Did you know that there are medical schools with 32 hour policies?
Before you start looking at these schools, it’s important to know what the 32 hour policy means. It refers to the amount of time a student can work during their clinical rotations.
Some students are able to work more than 32 hours during clinical rotations, but it’s not advised to do so. Working more than 32 hours can cause fatigue and stress during your rotations and will make it harder for you to focus on your patients and their needs.
It’s also important to note that some medical schools don’t have a 32 hour policy at all! If this is something that interests you, be sure to check out our list of medical schools with no work hour limits here: [link].
Medical Schools With 32 Hour Policy
Introduction
Medical school is an arduous process, with many years of potent stress and significant emotional and financial burdens. One would think that all medical students would be able to sleep when they feel most tired and not worry about sleep affecting their education, but in fact there are many medical schools that limit the amount of hours students are allowed to sleep in a day. This policy, known as the ’80-hour work week’ or ’32-hour rule,’ is based on the belief that physicians should not work more than 80 hours per week, as mandated by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). As such, this policy dictates that medical students cannot spend more than 32 consecutive hours in a hospital at any given time. These policies have been controversial because they can threaten patient care, hinder learning opportunities for medical students, contribute to burnout and fatigue among medical residents, increase the risk for resident suicide and decrease overall wellbeing. Some hospitals do not enforce this rule so strictly; however most do require an 11-12-hour shift for overnight interns. I want to note that although some hospitals may allow interns to take naps during their shifts if needed (this varies from hospital to hospital), no one should ever use this opportunity unless absolutely necessary due to safety reasons.
Medical Schools With 32 Hour Policy
- The medical school is in the United States.
- It is a university.
- The medical school has a 32 hour policy, which means that work hours/week are restricted to 32 at most.
32-hour Limit
The 32-hour limit on medical school instruction mandates that medical schools provide no more than 32 hours of didactic instruction per week. This regulation was created by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). In order to comply with this federal regulation, medical schools must adhere to a number of guidelines.
Medical schools must be able to provide evidence that they are in compliance with the 32-hour limit:
- Provide written policies outlining their curriculum structure and their use of web-based course materials.
- Prove that students spend 80% or more of their time outside of class interacting with patients or other subjects related to medical education (e.g., anatomy labs).
- Show how they measure student learning outcomes and make sure these assessments match up with state licensure requirements.
University of Alabama School of Medicine
- University of Alabama School of Medicine
- 32-hour limit must be completed before matriculation.
- Must be completed before end of first year of medical school.
- Must be completed before end of second year of medical school.
- Must be completed before end of third year or beyond the point at which a student applies for graduation, whichever is earlier (as determined by the dean).
University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix is a great school, both in terms of its location and academic offerings. There are many reasons to consider applying here, including the 32 hour policy.
Arizona is a great state for medical students: it has more than 400 days of sunshine each year and excellent facilities like Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, which is part of one of the largest health systems in the world (Banner Health). In addition to this premier teaching hospital, there are plenty of opportunities to gain experience at local specialty centers as well as community clinics across Arizona.
If you’re looking for great weather and top-notch facilities, Phoenix may be just what you’re looking for!
University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine
The University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine has a 32-hour limit. According to the school’s website, “All first-year medical students are required to work no more than 32 hours per week and may not exceed 80 hours in any given month during the academic year. Students who exceed this maximum will be subject to disciplinary action which can include suspension from clinical clerkship rotations.”
Students who would like an exception from this policy must contact their department liaison or program director prior to exceeding 80 hours per month. The departmental liaison or program director will then submit a request for approval through UCSF’s Safety and Compliance Office (SCO). If approved, any exceptions granted must be documented in writing by SCO.
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine
- The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine is a military academy that offers the 32-hour limit policy to 17-year-old applicants.
- In order to be eligible for this program, applicants must be enrolled in a high school in the United States or its territories and have received at least 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of college credit before entering medical school.
University of Colorado School of Medicine
The University of Colorado School of Medicine has a 32-hour limit on the first year of medical education. This means that you’ll be completing your pre-clinical courses in just two semesters. The second year is also capped at 32 hours, but it includes more clinical experiences and other requirements like research and student-run journals. In your third and final year, you can complete up to 40 hours of clinical coursework if you choose to do so.
The school is part of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (UCCAM), which was founded in 2008 by combining four existing institutions: The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (UCHSC), The University Hospital, Children’s Hospital Colorado and UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital (PVH). To learn more about this unique university setting as well as what makes UCCAM one of the best medical schools for applicants interested in osteopathic medicine, watch this video:
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons is a top medical school in the United States. The school has a 32 hour limit on its clinical training program, which allows students to take more classes and focus more on their studies. The Columbia University Health Sciences Center is located in New York City, one of the best places for clinical rotations and research opportunities. The USMLE Step 1 average score at this medical school is around 230 and most applicants have been accepted with good residency matches.
The faculty here are excellent as well; they have a strong track record with research publications and speaking engagements at national conferences such as the American Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (ASBMB). They also publish many papers each year with over 100 impact factors from journals such as Nature Genetics and Cell Metabolism under their belt!
Emory University School of Medicine
Emory University School of Medicine is a private, nonsectarian medical school located in Atlanta, Georgia. The school is ranked among the top 20 medical schools in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
Howard University College of Medicine
Howard University College of Medicine is a private, nonsectarian medical school located in Washington, D.C., United States. The college was founded in 1868 as the Medical Department of Howard University. The college is home to the National Museum of Health and Medicine and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) co-founded by Claude Bernard’s student George Baehr is located on its campus.[4]
In 2010, Howard University College of Medicine became an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with its own Board of Trustees and separate financial statement called Howard University Hospital Incorporated; it is not affiliated with any hospital or hospital system but rather owns them (e.g., what some people call “the System”). It was reincorporated back into the university in 2013 after several years as an independent organization with its own board members that lived in other states besides DC; this resulted from a dispute between then-president Sidney A Eisenberg Jr who wanted more autonomy from HUCM versus other parties involved such as patient advocacy groups like Partners for Better Health who accused him of running things too loosely without sufficient oversight from staff members or students alike
Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW)
MCW is a public medical school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. MCW is a member of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), which means that it has been approved by the AAMC to offer an accredited MD program. MCW was founded in 1892 and is currently one of two medical schools in Wisconsin to offer an accelerated curriculum for students who want to complete their undergraduate degree first before going on to medical school. Students interested in applying to MCW should keep these things in mind as they prepare their applications:
- The MCW School of Medicine has an early decision deadline of November 15th and a regular decision deadline at April 1st each year. Applications can be submitted online using AMCAS or AMCAS-specific supplemental essays (for those who are applying during their senior year).
- The application fee is $160 for domestic students, $125 for international students, or free if you have already paid for your application fee with another college or university program within the past 12 months!
- MCW offers financial aid packages based on need as well as merit-based scholarships awarded throughout the year through various sources including local businesses/foundations; therefore it’s important that our applicants are familiar with this policy so they know what applies when it comes time after being accepted into our school 🙂
New York University School of Medicine
New York University School of Medicine
New York University School of Medicine is located in New York City, NY. It is a private institution and accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. NYU School of Medicine offers graduate degrees in osteopathic medicine (DO), as well as MDs for students with undergraduate majors in fields like nursing or chemistry.
NYU School of Medicine is one example of an elite medical school that has adopted a 32 hour policy to ensure that all applicants have received sufficient preparation at the college level before entering medical school. Students who attend this particular institution must have earned either a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent before applying to NYU School of Medicine, though some other schools allow students without such credentials an opportunity to gain admission through their own programs (see below).
Conclusion
If you feel like this is something for you, do not hesitate and start applying to the medical schools which have 32-hour limit.
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