Occupations_Report__Neurosurgeon

Introduction Surgeons are trained to specialize in the treatment of injury, disease, and deformity through operations. Using a variety of medical instruments, a surgeon works to fix physical malformations, repair bone and tissue after injuries, or perform preventive surgeries on patients with debilitating diseases or disorders. Although a large number of surgeons perform general surgery, many surgeons choose to train and specialize in a specific area of the body so they are more apt for certain surgeries. Nature of Occupation Neurosurgeons are strictly focused on performing surgery on the brain, spinal cord and the rest of the nervous system. Neurosurgeons must first diagnose the problem with the patient and then figure out how to treat them. For example, when treating epilepsy, a neurosurgeon performs a surgery called resection in which the area of the patient’s brain causing the seizures is removed. Brain surgery is the most complex type of surgery due to the high sensitivity of the brain. Neurosurgeons are usually the most skilled, and trained surgeons because they have to work under immense pressure and complications can happen far easier than in regular surgery. 85% of their surgeries are removing tumors with gamma knife radiosurgery. Some surgeries can last up to ten hours due to their complexity, which means neurosurgeons have to be able to keep focused with the task at hand. Millimeters can be a factor when a neurosurgeon has to remove a piece of the brain. One wrong move and the patient could possibly lose function of certain parts of their brain for the rest of their life. Training/Education Neurosurgeons go through the same training process of most other surgeons. There is four years of college, followed by four years of medical school, and then a residency that ranges from 1-6 years depending on the hospital. The difference between neurosurgery training and other training is that it is set to weed out most people. Neurosurgeons are the best of the best so their education and training especially in medical school is a lot more difficult than other fields. The few who do complete training in medical school move on to start residencies as the given hospital that has hired them. Residencies are years in which you are learning the ropes from your superiors to train you for situations you might encounter. Earnings Since neurosurgeons are usually the most talented surgeons in a hospital they generally make the most money. The lowest possible pay a neurosurgeon could make is 137,000. Most neurosurgeons make about $75 an hour and make around $500,000 a year but this can vary depending on their practice. Private practice neurosurgeons or neurosurgeons who run their own business may make more than hospital employed ones but overall if you are a neurosurgeons you will not need to worry about lack of income. Employment Opportunities Neurosurgery is a very difficult field to get a job in just because the training is so strenuous. If you make it through all the training and come out on top above all your peers than employment opportunities are not hard to find in fact after doing a search for job opportunities on Google hundred of hits came up about hospitals in need of neurosurgeons. The hard part is getting to be a neurosurgeon. Once you become one generally you will not have trouble finding a job since neurosurgeons are the most uncommon and skilled surgeons. Working Conditions The working conditions for neurosurgeons can have its ups and downs depending on the practice and how much you work. Some have to log over 60 hours a week and are constantly on call to the hospital. This means at any hour of the night they could be called in for a consult or emergency. Private practice neurosurgeons generally can make their own schedule but they still can be on call and have to come in at the late hours of the night. Overall though being a neurosurgeon means you get to work indoor either in your office or an operating room, which can be simple and comforting. The work on the other hand can be strenuous especially when a surgery is very complex. Typical Day Neurosurgeons have two types of typical days. Most surgeons have office days two days a week where they do patient consults and finish up paper work, go to meetings etc. for the most part of the day. Their other days are usually their surgery days where they perform their surgeries and do their main care for patients. Their schedule is always set out for them the only curveball is emergencies and being on call at night where anything could happen. Conclusion Neurosurgery is a very complex and interesting form of surgery. Neurosurgeons are the best of the best and hence are paid the most. The working conditions can vary depending on how many neurosurgeons there are in a hospital or how many patients need care. Overall I think being a neurosurgeon would be very interesting. Their work is always changing and in its complexity neurosurgeons have to problem solve effectively. The job would never be boring but training and hours of work might make it hard to do.