These threads always get a little wonky. Half of the folks will tell you how happy you should be, to suck it up, and quit complaining. Others will tell you they wished they picked a different specialty, and they’re miserable, too. Some will blame your current situation, and tell you it’s time to pick another group or location. To a certain extent, there’s some truth in all of them.
We all gotta eat. We have ourselves and/or family to care for. We have vacations we want to take, toys we want to buy, retirements that need to be funded, children that should go to college. SOME of that should lessen the “misery” of at least the first 5-10 years of a career. I can think of many harder, and certainly “slower” (read: less $$) ways to reaching financial independence than anesthesia.
With that said, the profession has certainly changed, with the rise of AMC’s, for-profit hospitals, and OR’s being treated more like “revenue generators” than patient care areas (more about $$ than patient OR employee satisfaction/health).
All I can do is share MY story. It may not be helpful. It may not be “right”. All I REALLY know is ME, and where I finally decided to “draw the line”.
I’ve always had the “plan” to either retire early (mid-late 40’s), or at least, slow WAY down, at that age. I live cheap. I paid off the house. Paid off a ranch (well, by year end). Lotsa money put away. Got many/most of the toys I wanted. I’ve been telling the group the “plan” for several years, and for the last 3 years, been trying to make the “part time” (20-ish weeks a year) happen. Had 2 guys in the group offer to split 2 jobs 3 ways (THEIR idea). THEN, they backed out. Group had a chance to hire some extra CRNA labor—-plans made—THEN, some CRNA’s leave. Talk to other guys in the group—some over 60, some pushing 60–about splitting a job. They still wanna stay full-time, either by choice, or due to previous poor financial planning. Yada, yada...
I REALLY wanna spend time with the kids before they hit high school, and get to that stage where spending time with their parents isn’t their biggest idea of “fun”. Got hobbies I wanna pursue, before I’m too old to do so (at least, with “gusto”). Mainly, I just feel like I’ve got “enough” money, that I don’t need to be locked up in a concrete box every day, chasing MORE money, that I DON’T need, when there are other things I’d rather do/see, and other people I’d like to spend time with, besides unappreciative administrators/patients/etc.
I’ve found myself getting more and more “angry”, when I’m at the hospital, and just sick of being there on holidays/weekends/nights, when other friends and family are out enjoying themselves. I want TIME, NOT MONEY!
It’s a good group, and not THAT malignant on hours, but frankly, the hospital STINKS from many perspectives (payor mix, administration, prior treatment of our group and threats to bring in AMC’s DESPITE a great reputation in town (to save a few $$)). While I’ve felt some obligation to the group, the hospital has little to no love from me (and members of the group feel the same, after years of poor treatment by a constant revolving door of administrators.
I finally reached my “breaking point” a few months back, on my birthday (late 40’s), and decided to “do it”. I told the group that early next year was IT for me. I was done. If they “want” 20 weeks of my time, for locums/vacations/etc, they can have it, but I’m not offering any more. If they DON’T want it, then it’s “retirement time” or, at most, maybe 12 weeks of locums a year, at other locations.
STILL don’t have a good answer from them, and, frankly, don’t care much, at this point. I know what I’ve got to do to maintain my happiness, my composure, my health, and my family.
I guess my ACTUAL advice, knowing that you’re not going to just “quit medicine” after years of school, and only 5 years of practice, is to set a GOAL. That’s not just a FINANCIAL goal, so you can walk away if you have to, but also a goal for your TIME, so you’ll know when it’s time to go part-time, or retire, or simply “walk away”.
Money is a big part of this. Having the “right” spouse, is also important. A spouse whose favorite hobby is spending the money you earn, or one that is going to take half of what you earned in a divorce settlement, makes for a LONG career, whether you like it or not. I’m fortunate that my spouse also makes a decent living, and has CONTROL over her schedule. Despite this, I will say that I’ve made/saved enough, that we could easily enjoy ourselves off my investments, after 19 years of doing this.
So, the GOOD news is, you might not have 25 more years to go. You might be able to get out in just another 12-15. If this is STILL too much to bear, consider looking at other jobs. Find a BIG group, with folks who are willing to take call off your hands. You MIGHT just need a “change of venue”. Familiarity DOES breed contempt. I’ve seen it. I’ve experienced it.
Maybe see if you can recruit someone else to “share” a job with you. You’re not alone. You’re not the only one who has felt this way.
Feel free to PM me. I know where there’s about to be a job opening! Good luck!!!