeons can do wacky things like leave sponges in people and cut off the wrong limb. It’s no joke. It happens.
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Career Facts: |
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A skilled surgeon is a lifesaver that is able to cut open the human body, look at what is wrong or functioning improperly, and quite literally go in and repair it. In the last few decades, what surgeons can accomplish has become more impressive and the tools at their disposal more diverse and functional.
Today surgeons have left their 18th, 19th and early 20th century roots as borderline butchers far behind. While there are still clearly limits to what can be done, the skill and knowledge of today’s surgeon would seem almost like magic to a surgeon from even the 1940s.
Many surgeons are capable of performing surgery throughout the body, but most will focus on an area of specialty whether it is heart surgery or brain surgery, for example. The reasons for this are clear as the complexity of the operation and the ever-increasing knowledge base makes such specialization desirable both for the doctor and the patient. |
Career Opportunities and Job Outlook-Good: |
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As long as modern civilization exists, the need for qualified and capable surgeons will also exist. The job growth and outlook for surgeons is expected to be about fourteen percent between now and 2016.
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A Day in The Life: |
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The day in the life of a surgeon will, of course, vary depending upon what kind of specialty they have chosen. Obviously, a heart specialist will be performing very different operations than a brain surgeon. However, one fact is certain, surgeons cut people open and try and fix whatever has gone wrong. This means that the job is stressful in many ways.
Sometimes people simply die for no real reason while on the operating table; it does happen. Sometimes no matter how hard a surgeon tries to fix a given problem, the problem is too acute and it’s simply impossible. Many surgeons see operating as little more than a job, and if you die, oh well, the circle of life, etc. Yet, for many surgeons, losing a patient is depressing (and not just to their ego).
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Average Salary: |
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If you like the big bucks, then being a surgeon is definitely the place to be in the medical profession. The average surgeon can expect to earn about $282,000 per year, which is second to average earnings in the medical field. Only anesthesiologists earn more on average at $321,000.
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$275k - $295k |
Career Training and Qualifications: |
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It should come as no real surprise that in order to cut someone open and start poking around, one has to complete a fair amount of schooling. Surgeons, thankfully (and hopefully) graduate from medical school and undergo certification.
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