Hi all...posting a long concern anonymously (sigh)...
I am a PGY1 (almost PGY2) at a large academic/tertiary ob/gyn program - top ranked, widely respected. High volume, high stress. Not as much of either than I had anticipated - and I am not a whiner by nature. I love the essence of what I do. I Love OB, like gyn & fp, tolerate onc/rei/urogyn. This is not a post concerning my career choice. I am very happy with that.
My problem: I just don't "love" my program - one that I ranked number 1 partially for geographic reasons, partially for it's reputation, partially b/c the residents put on a damn good show on interview day - for many reasons that in essence boil down to a problem with the grueling patient workload that is at a level I feel as if our patients get sub-par (even scary) care. Other residents grumble that these Medicaid folks should be happy they're getting free care at all. But I am reduced to tears each call with how ill-managed they are in many cases - laboring in triage rooms, not seeing doctors for hours, rude residents and bitchy nurses, not being explained their plan of care, "cutting" pts because we are "so done with this strip." (I hate the word "cutting" - so incredibly demeaning.) The list goes on and on...
I am fearing that, despite positive evals, good creogs, a passion for what I do and who I care for, I am not cut (ha!) out for level of detachment this program asks. I fear that in trying to suck it up for the next 3 years, I will compromise a big portion of who I am.
I want to change programs and have seen 2 upcoming PGY2 postings on CREOG clearinghouse that I ranked #2 and #5 that are more, shall we say, "touchy feely" community programs I liked.
Has anyone else transferred programs? How do you do that without burning bridges - as I imagine you probably end up doing ? How hard is it to pick up at a new program? Do residents look at the new kid with a raised eyebrow? My greatest concern is that I will change programs, just to find out that all Ob programs are the same as my current program. Any perspective would be greatly appreciated.
I am a PGY1 (almost PGY2) at a large academic/tertiary ob/gyn program - top ranked, widely respected. High volume, high stress. Not as much of either than I had anticipated - and I am not a whiner by nature. I love the essence of what I do. I Love OB, like gyn & fp, tolerate onc/rei/urogyn. This is not a post concerning my career choice. I am very happy with that.
My problem: I just don't "love" my program - one that I ranked number 1 partially for geographic reasons, partially for it's reputation, partially b/c the residents put on a damn good show on interview day - for many reasons that in essence boil down to a problem with the grueling patient workload that is at a level I feel as if our patients get sub-par (even scary) care. Other residents grumble that these Medicaid folks should be happy they're getting free care at all. But I am reduced to tears each call with how ill-managed they are in many cases - laboring in triage rooms, not seeing doctors for hours, rude residents and bitchy nurses, not being explained their plan of care, "cutting" pts because we are "so done with this strip." (I hate the word "cutting" - so incredibly demeaning.) The list goes on and on...
I am fearing that, despite positive evals, good creogs, a passion for what I do and who I care for, I am not cut (ha!) out for level of detachment this program asks. I fear that in trying to suck it up for the next 3 years, I will compromise a big portion of who I am.
I want to change programs and have seen 2 upcoming PGY2 postings on CREOG clearinghouse that I ranked #2 and #5 that are more, shall we say, "touchy feely" community programs I liked.
Has anyone else transferred programs? How do you do that without burning bridges - as I imagine you probably end up doing ? How hard is it to pick up at a new program? Do residents look at the new kid with a raised eyebrow? My greatest concern is that I will change programs, just to find out that all Ob programs are the same as my current program. Any perspective would be greatly appreciated.
