When it comes to job roles within a hospital environment, doctors have different roles and responsibilities. These roles are based on both their level of experience, as well as their medical speciality.
In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at the different roles of doctors in a hospital. Hospital doctor jobs are not all the same, as you’ll soon discover.
Student Doctors
A student doctor is an emerging doctor who is still undergoing studies to attain their medical degree. They are undergraduate medical students. Part of that tuition involves on the job training within a hospital, where student doctors receive instruction from qualified healthcare professionals.
In order for a student doctor to truly learn what’s required to become a fully qualified doctor, hands-on patient care, under strict supervision, is required. Practical hospital placements are in conjunction with regular lectures and study at an educational institution.
The Role of An Intern
Interns differ from student doctors in that the individual has completed their studies and are now in the process of finishing their final year working in a hospital. As yet, an intern is not a qualified doctor. An internship takes place prior to official registration and is designed for individuals to demonstrate, under the guidance of a qualified medical professional, that they are a safe practitioner.
To succeed as an intern, individuals must successfully complete one full year of work, which includes medicine, emergency medicine and surgery. Internships take place between completion of medical school and official registration, after which graduates become qualified doctors.
Resident Doctors
Resident doctors are based in a ward in a hospital. This is the doctor many patients will see most often. Resident doctors look after patients and are in training for specialisation. Resident doctors operate under the supervision of a specialist.
Some of the duties of a resident doctor include diagnosing and treating both physical and mental illnesses, attending to injuries and disorders, referring patients to specialists or other healthcare workers, and also recommending preventative action. The term of residency can span from 1 to 2+ years before a resident doctor can advance to become a specialist or registrar doctor.
The Role of Registrars
A registrar doctor is a senior doctor who is charged with the supervision of resident doctors, interns and student doctors. They are the senior doctor on the ward and are usually contactable on site. It’s all about a natural chain of command based on rank as a doctor and experience within a hospital environment.
Registrar doctors usually have at least 3 years of practical experience within a public hospital before they can obtain the position of registrar. These doctors are also often in training for specialist positions. It’s a very important position that comes with a lot of responsibility, as registrars are overseeing the care that patients receive, as well as providing clinical leadership. Registrar doctors are equipped to deal with complex and acute medical conditions.
Senior Consultants
A senior consultant doctor is a specialist. Senior consultants will attend ward rounds to visit patients, as well as meetings at specific times. To become a doctor of this calibre, an individual will have successfully completed advanced training in one or more medical specialties. They have the qualifications and aptitude to diagnose, treat and manage complex medical conditions.
The senior consultant also oversees the role of the registrar doctor. Senior consultants are referred to as either specialist physicians or consultant physicians in Australia and New Zealand. It’s a role that’s sought after in the medical profession, but takes years of ongoing training and dedication to achieve.
Finding Hospital Doctor Jobs In Australia
If you are a medical professional and you’re searching for a job role in a hospital environment, seek the help of a recruitment agency or search for jobs online to find a role that suits you. Google can even be your best friend when it comes to finding hospital job openings anywhere in Australia. Just search terms like:
- Doctors hospital job openings
- Doctors hospital jobs
- Hospital jobs for doctors
- And more…
You could also try searching for more specific job roles, such as resident doctors, internships and so on.
In Conclusion
As you can see, the roles of various doctors in a hospital environment are quite varied and depend on experience and whether a doctor is a specialist.