Is an Emergency Medicine Job Right for You?

A career in Emergency Medicine can be financially rewarding and professionally fulfilling, but this specialty may not be for everyone. Here are some things to think about if you’re considering an Emergency Medicine job.

Lots of activity

Many Emergency Medicine opportunities are with departments that have a heavy volume of patients. The work can be challenging and exhilarating but also filled with pressure. If you’re the type of person that enjoys the adrenaline rush of a fast-paced environment, an emergency medicine job could be a good fit for you. If you desire to “get to know” your patients and care for them in the long-term, an Emergency Medicine job is definitely not the right choice.

Lots of variety

The typical emergency room sees a wide range of cases every day, from minor to critical medical issues. Working in Emergency Medicine means you’ll be confronting different situations throughout each and every shift, so the ability to apply a wide range of skills and the willingness to learn and expand your knowledge are key factors. Emergency Medicine jobs require fast-thinking, quick clinical analysis and diverse multi-tasking.

Good flexibility

An Emergency Medicine job can be flexible in many ways. You can often choose the amount of hours you want to work. You have extraordinary mobility – an Emergency Medicine physician can go to almost any area of the country and find a job with the compensation, activity level and lifestyle considerations that he or she is looking for. There are also a number of ways to work in Emergency Medicine: as a salaried employee, a partner in a group of emergency physicians or as an independent contractor.

The other side of the flexibility equation is that healthcare professionals who work in Emergency Medicine often have to work nights, weekends and other off hours, as well as having to work long shifts at times. Still, an Emergency Medicine job offers the kind of options and flexibility that few other specialties can match.

Great compensation

Emergency Medicine associations are a great place to learn more about the specialty so you can decide if this career path is right for you. Here are a few:

• American College of Emergency Physicians – The oldest and largest professional organization in Emergency Medicine.
• Emergency Medicine Residents Association – An organization for emergency medicine residents.
• American Academy of Emergency Medicine – An organization similar to ACEP, it has lots of good information on Emergency Medicine practice issues.

You can also check out are Career Tips section for more information and browse the Emergency Medicine jobs that we have available here. For the latest jobs and information on Emergency Medicine, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.