Psychiatrist

Matthews, NC, United States

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PLEASE NOTE: Job profile content may reflect pre-COVID-19 conditions.

Pay

Trainee psychiatrists can earn

$64K-$205K

per year

Qualified psychiatrists can earn

$170K-$251K

per year

Source: ASMS and RDA, 2022-2024.

Job opportunities

Chances of getting a job as a psychiatrist are good due to a shortage of workers.

Pay varies for psychiatrists depending on experience, hours, location and frequency of on-call or emergency cover.

Psychiatrists who work for Te Whatu Ora Health NZ (previous DHBs)

House officers (supervised junior doctors) can earn $64,000 to $145,000 a year.

Registrars (trainee psychiatrists) can earn $80,000 to $205,000.

Qualified psychiatrists can earn $170,000 to $251,000.

Psychiatrists working in the private sector can earn more than this.

Sources: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, 'New Zealand District Health Boards Senior Medical and Dental Officers Collective Agreement, 1 April 2022 - 31 March 2023'; and Resident Doctors' Association, 'RDA and 20 District Health Boards Multi Employer Collective Agreement 17 March 2021 to 31 March 2024'.

Psychiatrists may do some or all of the following:

study patients' medical and psychiatric histories

consult with patients and carry out tests to determine treatment

provide personalised treatments such as psychological therapy

prescribe and monitor medication

help patients manage long-term mental health conditions

work with patients and their families/wh?nau to understand patients' likely response to treatment

work with other medical staff, such as nurses and psychologists, to co-ordinate and provide assessments, rehabilitation and recovery programmes

admit patients to hospital if required

mentor trainee psychiatrists

prepare psychiatric reports and give evidence in court.

Skills and knowledge

Psychiatrists need to have knowledge of:

how to diagnose psychiatric disorders

how the brain and the human body work

different diseases and illnesses, both mental and physical

medicines and treatments, and the effects these have on patients

medical ethics and law

new research, treatments and practices in their field.

Working conditions

usually work regular business hours, but may also be on call in evenings or weekends

usually work in hospitals or clinics

may work in emotionally draining and stressful circumstances

complete the Health Sciences First Year programme at the University of Otago, or the first year of either the Bachelor of Health Sciences or Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science at Auckland University

complete a five-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree at Otago or Auckland

work for one to two years as a house officer (supervised junior doctor) in a hospital

complete another five years of training through the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Fellowship programme. This includes on-the-job training in different specialisations, and passing examinations to become a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.

You also need to be registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand.

The Vulnerable Children Act 2014 means that if you have certain serious convictions, you cant be employed in a role where you are responsible for, or work alone with, children.

NCEA Level 3 is required to enter tertiary training. Useful subjects include maths, chemistry, physics, biology and English.

Personal requirements

Psychiatrists need to be:

good at observing, listening and communicating

understanding of other cultures' attitudes to medical treatment

able to communicate with people from various cultures

able to manage their time and work well under pressure

skilled at analysing and interpreting information

good decision makers and problem solvers.

Our understanding of mental illness and psychiatric medications is still in its infancy. People with mental illness are complex and many dont fit neatly into a diagnostic category. Because of this, you need to be able to deal with uncertainty and accept, at times, the trial-and-error nature of available treatment options.

Useful experience

Useful experience for psychiatrists includes:

work in hospitals or other health-related work, such as in a clinic

work involving psychology or counselling

work in support and advice services such as Lifeline or Citizens Advice Bureau.

Registration

Psychiatrists need to be registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand.

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (NZ)

0800 443 827 - [email protected] - www.ranzcp.org

Te Rau Ora - M?ori Health Workforce Development

0800 628 2864 - [email protected] - https://terauora.com/

There are not enough psychiatrists to meet demand, due to:

New Zealand's growing and ageing population, which means increasing demand for mental health treatment

an ageing workforce nearly a third of specialist doctors, including psychiatrists, are over 55 years old

some psychiatrists moving overseas for better pay and working conditions

a worldwide shortage of specialist doctors, including psychiatrists.

As a result, the job of psychiatrist appears on Immigration New Zealand's long-term skill shortage list, which means the Government is actively encouraging skilled psychiatrists from overseas to work in New Zealand.

According to the Census, 444 psychiatrists worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Extra payment for graduates working in hard-to-staff locations

Te Whatu Ora Health NZ runs a voluntary bonding scheme aimed at paying graduate doctors more to work in locations that are hard to staff, such as rural areas.

Most psychiatrists work for district health boards and work in public hospitals and community mental health services.

They may also work in:

private practice and private hospitals

medical schools at the Universities of Auckland and Otago, doing academic work.

Sources

Immigration New Zealand, 'Long Term Skill Shortage List', 19 February 2018, (www.immigration.govt.nz).

Kiwi Health Jobs, 'Health Workforce New Zealand - Psychiatry', January 2017, (www.kiwihealthjobs.com).

Matthews, R, national manager, The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Careers Directorate Tertiary Education Commission interview, July 2017.

Medical Council of New Zealand website, accessed July 2017, (www.mcnz.org.nz).

Experienced psychiatrists may become clinical leaders, work as university lecturers, or focus on an area of psychiatry such as:

child and adolescent psychiatry

psychiatry of older people

forensic psychiatry (helping those who have a criminal record and a mental illness)

consultation-liaison psychiatry (helping patients with multiple medical conditions, usually working with doctors in general hospitals).

Psychiatrists diagnose and treat mental illness

Counsellors help people to deal with challenges and manage their emotions, thoughts and behaviour.

Psychologists diagnose, treat, and work to prevent a range of psychological problems that affect people's behaviour, thoughts and emotions.

Psychotherapists provide talk therapy to help people manage and improve their mental health and emotional wellbeing.

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