attending vs resident PhD

[ading]

what is the difference between attending physician and a resident physician?

i am stuck.

[misswhitney]

An attending is above a resident. A resident is still considered to be in "training" and make considerably less than an attending, but you go to the resident before you contact the attending.

[ading]

thank you. because ive been hearing this in grey's anatomy. :)

[AgentBeast, MSN, RN]

thank you. because ive been hearing this in grey's anatomy. :)

Haha, well I certainly wouldn't compare Grey's anatomy with anything in real life.

Basically an Attending physician is someone who in addition to completing medical school also completed a residency "training period" which varies in length based on specialty (usually no less than 3 years though) and also passed the national board examination for that specialty.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Medical_specialties

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Surgical_specialties

A "resident" is someone who has completed medical school but hasn't completed that resident training period.

[thekidisback]

Speaking of attending and residents. What's the order you should call if something happens to the patient? resident, attending, then the patient's main doctor?

Sorry I'm a new grad about to work in about 2 weeks. Would like to know

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I'm so confused.....what does PhD (in the title) have to do with anything?

[NICUQueen]

In the teaching hopital where I worked, the on-call resident was called first. If s/he did not respond or responded inappropriately, then the 2nd yr. resident was called. If all else failed, then the staff MD was called.

It is a hierarchy that will be confusing at first, but your preceptor will help you throught it all. Even more confusing is that we had residents that were assigned to my unit during the day for the month, then different ones for the night shift, then even other different ones for the weekend. Very confusing to the patient as well.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

a PhD has nothing to do with being a medical doctor.....residents, attendings, and interns have MDs :)

[SummitRN, BSN, RN]

a PhD has nothing to do with being a medical doctor.....residents, attendings, and interns have MDs :)

Or DOs

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Or DOs

But Doctors of Osteopathy have the same privileges re: prescribing, surgery, etc....

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002020.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Osteopathic_Medicine

[SummitRN, BSN, RN]

You listed the degree that physicians had. Physicians are MD or DO.

It's like saying "Dentists have a DDS" without "or a DMD"

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

You listed the degree that physicians had. Physicians are MD or DO.

It's like saying "Dentists have a DDS" without "or a DMD"

Not the same.

Many DOs work with MDs, take call for them, are in the office practices etc. They have independent practices. They include more holistic approaches than traditional doctors do, but have similar education. And nearly identical privileges.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_MD_and_DO_in_the_United_States

http://gradschool.about.com/od/medicalschool/f/osteoallo.htm

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_are_a_DMD_and_a_DDS_different

The only difference between a DDS and DMD are the areas they decide to specialize in- the education is identical.