Our psych unit was recently closed and the docs let go so I'm looking at other jobs. Previous job was a 7 on 7 off inpatient job. Thankfully there are several options locally. Two options I'm considering are an inpatient job at large health system VS a part time outpatient job at community mental health center.
The inpatient job is 8-5 M-F, amazing group of doctors, teaching site with very manageable census, but with teaching and required availability for residents it sounds like it is not a round and go job. This is an annoyance, but the low census and great team and director offset this issue. Weekend coverage is rare, about 4 x per year and is paid on top of salary. The biggest downsides to me are this is a huge health system just like the one that let us go, and feeling like you are employed and at the whim of an MBA the rug could be pulled out from under you. It's also full time, and I have been doing occasional forensic work that would be hard to fit into this schedule.
The community mental health job could be full time at 4 days per week (4 x 8 patient hours = 32 patient hours total is full time), and pretty much everyone there works Mon-Thursday and Friday is off. I really do not enjoy outpatient like inpatient, so think full time would be too much of a grind. The clinic director is a great guy I've interfaced with over several years and is totally fine with a 2 day or 3 day week (0.5 or 0.75 FTE). The part time job would allow me to take on more forensic work, though this is sporadic and unpredictable, but also the job is ok with me doing outside work on my off days from their clinic, picking up inpatient shifts, or collaborative care with a local family med office. I doubt I will make up the money lost going part time, but the flexibility and not having all eggs in one basket would be nice.
Both jobs pay around 300K for full time. The part time outpatient job is just reduced based on FTE, benefit contribution from employer is the same for 0.75, costs me more if I go 0.5.
My main struggle is inpatient is my jam, but I also enjoy the forensic work. This was doable with a 7/7 inpatient schedule, but is relegated to evenings and weekends with a full time M-F inpatient job. The outpatient job part time allows plenty of flexibility to do side work, but the core job in a clinic is not my favorite.
The inpatient job is 8-5 M-F, amazing group of doctors, teaching site with very manageable census, but with teaching and required availability for residents it sounds like it is not a round and go job. This is an annoyance, but the low census and great team and director offset this issue. Weekend coverage is rare, about 4 x per year and is paid on top of salary. The biggest downsides to me are this is a huge health system just like the one that let us go, and feeling like you are employed and at the whim of an MBA the rug could be pulled out from under you. It's also full time, and I have been doing occasional forensic work that would be hard to fit into this schedule.
The community mental health job could be full time at 4 days per week (4 x 8 patient hours = 32 patient hours total is full time), and pretty much everyone there works Mon-Thursday and Friday is off. I really do not enjoy outpatient like inpatient, so think full time would be too much of a grind. The clinic director is a great guy I've interfaced with over several years and is totally fine with a 2 day or 3 day week (0.5 or 0.75 FTE). The part time job would allow me to take on more forensic work, though this is sporadic and unpredictable, but also the job is ok with me doing outside work on my off days from their clinic, picking up inpatient shifts, or collaborative care with a local family med office. I doubt I will make up the money lost going part time, but the flexibility and not having all eggs in one basket would be nice.
Both jobs pay around 300K for full time. The part time outpatient job is just reduced based on FTE, benefit contribution from employer is the same for 0.75, costs me more if I go 0.5.
My main struggle is inpatient is my jam, but I also enjoy the forensic work. This was doable with a 7/7 inpatient schedule, but is relegated to evenings and weekends with a full time M-F inpatient job. The outpatient job part time allows plenty of flexibility to do side work, but the core job in a clinic is not my favorite.
