picachu Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 I am a new grad currently working in a very busy world and toxic environment of orthopedic trauma surgery. I am constantly getting yelled at and belittled in front of everyone (well mostly all of us). Our attending does not have a very nice attitude towards PA, nurses and even students sometimes. Our attending is very well known for the behavior and some nurses and few hired PA's decided to leave. I am constantly corrected for my work but not the others, my management plan is always "garbage" and when I looked at my colleague's they also used the same plan as mine but not being corrected or criticized. I feel like I'm being harassed by the surgeon's side or nasty comments and very unprofessional behavior. It is affecting me; I'm having so much anxiety that I've never had before. I'm having chest pain and palpitations just thinking about going back to work. There comes a time when I had to call life solution in the middle of work to keep myself together. It is affecting my job and I cannot focus, although so far, I have not really done anything to harm any patients, but I am worried that one day, I would freeze and won't be able to think straight and would harm my patient. The surgeon's treatment for me is totally different compared with my other colleagues. Most of the time, I feel outcast and not welcome, the surgeon constantly asking other PA if my work or whatever I say is correct. If I presented a case, I will not be directly told about the plan, and it will be told directly to somebody else. I had said about this to the manager, but I was told to earn the surgeon's trust. I caught errors; I can say almost "nearmissed" that other provider's neglect to check but the blame fell back on me. I'm scared of my life so I'm being thorough with my work, and it made me very slow in accomplishing my job and I get criticized for that too. I have car loans and a huge amount of student loan for finishing PA and master's degree. My husband just quit his job so he can start his own business, it is up and running but still the money is tight at the moment. I do not know if I should just tolerate the maltreatment that I am getting from this job or should I quit my job after only working for 2 months. I struggle so bad, I am a new grad, I am expecting to learn the job but didn't really get the proper training that I expected to have when I interviewed. I am expected to work like I've already been a PA for so many years because "it is the job". They also keep changing my schedule and it is not what I signed up for. I brought up my concern to the manager, but nothing really happened. I would like some advice on what should I do? Will this (me working only for 2 months) put a negative effect on my CV/resume if I apply for a new job? My husband suggested that I turn in my notice as he saw me how stressed out and miserable I look, but I am worried about our financial situation at the moment. What actions should I take? Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator LT_Oneal_PAC Posted March 20, 2022 Moderator Share Posted March 20, 2022 Turn in your notice, cut back on things if can/need to, start looking for a job. This will not get better, may get worse. Review the crap out of any contract you have to make sure you get paid out any PTO or whatever. If they aren’t paying it out, use every last drop before you turn in your notice and use that to apply for jobs. I personally wouldn’t bat an eye if seeing this on your resume. Now if it happened multiples times, yeah, but once, no. 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picachu Posted March 20, 2022 Author Share Posted March 20, 2022 Thank you. I saw you were a former Navy Medical Officer. I will ETS in my military service as enlisted soon and thinking about direct commission for the airforce. Any advice in this? I appreciate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SedRate Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 Leave. It sounds like this position will be nothing but an uphill, toxic battle. Further, ortho trauma has a steep learning curve that requires some mentorship and support, which it sounds like you're not getting. Put your notice in and start looking for a job STAT. And good luck. There are better jobs out there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator ventana Posted March 20, 2022 Moderator Share Posted March 20, 2022 Stand up for yourself in a professional manor with witnesses. something along the line of “I am not sure who you are talking to because I am a professional and that behavior is unacceptable” do it ultra professional. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANESMCR Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 (edited) I agree with the above, get out asap. It’s not going to get better…even if you get better. The guy has a reputation for a reason. Edited March 21, 2022 by ANESMCR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CAdamsPAC Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 3 hours ago, picachu said: I am a new grad currently working in a very busy world and toxic environment of orthopedic trauma surgery. I am constantly getting yelled at and belittled in front of everyone (well mostly all of us). Our attending does not have a very nice attitude towards PA, nurses and even students sometimes. Our attending is very well known for the behavior and some nurses and few hired PA's decided to leave. I am constantly corrected for my work but not the others, my management plan is always "garbage" and when I looked at my colleague's they also used the same plan as mine but not being corrected or criticized. I feel like I'm being harassed by the surgeon's side or nasty comments and very unprofessional behavior. It is affecting me; I'm having so much anxiety that I've never had before. I'm having chest pain and palpitations just thinking about going back to work. There comes a time when I had to call life solution in the middle of work to keep myself together. It is affecting my job and I cannot focus, although so far, I have not really done anything to harm any patients, but I am worried that one day, I would freeze and won't be able to think straight and would harm my patient. The surgeon's treatment for me is totally different compared with my other colleagues. Most of the time, I feel outcast and not welcome, the surgeon constantly asking other PA if my work or whatever I say is correct. If I presented a case, I will not be directly told about the plan, and it will be told directly to somebody else. I had said about this to the manager, but I was told to earn the surgeon's trust. I caught errors; I can say almost "nearmissed" that other provider's neglect to check but the blame fell back on me. I'm scared of my life so I'm being thorough with my work, and it made me very slow in accomplishing my job and I get criticized for that too. I have car loans and a huge amount of student loan for finishing PA and master's degree. My husband just quit his job so he can start his own business, it is up and running but still the money is tight at the moment. I do not know if I should just tolerate the maltreatment that I am getting from this job or should I quit my job after only working for 2 months. I struggle so bad, I am a new grad, I am expecting to learn the job but didn't really get the proper training that I expected to have when I interviewed. I am expected to work like I've already been a PA for so many years because "it is the job". They also keep changing my schedule and it is not what I signed up for. I brought up my concern to the manager, but nothing really happened. I would like some advice on what should I do? Will this (me working only for 2 months) put a negative effect on my CV/resume if I apply for a new job? My husband suggested that I turn in my notice as he saw me how stressed out and miserable I look, but I am worried about our financial situation at the moment. What actions should I take? Any thoughts? Do you work for a hospital or ortho group? Either way I suggest that you have an attorney draft a letter to your employer putting them on notice that your consider your employer a "Hostile Workplace" and that your leaving would be construed as "Constructive Discharge". These statements will be a very serious shot across the bow of the abusive physician and a clear message to the employer that they are playing with fire by allowing what you describe to occur and persist! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmj11 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 I only had to read the first two sentences, to say cut your loses and leave. With that said, I know that life is not two dimensional, meaning that there are other factors to consider. I stayed in a horrible job once for a year, while I wish I could have left in a week. But I was the sole provider for a family of seven and had to have my next job in-hand first. But toxic work environments never gets better unless all the shit-slingers leave or die. There is no hope of "re-training them" in most cases. In a few cases when a SP has never worked with a PA, you can prove yourself. But when their insecurities are knit deeply within their souls, their toxicities will only toxify your own sense of self-worth and you will be less of a person afterwards. You deserve better. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator LT_Oneal_PAC Posted March 21, 2022 Moderator Share Posted March 21, 2022 5 hours ago, picachu said: Thank you. I saw you were a former Navy Medical Officer. I will ETS in my military service as enlisted soon and thinking about direct commission for the airforce. Any advice in this? I appreciate it. If you can tolerate being enlisted you can definitely tolerate being an officer. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, but it’s similar though less than what you deal with as enlisted. chair force is definitely the sweet life too 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas5814 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 i use the term "malignant personality" for these kinds of physicians. Its incurable. Run away.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UGoLong Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 The best time to look for a job is when you have one. No reason to add the stress of having no income to your pile. Think about what you will will say when asked about why you left that doesn't make them wonder if you're a problem child. Start looking and quit when you have a new one. Not all jobs are the same. You might consider a fellowship or working for a good solo practitioner. Best wishes. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reality Check 2 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 Do you work for this surgeon or for a group or for the hospital? This surgeon is a toxic jerk. It won't get better. Is this sexism - you female and other PAs male, etc? You can't stay in this job - it will harden your soul to concrete and torpedo your self worth further. Find another job asap. Depending on who you work for - call it what it is - toxic environment. Don't expect action or change but filing it formally means it is in a record somewhere. Last Ditch - Not a light suggestion - consider ramifications................. turn on voice recorder in your phone and record the rant and behavior of said surgeon. Figure out how to edit out PHI - names, ID info. Keep this in your back pocket as proof of the situation. Stay true to the Art of Medicine and take care of yourself mentally, intellectually - don't allow anyone to take away from who you are. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jofriend Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 Get out. I agree with UGoLong. If at all possible, look while you are employed. It will help you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CAAdmission Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 I was in a job sort of like this. I just decided one day that I did not value their opinion and I was not going to let them bother me anymore. Harsh remarks were met with smirks and obvious disdain. There were a few "who exactly do you think you are?" and "who do you think you are speaking to?" thrown in here and there. I made it something of a game, and it actually became somewhat amusing. Then I suddenly gave notice of my resignation using the bare minimum time period required by my contract. It hurt them pretty badly in terms of staffing. On the way out, I told the doc, "Learn from this." 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted March 22, 2022 Administrator Share Posted March 22, 2022 2 hours ago, CAAdmission said: On the way out, I told the doc, "Learn from this." He won't. They never do, in my experience. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reality Check 2 Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 There is a karma bus coming for a$$hats like this but it moves slowly at its own pace. The surgeon’s time will come……. Take care of yourself 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picachu Posted April 11, 2022 Author Share Posted April 11, 2022 On 3/21/2022 at 10:36 AM, Reality Check 2 said: Do you work for this surgeon or for a group or for the hospital? This surgeon is a toxic jerk. It won't get better. Is this sexism - you female and other PAs male, etc? You can't stay in this job - it will harden your soul to concrete and torpedo your self worth further. Find another job asap. Depending on who you work for - call it what it is - toxic environment. Don't expect action or change but filing it formally means it is in a record somewhere. Last Ditch - Not a light suggestion - consider ramifications................. turn on voice recorder in your phone and record the rant and behavior of said surgeon. Figure out how to edit out PHI - names, ID info. Keep this in your back pocket as proof of the situation. Stay true to the Art of Medicine and take care of yourself mentally, intellectually - don't allow anyone to take away from who you are. I work for the hospital. The surgeon treats female totally different a.k.a very poorly compared to male PAs. I have a job offer last week, my concern is if they ask for a reference from the hospital. I cannot use them because only God knows what they would say about me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UGoLong Posted April 11, 2022 Share Posted April 11, 2022 It is unusual to ask for a reference from your current employer since some would let you go for looking around. Most prospective employers I know ask if it's OK and you can say no. You are not a prisoner; go do what's best for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picachu Posted April 11, 2022 Author Share Posted April 11, 2022 Just an update: Like some of you recommended, I applied for another job and got an offer last week. It is a state correctional physician assistant position, $15K less than what I currently make now. [they offer $99K+ about $47+hr, 6% matching, 4 weeks PTO, $2K CME+5 days, out of pocket for any certs, tuition reimbursement, malpractice insurance, $300 per person procedure such as suturing, 1 week per month sun-sat call until 10pm and 1 Saturday/month infirmary rounds, not dealing with Psych and Nephro patients, flexible hours-40h/week, holidays off, $8k sign on bonus]. During interview, I told them I expected at least $120k and they told me they can do it, but later on I was told that they cannot give me the offer that I asked for as there is disparity with previous employee including those with leadership role. I accepted the offer because I was only given 5 days to accept it but I have not really completed any application, submitted credentials or done anything. It is "at will", I can resign or get terminated at anytime without any cause. Do you guys think it is a reasonable and acceptable offer? I currently make $15K more, 2k CME including all certs and licenses. 7 days on/off [but they changed my sched without any notice or agreement to 5:30-5pm M-F, no PTO], No PTO, no CME days, 401K matching of 6%, malpractice insurance, on-call during 7days ON. If you have previous experience working at correction or currently working there, how is it as correction PA? Should I continue and be a correction PA? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSPAC2 Posted April 11, 2022 Share Posted April 11, 2022 Can't comment on being a correctional PA other than I've heard the population is litigious. If you have student loans, the prison may qualify for loan repayment if you plan on staying there. https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loan-repayment/state-loan-repayment-program/clinician-service-requirements Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayamom Posted April 12, 2022 Share Posted April 12, 2022 Worked in corrections for many years. Am I reading this correctly? You have to pay for your own med mal?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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