Most people know I do not like to extend my assignment. I prefer new experiences and moving on. The longer I am at one job usually the more irritable I become.
Soon after I extended my time in Chicago, the Medical Director was already approaching me about staying longer. I told him I would let him know during the beginning of my last month whether or not I would extend. This is because I have no way of knowing how I will feel 2-3 months from now.
There will be a finite time of my extension because Chicago has harsh winters and there is no way I could survive that. There will be a new physician starting at the end of my original extension, so the site wants to make sure there is a warm hand off by me staying longer.
Although there have been a few nuances such as physicians calling off frequently or not wanting to share the patient walk-in load, I enjoy my job. The longer I stay at this site, the easier it gets because the better I know the patients.
I have already celebrated milestone birthdays (80 and 90 years old) with my patients. I have celebrated anniversaries and births of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I have been there for them during the death of a loved one or met with their family when it was time to go on hospice. I have already helped patients improve their diabetes, work on their anxiety/depression, and become physically stronger after surgery.
The patients already know me well and make jokes about when is my next vacation and how humid it must be in Miami right now. Even though I am one of the newest providers to the market, I actually have the best patient outcomes. This means I have the least amount of patients going to the hospital. For geriatric patients this is significant because it means less sick days and more healthy days with their family. I believe the reason my hospital sick days are low is because my patients trust me.
Thus, I feel like there is no reason for me not to extend. My only concern is that I do not want to get too attached to my patients the way I did when I was in Virginia the first time. But I think this time I will have less guilt about leaving because there will be a warm hand off with their new doctor. I have also learned to compartmentalize a bit better.
Have any of you extended beyond 6 months?
I have been asked to extend but due to family/personal life I have been unable to do so. I do feel that I have done a good job and did well by my patients when they say they are disappointed that I am leaving and “why is it when we get a good one they always leave?”
Hi Sophia,
No, I have never extended over 6 months because again like you I start to get irritated over the politics. But yes the patient’s will always get attached to you and not want you to leave because you are amazing at your job and care.
All of the jobs I have worked have asked me to stay as well, I just can’t get back into the politics or the guilt of not working 7 days a week again, and being on call.
I love meeting all the new people and visiting new places, then going home!
Love my Locum Tenens Work!
Emily
Thanks for the feedback!