What Do Psychiatrists Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

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Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life

Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists diagnose, treat, and help prevent disorders of the mind.

Salary
$217100
Becoming One
Very Hard
Education
Doctoral degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match



Job Description

Job Description

Psychiatrists prescribe, direct, or administer psychotherapeutic treatments or medications to treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders. They also prescribe, direct, or administer psychotherapeutic treatments or medications to treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders.

Other tasks include:

  • Gather and maintain patient information and records, including social or medical history obtained from patients, relatives, or other professionals.
  • Design individualized care plans, using a variety of treatments.
  • Collaborate with physicians, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, or other professionals to discuss treatment plans and progress.
  • Analyze and evaluate patient data or test findings to diagnose nature or extent of mental disorder.
  • Examine or conduct laboratory or diagnostic tests on patients to provide information on general physical condition or mental disorder.
  • Counsel outpatients or other patients during office visits.

We asked Psychiatrists how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

Job satisfaction

85%

How meaningful is this job

92%


85% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 92% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.



Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Psychiatrists prescribe, direct, or administer psychotherapeutic treatments or medications to treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders. They counsel outpatients or other patients during office visits.

A typical day for a Psychiatrist will also include:

  • Analyze and evaluate patient data or test findings to diagnose nature or extent of mental disorder.
  • Gather and maintain patient information and records, including social or medical history obtained from patients, relatives, or other professionals.
  • Collaborate with physicians, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, or other professionals to discuss treatment plans and progress.
  • Advise or inform guardians, relatives, or significant others of patients’ conditions or treatment.
  • Examine or conduct laboratory or diagnostic tests on patients to provide information on general physical condition or mental disorder.

We asked some Psychiatrists a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? 95% said yes
How important is it to work in a team in this job? 81% said very important
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? 92% said yes
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? 40% said yes
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? 55% said yes
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? 62% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Psychiatrists also teach, take continuing education classes, attend conferences or seminars, or conduct research and publish findings to increase understanding of mental, emotional, or behavioral states or disorders. They may also serve on committees to promote or maintain community mental health services or delivery systems.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Psychiatrists Examine or conduct laboratory or diagnostic tests on patients to provide information on general physical condition or mental disorder. They might also Prepare and submit case reports or summaries to government or mental health agencies.

In addition, they Review and evaluate treatment procedures and outcomes of other psychiatrists or medical professionals.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Design individualized care plans, using a variety of treatments.

To some Psychiatrists, it is also their responsibility to Advise or inform guardians, relatives, or significant others of patients’ conditions or treatment.


Working life

Working hours

More than 40 hours per week

Working schedule

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Psychiatrist, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Do Psychiatrists work in an office-style work environment?

Every day
99%


Once a week
1%


Do Psychiatrists work outdoors?

Never
97%


Once a year
3%



Is this right for me

Best personality for this career

The Thinkers and The Helpers

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..

They also like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.

You can read more about these career personality types here.



Learn more about Psychiatrists

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Related to Psychiatrists Job Description

Psychiatrists job description, what do Psychiatrists do, typical day for Psychiatrists, what is it like to work as a Psychiatrist, how many hours do Psychiatrists work, day to day work of a Psychiatrist

Additional resources

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/healthcare/physicians-and-surgeons.htm
http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home.html
http://www.ama-assn.org/
http://www.abms.org/


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