Respect for physicians

[GeneralVeers]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Sure its easier to appease them. Was it easy to get into medical school? Was it easy studying for and passing the boards? Was residency easy? Nothing about medicine is easy, from beginning to end.

Did anyone on here find it difficult to find a job as an EM BC/BE? Is job security a daily worry for you?

Of course any reasonable person would agree that compromises must be made, however its important to not compromise on the things that matter most...the things that define us as a profession. Its easy to lose sight of this in the daily grind.

I invite you to comment again once you've reached the real world.

 

[dotcb]

"Did anyone on here find it difficult to find a job as an EM BC/BE? Is job security a daily worry for you? "

No.
No.

 

[Birdstrike]

I invite you to comment again once you've reached the real world.

Leave him alone. If the pre-meds and med students ever lose their idealism and are as jaded as the rest of us, then we are really in trouble. Until then, there is hope.

 

[joeDO2]

Leave him alone. If the pre-meds and med students ever lose their idealism and are as jaded as the rest of us, then we are really in trouble. Until then, there is hope.

Thanks bird.

All I ask is that the widget movers and hot dog vendors on here take a moment to reflect on what they will think looking back on their career. I doubt anyone will say "If only I was able to move more widgets..."

I'm sure the attendings on here all have experienced challenges that I am naive to at the moment. Maybe one day I will join you in being satisfied with widget moving and telling others the system is hopeless and nothing can be changed. I hope not.

 

[GeneralVeers]

Thanks bird.

All I ask is that the widget movers and hot dog vendors on here take a moment to reflect on what they will think looking back on their career. I doubt anyone will say "If only I was able to move more widgets..."

I'm sure the attendings on here all have experienced challenges that I am naive to at the moment. Maybe one day I will join you in being satisfied with widget moving and telling others the system is hopeless and nothing can be changed. I hope not.

Actually my goal is to move LESS widgets while getting paid more and having a better work environment. It is possible, if you are willing to travel and work in less desirable areas.

Counting down the days until my job of 5+ years is no longer. I won't miss seeing 2.8-3.0 widg...err patients per hour.

 

[EvoDevo]

Thanks bird.

All I ask is that the widget movers and hot dog vendors on here take a moment to reflect on what they will think looking back on their career. I doubt anyone will say "If only I was able to move more widgets..."

I'm sure the attendings on here all have experienced challenges that I am naive to at the moment. Maybe one day I will join you in being satisfied with widget moving and telling others the system is hopeless and nothing can be changed. I hope not.

Man, take this widget thing with a big grain of salt. For me, I've learned that less emotional investment in each patient encounter allows me to deliver faster, more efficient patient care. Furthermore, it also allows me to gracefully decline huge workups that the patients request ("Doc, I just know my body and there's something wrong!! I need a CT/MRI/Lower Endoscopy..." sez the 23M w/o any PMH).

I also don't take it so personally when a patient tells me that I "suck" or complains (now MUCH less frequently than before "Widget Week") because I've learned that you cannot please everyone and sometimes doing the right thing is going to piss someone (patients or consultants) off.

Your mileage may vary.

As far as changing things, it's RARELY going to happen at the patient level. You've gotta try your hospital, local ACEP chapters, and national action in order for there to be any changes of consequence.

 

[la gringa]

Actually my goal is to move LESS widgets while getting paid more and having a better work environment. It is possible, if you are willing to travel and work in less desirable areas.

Counting down the days until my job of 5+ years is no longer. I won't miss seeing 2.8-3.0 widg...err patients per hour.

is that pph with supervising midlevels, or without? what type of acuity?

 

[emd123]

.

 

[GeneralVeers]

is that pph with supervising midlevels, or without? what type of acuity?

Tertiary care referral center with midlevels independently seeing patients.

 

[RustedFox]

Tertiary care referral center with midlevels independently seeing patients.

This "widgets" thing is really taking off.

I'm so glad that I have a very open workspace that allows me to heavily supervise my midlevels. I have 1 or 2 that are freaking great. The rest really make me want to pull my hair out.

One of them did something predictably/reproducibly bad the other day after I had told them 2-3+ times to stop doing (that). I looked at (s)he and said - "Why do you do this ?"

 

[Zanegray]

Counting down the days until my job of 5+ years is no longer. I won't miss seeing 2.8-3.0 widg...err patients per hour.

Where are you going Veers? Will u stick around here?

Strangely, I find comfort in the disenchanted. This board makes me feel more normal when I can't see enough widgets and at the same time I'm getting feedback about PG and inpatient doc relations....

 

[GeneralVeers]

Where are you going Veers? Will u stick around here?

Strangely, I find comfort in the disenchanted. This board makes me feel more normal when I can't see enough widgets and at the same time I'm getting feedback about PG and inpatient doc relations....

Can't reveal where my new gig is, as there are limited shifts and I'm allowed a bit of selfishness. All I can say is that if you treat the job like a job (and not like a calling) you will be a lot happier. Realize that your skills are valuable, and they should not be sold to the lowest bidder. Unhappy with your pay, or your work environment? Look at another city or even out of state. There is almost certainly something better somewhere else than what you've got now. My expeirence is that widgets are widgets no matter where you go. How you move the widgets, and how many widgets there are may change, but at the end of the day they are still widgets.

 

[Birdstrike]

Can't reveal where my new gig is, as there are limited shifts and I'm allowed a bit of selfishness. All I can say is that if you treat the job like a job (and not like a calling) you will be a lot happier. Realize that your skills are valuable, and they should not be sold to the lowest bidder. Unhappy with your pay, or your work environment? Look at another city or even out of state. There is almost certainly something better somewhere else than what you've got now. My expeirence is that widgets are widgets no matter where you go. How you move the widgets, and how many widgets there are may change, but at the end of the day they are still widgets.

Prediction:

After General Veers has worked at his new job for a while, he will soon change his SDN avatar from the dark and cynical Dr. Strangelove, the that of the "Happy Painter Guy," Bob Ross-

 

[Arcan57]

Random fact: Bob Ross was a drill instructor. Mind = blown.

 

[EvoDevo]

Random fact: Bob Ross was a drill instructor. Mind = blown.

Whaaaaaaaaaaaat?????


That's pretty wild.

 

[da8s0859q]

This "widgets" thing is really taking off.

I'm so glad that I have a very open workspace that allows me to heavily supervise my midlevels. I have 1 or 2 that are freaking great. The rest really make me want to pull my hair out.

One of them did something predictably/reproducibly bad the other day after I had told them 2-3+ times to stop doing (that). I looked at (s)he and said - "Why do you do this ?"

Uncle Fox, can we get a widget "week" update?

 

[RustedFox]

Uncle Fox, can we get a widget "week" update?

I'm disappointed in myself that I didn't give it an honest effort, but then again - in the past two weeks, I've only worked two real shifts. No joke.

May 27 (Monday) - Night shift. Fell asleep at 6:16 AM on the 28th.
May 28 - Woke up at 10:30. Got into car with wifey. Drove 6.5 hours to Key West. Driving thru the keys was gorgeous. Got into our bed n' breakfast, walked to "Duval Street". Proceeded to get hammered whilst listening to cover bands. Good day.
May 29 - Rented motorscooter and buzzed around Key West. Saw "southernmost point" and all the fun touristy stuff. We're suckers for that. Took picture of "Mile 0".
May 30 - Took hi-speed catamaran to the Dry Tortugas islands. Saw Fort Jefferson (amazing, wiki it), and snorkeled in crystal-clear blue waters.
May 31 - Took the "Hemingway House" guided tour. Pretty great. Lots of cats; some friendly, some not. Cats totally indifferent to tour; one asleep on Ernie's bed when we got in there. Hemingway was a prolific drunk and cheated on each of his four wives. What a jerk. Drove back home.

June 1st/2nd - Worked two eight-hour shifts. Whatev.

June 3 - Slept until noon. It rained for eleveteen straight hours thanks to Tropical Storm Andrea. Began playing "Super Mario World" again. Drank far too much alcohol. Watched Penguins lose game 2 against that other team.
June 4 - Epic hangover. Shook it off, rehydrated. The rains still came. Unlocked "Special Zone" on Super Mario World; a feat I had previously never done.
June 5 - Played golf. Cleaned house. Watched baseball. Ordered book for oral boards from amazon.com. Ate... something. Watched Pens lose ANOTHER game in OT. Wept.
June 6 - Whatev. Probably played golf again.
June 7 - Went to see Fleetwood Mac in concert. Row five. Stood 10 yards or less from Lindsay Buckingham. Thought to myself: "I'll never be that cool." Debated on whether or not Stevie Nicks is still "hot". Pics available, but too large for SDN. No, I don't play with image-editing software. PM if you wanna see how awesome Lindsay Buckingham is.

Today: Played nine holes. Rained again, dammit. Considered various dinner options. Watched more baseball.

Tomorrow: Beach, but only if this freaking rain stops. Then, several night shifts in a row after that.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

I'm disappointed in myself that I didn't give it an honest effort, but then again - in the past two weeks, I've only worked two real shifts. No joke.

May 27 (Monday) - Night shift. Fell asleep at 6:16 AM on the 28th.
May 28 - Woke up at 10:30. Got into car with wifey. Drove 6.5 hours to Key West. Driving thru the keys was gorgeous. Got into our bed n' breakfast, walked to "Duval Street". Proceeded to get hammered whilst listening to cover bands. Good day.
May 29 - Rented motorscooter and buzzed around Key West. Saw "southernmost point" and all the fun touristy stuff. We're suckers for that. Took picture of "Mile 0".
May 30 - Took hi-speed catamaran to the Dry Tortugas islands. Saw Fort Jefferson (amazing, wiki it), and snorkeled in crystal-clear blue waters.
May 31 - Took the "Hemingway House" guided tour. Pretty great. Lots of cats; some friendly, some not. Cats totally indifferent to tour; one asleep on Ernie's bed when we got in there. Hemingway was a prolific drunk and cheated on each of his four wives. What a jerk. Drove back home.

June 1st/2nd - Worked two eight-hour shifts. Whatev.

June 3 - Slept until noon. It rained for eleveteen straight hours thanks to Tropical Storm Andrea. Began playing "Super Mario World" again. Drank far too much alcohol. Watched Penguins lose game 2 against that other team.
June 4 - Epic hangover. Shook it off, rehydrated. The rains still came. Unlocked "Special Zone" on Super Mario World; a feat I had previously never done.
June 5 - Played golf. Cleaned house. Watched baseball. Ordered book for oral boards from amazon.com. Ate... something. Watched Pens lose ANOTHER game in OT. Wept.
June 6 - Whatev. Probably played golf again.
June 7 - Went to see Fleetwood Mac in concert. Row five. Stood 10 yards or less from Lindsay Buckingham. Thought to myself: "I'll never be that cool." Debated on whether or not Stevie Nicks is still "hot". Pics available, but too large for SDN. No, I don't play with image-editing software. PM if you wanna see how awesome Lindsay Buckingham is.

Today: Played nine holes. Rained again, dammit. Considered various dinner options. Watched more baseball.

Tomorrow: Beach, but only if this freaking rain stops. Then, several night shifts in a row after that.

This post is making me rethink my decision to replicate with the SO in the near future. I will now go back to lurking the EM forum.

 

[RustedFox]

This post is making me rethink my decision to replicate with the SO in the near future. I will now go back to lurking the EM forum.

Being "childfree" is pretty great. No desire to ever replicate, here.

Think about it. You considered the pros/cons of medical school (an only FOUR year gig, mind you) for years, yet most people think that replication is some sort of inalienable obligation.

 

[WilcoWorld]

My kids are the best part of my life, but they change EM from a "lifestyle" specialty to a "when can I start working part-time?" specialty .