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Should I Stay or Should I Go? 10 Warning Signs That It May Be Time to Quit Your Job By Maiysha Clairborne, MDDecember 4, 2018 Original article Image: bob boz / Shutterstock As the landscape of medicine rapidly changes and I'm dialoguing every day with doctors who are in the inquiry of where to next take their careers, one of the biggest questions to come up is, "Should I even be in this field of medicine anymore?" With environments becoming more corporatized, and compensation decreasing with these arbitrary relative value unit structures, it's no wonder doctors are questioning their career choices. The conflict comes when so many of the physicians who are feeling exhausted and overwhelmed think it's time to quit medicine, yet they still love the clinical part. Over the years in my coaching practice, I've conversed with dozens of physicians who were thinking about leaving medicine. What I've found is that more often than not, it's the job environment that is the culprit. Here are 10 warning signs I've come up with that signal it may be time to look for another job. 1. You constantly feel disrespected, disregarded, and unappreciated at your job. Sometimes when this is happening, we think it's our fault. Disrespect and disregard in the workplace is unacceptable behavior that you don't have to "suck it up" and take. 2. Your values are clearly not in line with the values of the practice or corporation you are working for. When our values are out of alignment (and especially if you suspect there is some unethical or illegal behavior), then it's time to look elsewhere. 3. You've tried talking to staff, management, and leadership to improve things but either no one is listening, or they are paying you lip service, and nothing is actually changing. This is likely a sign of the way things will continue to be, and unless there is an imminent change in leadership under way, you should seriously consider whether you want to stay. 4. You are being grossly underpaid as compared to colleagues in similar specialties (AND when you ask for a raise, you are blown off or held at bay). We often make excuses and justify why we are being underpaid. It's okay to ask for more money. It doesn't make you greedy. 5. Your job circumstance is significantly affecting your physical health and mental health, and no one seems to notice or care. If you are having health issues, and your organization is unconcerned, that's a big red flag. Take care of yourself first. 6. You dread going into the office on a regular basis. It would be wise to determine the underlying reason for this dread. If #3 also applies, it may be time to go. 7. Your workplace has no physician well-being programs in evolution or in place and is not even trying to show interest in this area. In this era of awareness around physician wellness, your organization should at least be talking about it. If they are not, it may be an indicator of their lack of value for the well-being and interest of their doctors. 8. You are experiencing workplace bullying or abuse. You do not have to accept unacceptable behavior. If no one is acknowledging or addressing this behavior in your organization (or worse, if they are condoning it), get out. 9. You are beginning to doubt yourself and your competence in that environment. If you are feeling incompetent, yet your patients love you, and there is no evidence that you are less than stellar in your work, you may not be a fit for this environment. Whether it's microaggressions over time or overt workplace bullying or abuse, if the data says you are performing well, but you are being made to feel otherwise, it may be time to move on. 10. You question your choice to even be in medicine and are considering jumping ship altogether. Before you jump ship, look at the root of why you are questioning remaining in medicine. If you still love clinical medicine, it may just be the job itself that's the problem, and finding something more ideal would have you feel good about your craft again. These are just 10 warning signs, and there are likely others not covered here. The point is if you are experiencing one or more of these, it may be time to look for another career home. You don't necessarily have to quit medicine to have a fulfilling career that gives you the autonomy, connection, and flexibility that will allow you to take care of yourself, spend time with those you love, and feel like you are making a difference as a physician. However, if you are still questioning whether or not you should stay or go, read part two of this series: "4 Ways to Know It May Be Time for a Career Change".

Back to the topic, Get the h.ll out. Forget what you like. You are talking about your livelihood which could be taken away from you. She is probably on someone's radar already. Run don't walk. IMHO

Post op f/u Minimally invasive procedure was performed and upon entering the chest on the right side between the ribs, he determined that repair was viable rather than replacement. All went well. Addendum The surgeon is leaving Houston to become head of cardio in Miami. I think crackerjack specialists get traded to the highest bidder like a football or baseball player. Thanks for the great input prior to surgery. They did decide to go with mechanical and not pig.

IMHO Avoid corporate medicine at all cost! You are a perfect example of what they do and what their prioriy is. $$$$ Same for your SP. Enjoy your new life in Endo.

For the state of Texas does anyone have a simple one page collaborate template for PA/Dr.? Thanks

Veterinary medicine!

Is "standard of care" a hard and fast protocol or is it dependent on specialty, circumstance, etc.? Until retiring after 32 years and 100,000's primary care patients, I was never sued but more than one night went to sleep wondering if what I did was correct. It is a shame to be in a profession where you can be accused of doing something seemingly correct but a fast talking lawyer with a 40% return on a settlement can twist the reality of what happened into something sounding like you intentionally or were too dumb to get it right. Never mind malpractice with tails, per occurrence etc. The fact is that being sued is a devastating process, period! IMHO

When I graduated in 1986 NYC, pay was $25,000 in FM.

Son of a friend, an adopted 26 y/o dx with aortic valve regurgitation. surgery coming next month. Choice of Pig valve replacement with Coumadin for life or mechanical valve replacement good for 10 years. What would you recommend for an active 26 y/o ??? Thanks

I got my TX license 15 years ago and although a large pain was nothing like KMorg is describing! Why doesn't TAPA address this issue with the board??? It looks like they don't want PA's in TX!! Do the NP's have to jump through hoops like PA's? Who elects or appoints the TX medical board? Is it a paid position?

I graduated in 1986 from CUNY (City University of NY). The experience was wonderful and absolutely prepared me for my 32 year career in Family Medicine. The didactic classes were taught by physicians from Columbia University Medical School and were great teachers and very supportive of our profession. I did all of my 2nd rotations at Harlem hospital and lived there in the nurses dorm for 1 year. The only rotation I did off site was family medicine at an office on Long Island. I wanted to be exposed to as much clinical medicine and surgery as I could. I saw every disease from A to Z and actively participated in all patient care. My decision to do all rotations at Harlem hospital prepared me for my career in Family medicine in medically under served areas where physicians did not want to practice for reasons IMO, included personal safety and the all mighty $$. Me, I loved it. I was treated with respect and I was able to utilize what I had learned. Thank you Harlem Hospital PA program.

Back to the original question. I can no longer recommend being a PA to anyone. Corporate medicine is taking over all of medicine. The CEO of LIJ/NSH made 9 million last year!! HMMM maybe they do know more than those that practice it! There will be plenty of jobs for PA's and you will be told when to turn right or left, up or down. Autonomy will definitely be gone. Even physicians see the handwriting on the wall and who pays for all this nonsense in the end are the patients.My first years of practice in Family medicine in Queens, NY from 1986-2004 were the absolute best years of my life in medicine. I was treated with respect by physicians and 2 hospitals. From 2004-present absolutely down hill on a slow but steady decline (in Houston the past 14 years).

Rev, I would be forever unemployed and blacklisted if I came at any employer they way you suggest. It just isn't realistic in the real world basing my opinion on 32 years experience in FP. As en emploer if some PA came at me with this is what I will and will not do or have done, I would politely get up and hold the door so it didn't hit them where the good lord split him! There are a lot of PA's out there looking for jobs. Just my opinion based on life experiences as an employer in NYC and an employee in Texas.

"Free" is for tuition only. Associated costs like books, eating and a place to sleep are not included so be prepared to kick in an easy $25-$35K a year and no income for 4 years.

Weezianna, Look in a mirror and picture prison scrubs!! A lot of the above responses are excellent . Start your paper trail today and get the hell out of that job. You might even want to speak to an attorney. How long have you been practicing?