VA Mental Health Provider Venting / Problem-solving / Peer Support Thread

[WisNeuro]

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I worked with all workaholics with poor work/life balance, so most people worked 10-12hr days.

I wish I had left sooner from my AMC.

Yeah, I'm still at zero days of regret of leaving the VA.

 

[docloufan]

I worked with all workaholics with poor work/life balance, so most people worked 10-12hr days.

I wish I had left sooner from my AMC.

Literally...why??? Work is called "work" for a reason. Some work is more enjoyable and rewarding than others of course, but its not playing golf or being on boat, or doing whatever hobby I'm sure you enjoy more than seeing patients all day and/or writing grants and papers (that very few people will actually read) all day. Its not like we are hunting for treasure and doing Indiana Jones "fortune and glory" stuff here.

I just cannot understand get this kind of work ethic.

 

[ccpsych16]

Four out of five of my patients cancelled today. I know that for a lot of people that sounds like a dream come true, but the day is going by sooooo slowly. There is only so much admin stuff I can do.

I always have a few shows cued up on my phone for this.

 

[ccpsych16]

Just accepted a TJO at a different VA. Switching to a different MH clinic. Nervous and excited. Sad to be leaving behind the little community I built here in this city. Ready to leave and try something new.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Literally...why??? Work is called "work" for a reason. Some work is more enjoyable and rewarding than others of course, but its not playing golf or being on boat, or doing whatever hobby I'm sure you enjoy more than seeing patients all day and/or writing grants and papers (that very few people will actually read) all day. Its not like we are hunting for treasure and doing Indiana Jones "fortune and glory" stuff here.

I just cannot understand get this kind of work ethic.

Meh, I just don't enjoy doing a lot of clinical work, especially in the past couple of years. I'd much rather do legal consulting, document review, and some speaking engagements. The legal work can be stressful at times, but in a perfect world I'd do a couple/few legal cases a month and some review work when I'm in between cases. I would be retired by now if I had stayed in tech, so it's my own fault. I'm hoping in a few years to do 100% remote legal work and just fly in when I need to be deposed, testify, etc.

 

[futureapppsy2]

Another VA, another lack of accessible bathrooms. Hoping my unit either has some or they can do an RA. I just want to be able to pee without worrying about getting trapped in there.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Another VA, another lack of accessible bathrooms. Hoping my unit either has some or they can do an RA. I just want to be able to pee without worrying about getting trapped in there.

How frustrating, as you shouldn't have to be the one to deal with this, but so often that is how it happens. You'd think a VA would be more mindful of accessibility, but clearly they are not, so I hope you can get this sorted to your satisfaction.

 

[thebalmofhurtminds]

The VA that I did internship at was wildly inaccessible and it shocked me at the time. I worked with chronic pain and bariatric patients. It was not a good time.

 

[cara susanna]

I'm sorry but this is ridiculous, obviously. The VAs lack of embracing flex time for doctors flies in the face of industry norms for which we have been moving for years. Even before COVID. I do not know any psychologist outside the VA that cant flex time... and/or have a work from home day. I just cant understand how doctors can put up with being treated like a hourly wage worker.

I don't disagree, but me thinking that it shouldn't be a rule doesn't change it. Also, my supervisor is actually pretty good about letting us flex time, as long as it's less than an hour.

 

[Sanman]

The requests of some folks at the VA cracks me up. Sure, let me just find you a VA psychiatrist, without an accent, that is accepting patients in rural bumblef*ck, and won't just leave or be reassigned. Right after I get you those winning lottery numbers.

 

[ccpsych16]

The requests of some folks at the VA cracks me up. Sure, let me just find you a VA psychiatrist, without an accent, that is accepting patients in rural bumblef*ck, and won't just leave or be reassigned. Right after I get you those winning lottery numbers.

Most of my intakes ask “you’re not leaving anytime soon right?” Over the last few years my answers have changed from “I have no plans to leave anytime soon” (when I just started) to “None of us can say what’s going to happen” (since last year). Haven’t had anyone ask in a while, idk what I’ll say now!

 

[cara susanna]

Yeah, I always say that I don't plan on leaving anytime soon.

 

[Sanman]

Yeah, I always say that I don't plan on leaving anytime soon.

I have just amended that to I have no plans to leave as of today.

 

[futureapppsy2]

The VA that I did internship at was wildly inaccessible and it shocked me at the time. I worked with chronic pain and bariatric patients. It was not a good time.

I’ve already come across multiple long hallways with either no automatic doors or (almost worse) an automatic door at one end and not the other. I’m hoping to be able to do a bathroom audit on the bathrooms by my service today. I’m so exhausted by just not peeing for & hours for the last three days of NEO because there are no accessible bathrooms in the unit. 🙁

 

[Sanman]

I’ve already come across multiple long hallways with either no automatic doors or (almost worse) an automatic door at one end and not the other. I’m hoping to be able to do a bathroom audit on the bathrooms by my service today. I’m so exhausted by just not peeing for & hours for the last three days of NEO because there are no accessible bathrooms in the unit. 🙁

Yeah, that just sucks.

 

[thebalmofhurtminds]

I’ve already come across multiple long hallways with either no automatic doors or (almost worse) an automatic door at one end and not the other. I’m hoping to be able to do a bathroom audit on the bathrooms by my service today. I’m so exhausted by just not peeing for & hours for the last three days of NEO because there are no accessible bathrooms in the unit. 🙁

That's absolutely insane. Really disappointing it's like that in more than one place. There were some side buildings with only stairs as well, it was egregious.