Guide to Becoming a Pediatrician
Pediatricians spend their days working with young children and their families. It can be a difficult position when a child is sick, or when a parent is concerned about the child's health. If you are thinking of becoming a pediatrician, it may be helpful to have an idea of the expectations of your role, and you should know what it takes to ultimately become a successful pediatrician.
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Nature of the Work
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According to Becoming a Pediatrician, you can expect to work anywhere from 40 to 60 hours a week or more as a pediatrician. During some of your time spent in either public or private practice, you may work on call to handle pediatric emergencies as necessary. As a pediatrician, you will care for children from newborns up to adulthood. You will treat illnesses and perform examinations and tests to determine if a child is developing properly. You will also interact with concerned parents, guardians and family members to ensure the child is taken care of.
Education
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The proper education is key to becoming a pediatrician, and according to YourPediatrician.com, your education will never stop as you will continue to study new treatments, misunderstood conditions and newly identified diseases well into your career. If you wish to become a pediatrician, you will be expected to complete high school and college with a focus on pre-med if possible. Once you have received a four-year undergraduate degree, you will go on to attend four years of medical school to become a medical doctor.
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Residency
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After graduating medical school, you will need to become licensed by the state medical board. Typically, this involves sitting for a medical licensing exam and applying for a medical license. According to YourPediatrician.com, you will be expected to spend at least three years in residency training, where you will work as a doctor under the supervision and tutelage of a more advanced medical professional. In most cases, you will spend time as a pediatric resident, acquiring the hands-on skills you need to be a good pediatric professional. Following completion of your residency, you will be free to pursue a position as a pediatric professional.
Skills
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Along with the proper education and on-the-job training needed for success as a pediatrician, it's also a good idea to evaluate whether you have the inherent skills you'll need as a pediatrician. A pediatrician should have good communication skills and an ability to relate to many different types of people who bring their children to you. A pediatrician should also have a gentle, patient nature and an ability to comfort and soothe sick children.
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References
- Photo Credit female doctor #6 image by Adam Borkowski from Fotolia.com
