Peditrician
Breanna Clark
Daily Activities
- Treat children who have illnesses, health problems, and other medical concerns.
- Examine children to chart growth and development or diagnose conditions.
- Order or perform tests to find out about patients' health.
- Collect, record, and maintain patient medical history and exam results.
- Provide consultation services to other doctors. Refer patients to specialists when necessary.
- Prescribe or give medication, therapy, or vaccinations to children.
- Operate on patients to improve their health.
- Supervise nurses and other medical staff.
- Plan and operate medical care programs that benefit children.
- Research and study new ways to prevent or control diseases.
- Prepare medical reports on birth, death, and disease statistics.
- Attend conferences to stay current on medical information.
Working Conditions
Interpersonal Relationships
- Have a high level of social interaction. They constantly talk with patients, parents, and medical staff.
- Are greatly responsible for the health and safety of their patients and the people they supervise.
- Are responsible for the work outcomes of the staff they supervise.
- Often are placed in conflict situations in which patients and family members may be unpleasant or angry.
Physical Work Conditions
- Always work indoors.
- Work daily with patients who have diseases or infections.
- Wear protective clothing weekly such as masks, gloves, or apron.
- Work physically near patients.
Work Performance
- Must be very exact and accurate in performing their job. This is very important because very serious mistakes could risk patients' health.
- Repeat the same physical and mental activities, especially when performing exams.
- Make decisions on a daily basis that substantially impact patients and their families.
- Make nearly all their decisions and set their daily tasks and goals independently.
Hours/Travel
- Work more than 40 hours per week.
- Generally work a set schedule.
- May travel between office and hospital to visit patients.
- Work on the weekends and nights when on-call.
Wages
$181,270 Per Year
Preperation
- have a high school diploma or equivalent;
- have a bachelor's degree;
- graduate from medical school;
- complete an internship;
- pass a state licensing exam;
- complete a residency program in pediatrics; and
- pass additional exams to become board certified.
A Day in the Life - Pediatrician
Important skills and abilities
Communicate
- Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
- Understand spoken information.
- Listen to others and ask questions.
- Understand written information.
Reason and Problem Solve
- Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
- Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
- Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
- Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
Use Math and Science
- Use scientific methods to solve problems.
Manage Oneself, People, Time, and Things
- Check how well one is learning or doing something.
- Manage the time of self and others.
- Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.
Work with People
- Be aware of others’ reactions and understand the possible causes.
- Look for ways to help people.
- Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
- Change behavior in relation to others’ actions.
Work with Things
- Analyze needs and requirements when designing products.
Perceive and Visualize
- Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
Recommended Classes
Electives
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Computer Applications
- Food and Nutrition
- Foreign Language
- Introduction to Health Care
- Nursing
- Safety and First Aid
- Accounting
- Entrepreneurship
- Introduction to Business
Core Classes
- Math
- Science