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EM/Urgent Care Lifestyle?


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Hi I'm an upcoming PA student and I had some questions about the EM/Urgent Care lifestyle.

 

I've worked as an ER Tech and EMT before so I kind of have an understanding but I was wondering if it is very difficult/nearly impossible to request a schedule where my only available hours to work are Monday - Saturday; Early Morning - 8pm?

 

As a Tech, I realized I despised working anything beyond 8pm and I also need to keep my Sundays free. Any thoughts?

 

Are most Urgent Care clinics regular Monday-Friday 40hr jobs?

 

I really want to work in EM or Urgent Care but I do want at least some consistency in my schedule.

 

Or should I just consider another specialty......

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Honestly, consider another specialty.  All EM/UC are going to expect you to at the very least rotate weekends.  ED rotates nights with few exceptions where there is a dedicated night staff or PA/NPs only work day shifts (fast track only).  Unless you have seniority or get lucky finding a gig, or you can be very patient with your job hunt, it will be very tough to find such a gig.  During my job hunt I did see one UC which was only 1 weekend day a month, but hours varied 9a-9p.  I also once saw an ED shift which was mon-fri 9-5 but middle of nowhere and solo provider, low volume high acuity and not new grad friendly.  Your best bet is an UC gig which has a set number of weekends that everyone rotates in a clinic that is not open past 9pm.

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Thanks for all the advice/insight!

 

I guess in the end I want to be in a specialty where I can learn broadly and see a good amount of variety, while still having somewhat of a sane schedule (Nothing after 8pm and nothing on Sundays).

 

I guess I'm limited to FM, Peds, and IM?

 

Any other suggestions?

 

I actually wouldn't mind going from something like FM -> IM -> IM subspecialty. Any thoughts on this?

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outpt specialty practices without hospital responsibilities may work for you. GI, Cardiology, rheumatology, etc type practices often have PAs see clinic pts and docs do all the hospital work. (although there certainly are jobs of this type in which PAs see hospital pts).

there is the perfect job for everyone out there. it just takes a lot of looking. my perfect job is 24 hr shifts working solo em seeing all comers in a high acuity/low volume setting. it took me 15 years to get that job.

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Just a general thought on the OP, what are you willing to sacrifice to get that schedule? Pay, location, and/or specialty? I don't want to discourage you, because these jobs are out there. However, if it is your #1 priority, expect to have to be flexible to achieve it.

 

Also, as a resident, I would plan on working nights/weekends at least part of the time unless you are in an office based specialty. However, with a residency under your belt, I'd expect that you would be able to find more jobs that are to your liking will now be within reach. So, that's a huge benefit. 

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Just a general thought on the OP, what are you willing to sacrifice to get that schedule? Pay, location, and/or specialty? I don't want to discourage you, because these jobs are out there. However, if it is your #1 priority, expect to have to be flexible to achieve it.

 

Also, as a resident, I would plan on working nights/weekends at least part of the time unless you are in an office based specialty. However, with a residency under your belt, I'd expect that you would be able to find more jobs that are to your liking will now be within reach. So, that's a huge benefit. 

 

Yea I'm open to sacrifice pay and specialty tbh. I'm more about lifestyle balance and just learning a good deal of broad medicine haha.

 

And yea! I actually really want to do a residency but I am having a hard time picking which specialty for the residency. If I end up in FM/IM/Primary Care, I'm not sure how beneficial a residency will be so yea

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Do you prefer in or out patient? Seems like FM may be what you want. Many fm gigs are mon to fri, close before 8, and require few or no weekends. You will see walk ins and scheduled visits and see every kind of disease but also many well visits. It will be a good stepping stone for any other field.

The other option is look for a hospitalist gig with a set number of weekends. You will get the same broad exposure to pathology and deal with sicker patients.

In reality even an UC that closes at 8, you may regularly be there til 10 or later. ER you are going to work nights holidays etc unless you get lucky and/or go fast track only.

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