When it comes to duties, work days are relatively the same. Although, the patients who visit may vary. I get to know my patients the day I meet them and then in every follow-up visit. I do my best to treat them as a whole, focusing on the cough they came in for but also asking them how they’re doing and if anything else is going on. I feel like every day is different because no one person is alike.
CAREER
Internists
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$214,460
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
-0.6% (little or no change)
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Internists Do
Diagnose and provide nonsurgical treatment for a wide range of diseases and injuries of internal organ systems. Provide care mainly for adults and adolescents, and are based primarily in an outpatient care setting.
Other Job Titles Internists May Have
Doctor, Gastroenterologist, General Internal Medicine Physician, General Internist, Internal Medicine Doctor, Internal Medicine Physician (IM Physician), Internist, Medical Doctor (MD), Physician, Primary Care Physician
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Analyze records, reports, test results, or examination information to diagnose medical condition of patient.
- Treat internal disorders, such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, or problems of the lung, brain, kidney, or gastrointestinal tract.
- Prescribe or administer medication, therapy, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.
- Manage and treat common health problems, such as infections, influenza or pneumonia, as well as serious, chronic, and complex illnesses, in adolescents, adults, and the elderly.
- Provide and manage long-term, comprehensive medical care, including diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of diseases, for adult patients in an office or hospital.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Internists
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Post-doctoral training (53%)
Post-doctoral training
Doctoral degree
Majors Related to Career
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
I had the experience of training in foreign places. I feel like I learned medicine from learning history, trying to diagnose without fancy tests. With my patients, I want to know beyond just why they came to see me. I think that makes patients more comfortable. Time management is an important skill.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
College Students
It's important to look for opportunities to get hands-on experience while in college. I suggest looking into getting certified and working as a certified nursing assistant. You can also gain experience in phlebotomy or as an EMT. These are great ways to gain actual experience in the healthcare field while you're working towards becoming a physician.
Everyone
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
