After spending decades in the classroom, years in the lab, countless nights worked during residency and hundreds of thousands of dollars on education, physicians deserve to absolutely love their jobs. However, this is not always the case. Many physicians experience debilitating burnout more than once in their careers. With a surgical career being such a long-term commitment that requires mental, physical and emotional strength, how do you rediscover why you practice medicine?
Overcoming Medical Burnout and Reigniting Passions
It’s easy to see how the personal, professional and scheduling pressures on surgeons can cause them to lose sight of why they entered the profession in the first place. However, at NexGen Surgical, we believe in helping surgeons overcome these types of feelings and providing them with a renewed passion for practicing medicine. If you are finding yourself dissatisfied with your current position, the amount of time you spend on non-clinical tasks, your current work-life balance or the impact (or lack thereof) you are making on patients, here are some tips to extend your career that can also help you rediscover your “why” for practicing medicine:
Work in a Rural Location or Underserved Area
There are opportunities all across the United States to see patients and cases that you may never encounter in your bustling urban practice. Working in rural areas provides the chance to make a change in the lives of people who might not otherwise get access to the type of care you can deliver. Our surgeons find it incredibly rewarding to be able to deliver care in underserved areas without having to relocate. Even when working only two weeks per month, our surgeons can build meaningful relationships with patients while providing the lifeline they need.
Give Yourself a Chance to Try Different Practice Settings
Some surgeons find it limiting or boring to stay in one clinical environment for too long. Taking jobs in a different city, state or practice setting can be a great way to experience new medical challenges and learn how others approach them. It can also provide a way to experience different cultures. Rather than visiting the same restaurants and entertainment venues over and over at home, enjoy the time you spend away from practice by trying new foods and experiences in new locations.
Consider Alternatives to the Traditional Surgeon Schedule
We’re here to tell you that you no longer have to continue burning the midnight oil. Spending too much time in the hospital and spending too much time on call is a recipe for burnout. Surgeons who work with NexGen work two weeks out of the month and are not on call during their time off. This offers a great alternative to locum tenens positions that require surgeons to move around for assignments. With NexGen’s model, you will work in one community, giving yourself the option to put down roots in a new place or continue living at home.
Join the NexGen Surgical Team
NexGen Surgical offers a more enjoyable pace of life for surgeons who want to enhance their work-life balance without taking a pay cut. Our model gives hardworking surgeons the ability to embrace a healthy lifestyle without having to take call during time-off or waste time working on billing, payroll or staffing issues. If you are an experienced surgeon, regardless of specialty, you may be an excellent fit for the NexGen Surgical team. Apply now, and our recruiters will set up a time to discuss your background, experience and lifestyle goals. Give us a call at 844-592-0802.
