Day in the life
A Day in the Life of an Internist
What internists actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for an internist?
Take sign-out as a hospitalist. From there, the day usually includes diagnose adult illnesses, manage chronic conditions, and care for hospitalized patients. Clinic internists work weekdays; hospitalists often work blocks such as seven days on and seven off.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for an internist working full time.
- Take sign-out as a hospitalist.
- Round on 16 admitted patients.
- Admit a patient with pneumonia.
- Meet a family about goals of care.
- Coordinate discharge plans.
- Review new lab results.
- Sign out to the night team.
Where internists work
Internists work in hospitals, outpatient clinics and academic medical centers.
Hours and schedule
Clinic internists work weekdays; hospitalists often work blocks such as seven days on and seven off.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Diagnose adult illnesses
- Manage chronic conditions
- Care for hospitalized patients
- Order and interpret tests
- Coordinate specialist care
- Provide preventive care
- Lead care teams on rounds
Tools you’ll use every day
- Electronic health records
- Diagnostic imaging systems
- Lab systems
- Clinical guidelines
- Telemetry monitors
- Exam tools
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Solve complex medical problems
- High pay
- Path to many specialties
- Hospitalist block schedules
What’s hard
- Heavy patient loads
- Documentation burden
- Emotional cases
- Long training
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I love diagnostic puzzles
- I want to care for adults
- I like hospital medicine
- I might specialize later
- I communicate well with families
- I can commit to medical training
Not sure? Take the free Internist fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Reconcile medications
- Follow infection control
- Use structured handoffs
- Prevent falls and blood clots in hospital