Burnout

[Lostin_space]

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I'm burned out. I do excellent clinical work, yet have to walk on egg shells all the time in order not to offend anyone. Others are rude, frequently disrespectful, yet I don't say anything because I'm afraid. No one gives me a break ever - i'm the mule who works non stop. Today we started a new rotation. I got 14 patients. My co-resident got 5. i got stuck covering him as he's post call. I just got out of a rotation where I was seeing close to 40 patients daily. I have no mentor. No one ever takes my side. I have had the same issues that my classmates have had, but somehow it's all my fault. It's like the crime victims who are blamed for being victimized. I'm too tired I think to continue residency. What are my options if I quit now?

 

[rokshana]

I'm burned out. I do excellent clinical work, yet have to walk on egg shells all the time in order not to offend anyone. Others are rude, frequently disrespectful, yet I don't say anything because I'm afraid. No one gives me a break ever - i'm the mule who works non stop. Today we started a new rotation. I got 14 patients. My co-resident got 5. i got stuck covering him as he's post call. I just got out of a rotation where I was seeing close to 40 patients daily. I have no mentor. No one ever takes my side. I have had the same issues that my classmates have had, but somehow it's all my fault. It's like the crime victims who are blamed for being victimized. I'm too tired I think to continue residency. What are my options if I quit now?

not much...you can probably get an unrestricted license with 1 year under your belt, but it will be difficult to get insurance companies to reimburse you if you are not BE/BC.

 

[evilbooyaa]

Based off your previous posts, OP, I'm more inclined to think that your "wah wah life isn't fair to me, I'm the only one who gets blamed for stuff" stuff isn't because everyone you meet is an dingus or out to get you just because.

However, to answer your question in a thoughtful manner, you can get an unrestricted license and possibly work for a prison or other area. I would encourage you not to quit and to finish residency (IIRC, final year as you were thinking about fellowship applications?) and then go be an attending instead of pursuing a fellowship.

Just my 2 cents. Best of luck.

 

[Danbo1957]

Don't quit. Own the hardness of it all. You will be better trained for it. What happens to others doesn't matter. Continue to care for and about your patients, that's what matters-- everything that you deal with supports your care of your patients. That's it.

 

[Lostin_space]

Don't quit. Own the hardness of it all. You will be better trained for it. What happens to others doesn't matter. Continue to care for and about your patients, that's what matters-- everything that you deal with supports your care of your patients. That's it.

You would think so but no. I have become very very quiet in order not to have any issues with anyone, yet somehow there's drama drama drama. I'm the work horse though - so while things are ALWAYS my fault, there's always more work to throw my way. I have gotten the highest number of excellents/superiors of anyone in my class, yet I still have drama. I have been trashed by a few nursing staff and somehow that is apparently terrible, to where I have to meet with my advisor. I always feel on the edge of losing my spot. You would think that 3 years of high quality work, with excellent patient outcomes would be good but no. I'm always worried about stupid meaningless stuff will make me remediate something. I smile, nod, and talk in my gentle, sweet voice yet somehow I'm this ogre that has a whip. I have discussed this with my program, and unfortunately a 2 body problem cannot have a 1 body solution. I even told them before -what happens if this happen again? I was told oh well, let them be mad. What's happened? Now I have to talk to my advisor.
I have no idea what else to do.

I don't want negative actions, I have worked brutally hard to do well, and to be the best doctor I can be. Yet somehow there's always drama. I'm so exhausted.

 

[LucidSplash]

Agree with above posters. And exactly how do you know your eval results vs others? Are these published in some way at your program? It would be highly unusual for an individual resident to have that information about their peers. Agreed best course is to just suck it up and finish, especially if you only have 7 months left.

 

[Lostin_space]

Agree with above posters. And exactly how do you know your eval results vs others? Are these published in some way at your program? It would be highly unusual for an individual resident to have that information about their peers. Agreed best course is to just suck it up and finish, especially if you only have 7 months left.

Yes, at my program there is an award for highest overall evals, which yours truly got, so that's how I know! Anyways, yes I try to suck it up, but I have had a number of these meetings which put me on edge all the time, about the same thing, which I cannot change. I feel like I am always on edge. What if the milestone committee makes a negative recommendation? I'm always also put in situations that are unfair - I have more inpatient months (recorded by the chiefs), I am placed in more challenging rotations, etc. I have again excellent evals from attendings. It seems accomodations are made for other residents frequently - for pregnant female residents, for male residents that are dads to be, for residents wanting to do other things, for residents who have had bad relationships with staff, etc. Yet i'm somehow the go to to throw the crap at.

 

[shopsteward]

It sounds to me as though you need a further dose of stoicism - http://dailystoic.com/

It is unclear from your posts what this thing is that you cannot change, which does not affect your evals and yet which leads to constant meetings with your advisor and make you worried that you will not pass milestone committee. I would question whether or not it is truly something you can't change. You might think about writing to Ask A Manager for suggestions if you don't want to reveal things here http://www.askamanager.org/

And yes, eyes on the prize, you are nearly there.

 

[Top Gun]

You haven't been put on remediation or probation, right? And your evals are excellent. So suck it up and finish. Once you finish residency, doors open to you. You become board eligible, meaning you have your pick of jobs, whether being a hospitalist, fellow, outpatient PCP, etc... You don't have nearly the same opportunities if you quit residency. Many, if not most physician jobs, require you to be board eligible/board certified. And board eligibility/board certification is a prerequisite at most hospitals for obtaining staff privileges.

By the way, I can pretty much guarantee every resident runs into drama. How you handle it is what matters. I learned quickly not to engage with any a&&holes who tried to start drama and focused on doing my work well. If coworkers are trying to blame you for everything, then you refuse to engage with them. And if you feel co-residents are trying to take advantage of you (everyone is expecting you to cover their call, etc..), then you grow a pair and politely but firmly tell them no. Simple really.

 

[BobBarker]

Just finish it. Are there very many easier residencies than physiatry???

 

[michaelrack]

Just finish it. Are there very many easier residencies than physiatry???

Psychiatry

 

[j4pac]

As others have said in many of your other threads...quit trolling and/or get some help.

 

[JAFERD]

I haven't read through your past posts and don't know a thing about you. That said, if everything you say is the whole truth, I'd recommend just toughing it out a bit. Residency sucks sometimes. I had some good times in residency, and some very low times. There were times that I thought everyone was against me, that I'd never make it out, felt under-appreciated (and certainly under-paid), was worried that people were trying to get me kicked out, thought it just wasn't worth it, etc.

Eventually, you'll make it through those times. It could just be moving on to a new rotation or service, could be a good patient, maybe some recognition from faculty, or any number of things. Talk to your residency director - they might be able to help. And things get much better as you become a more senior resident. In the end, you just need to get through residency and then things get much better. There are very few options if you quit now and it would be an awful waste.