Nocturnist to Outpatient...please advice on approach

[c0pycat]

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This community has always helped me in the past when I look for answers to common topics...
I decided to ask for advice on how to proceed best..

I took my Nocturnist job straight out of residency after I passed my IM boards in 9/2023 and 1 year 5 months in ...I can easily say that I have never been so miserable/burned out. The job is in a desirable location and I do enjoy where I live...I have always dreamed to live in the city that I'm currently at but the job is soul sucking... let me say that when I started it was 4 on / 4 off but to accommodate the other night doc schedule it went to 7 on / 7 off ....which is just non-sustainable for me long term. I have always wanted to be Hospitalist and was hopeful that one day maybeeee I will be able to transition to days within the group (days is way different than nights, way more support...people have each others' back...come and go whenever they please) but I was basically told that it won't happen since they hired me for nights and they always have a hard time recruiting for nights. After realizing that switching to days at the hospital won't happen for me...I started thinking about switching to PCP...

I have been actively searching for outpatient job in the last 6 months and to my surprise...I have not had any success...I try to be presentable/show interest/be polite/engaging with the team ....been to only 2 interviews and both "decided to move with another candidate". I try to reflect on what could possibly be preventing me from getting the positions but its hard to say...again the area is desirable, possible competition with other people that have outpatient experience.

I have on site visit and interview coming up with a place that I really like and see myself working there but I need advice on how to shine!!!! IF YOU ARE A PCP AND LOOKING FOR A POTENTIAL CANDIDATE...WHAT QUALITIES WILL YOU WANT TO SEE IN A CANDIDATE?
WHAT QUESTIONS WILL YOU HAVE FOR THE GROUP? I do see myself doing outpatient work for many reasons... I regret taking the nocturnist job as that may be seen as a red flag .. I don't know...I'm so drained from nights that I hardly sleep when I'm on for a week... PLEASE HALP!! OR any suggestions....

 

[dozitgetchahi]

This community has always helped me in the past when I look for answers to common topics...
I decided to ask for advice on how to proceed best..

I took my Nocturnist job straight out of residency after I passed my IM boards in 9/2023 and 1 year 5 months in ...I can easily say that I have never been so miserable/burned out. The job is in a desirable location and I do enjoy where I live...I have always dreamed to live in the city that I'm currently at but the job is soul sucking... let me say that when I started it was 4 on / 4 off but to accommodate the other night doc schedule it went to 7 on / 7 off ....which is just non-sustainable for me long term. I have always wanted to be Hospitalist and was hopeful that one day maybeeee I will be able to transition to days within the group (days is way different than nights, way more support...people have each others' back...come and go whenever they please) but I was basically told that it won't happen since they hired me for nights and they always have a hard time recruiting for nights. After realizing that switching to days at the hospital won't happen for me...I started thinking about switching to PCP...

Most of you will probably think...no way you want to do PCP work...but my current gig includes cross coverage of 130-140 patients (lately the census has been 150-160) + admissions but capped at 6... (btw Its only me...there is no APP or other physician, basically working for 2 physicians) and I'm paid hourly with no RVU. Sometimes I do more than that because otherwise Id have to leave admits for day team...and most of the time I get up to 15-16 admissions and I try to do as many as I can but the floor calls drain me too...they are constant. Its 8pm-7am...and I have never been able to even close my eyes just to rest for a little bit...
The only two positive things: The ER is great in working up the patients and calling all the consults for me and I have a great relationship with them as well as I don't respond to rapids and codes...

I have been actively searching for outpatient job in the last 6 months and to my surprise...I have not had any success...I try to be presentable/show interest/be polite/engaging with the team ....been to only 2 interviews and both "decided to move with another candidate". I try to reflect on what could possibly be preventing me from getting the positions but its hard to say...again the area is desirable, possible competition with other people that have outpatient experience.

I have on site visit and interview coming up with a place that I really like and see myself working there but I need advice on how to shine!!!! IF YOU ARE A PCP AND LOOKING FOR A POTENTIAL CANDIDATE...WHAT QUALITIES WILL YOU WANT TO SEE IN A CANDIDATE?
WHAT QUESTIONS WILL YOU HAVE FOR THE GROUP? I do see myself doing outpatient work for many reasons... I regret taking the nocturnist job as that may be seen as a red flag .. I don't know...I'm so drained from nights that I hardly sleep when I'm on for a week... PLEASE HALP!! OR any suggestions....

Something must be wrong with your approach to the whole process…PCPs are in high demand and people go from hospitalist work to outpatient PCP work fairly frequently.

Are you only looking for jobs in a tiny geographical area or something? I don’t see how anyone could be PCP job searching for 6 months and only get two interviews, unless they have huge red flags in their employment history (and even then, in some areas, you’ll still find places wanting to hire).

 

[c0pycat]

Something must be wrong with your approach to the whole process…PCPs are in high demand and people go from hospitalist work to outpatient PCP work fairly frequently.

Are you only looking for jobs in a tiny geographical area or something? I don’t see how anyone could be PCP job searching for 6 months and only get two interviews, unless they have huge red flags in their employment history (and even then, in some areas, you’ll still find places wanting to hire).

Midwest metropolitan area...no red flags...never had any written complains against me or any malpractice cases...I'm looking at up to 25 mile radius from where I live too so I'm not trying to be picky as well.

 

[LoudBark]

Midwest metropolitan area...no red flags...never had any written complains against me or any malpractice cases...I'm looking at up to 25 mile radius from where I live too so I'm not trying to be picky as well.

AMG vs FMG?
MD vs DO?
Residency at University Program vs Community?
Depending on region of the country (Like if you are Chicago metropolitan area that may be different than Peoria metropolitan area) and who the other doctors are in the group (like are they all grads of the local Chicago med schools?), some of those things matter too.

 

[c0pycat]

AMG vs FMG?
MD vs DO?
Residency at University Program vs Community?
Depending on region of the country (Like if you are Chicago metropolitan area that may be different than Peoria metropolitan area) and who the other doctors are in the group (like are they all grads of the local Chicago med schools?), some of those things matter too.

Oh I did not think about that...
I'm US-IMG ... MD....Residency was at a community program and I do check the profiles of the doctors at each clinic...most of the time its a mixture of people from academic/community trained places, that's a good point!

 

[dozitgetchahi]

Midwest metropolitan area...no red flags...never had any written complains against me or any malpractice cases...I'm looking at up to 25 mile radius from where I live too so I'm not trying to be picky as well.

I mean, that is actually relatively picky. Expand your geographical area and I’m sure you’ll find a job.

 

[glorifiedresident]

why not find a different hospitalist job