Very interesting to be back here in the MomMd forums. I have been away "working" for the past few years and just now found my way back. In the three years since graduating residency I will tell everyone that I have quit 3 permanent jobs and have filled the void on many locums assignments in between. There are many reasons why people quit, and although I have an obligation to patients, I have an obligation to myself to be happy and stay healthy, and to ensure my family is happy as well.

1st job: I LOVED it. My family hated where we moved to. I was on call all the time and had to live at the hospital during call because I covered ER and lived too far away to be home. The schools were terrible. My husband was miserable, my kids were miserable. We couldn't find housing. The student loan repayment never materialized.

2nd job: I was a SLAVE. On call one week at a time doing full day clinic and full hospitalist service. No leeway from clinic manager if overwhelmed at the hospital. Was screamed at profusely for cancelling one-half day of clinic due to patient needing emergent care and transfer to bigger facility, etc. I could go on. Student loan payment portion of the contract was not fulfilled by employer. Left without notice for their breach of contract.

3rd job: I was a worse SLAVE. Took over a retiree practice. Office runs with 4 staff members, corporate gave me 2 and said deal with it until you show us numbers. Patient's extremely angry when their doc left. I ended up working 12 hours a day trying to help staff keep up with paperwork and was reduced to a typist. Eventually lost all find motor function in my hands. Was screamed at if the staff got any overtime. Nurse broke down crying on a daily basis. I was reduced to getting up with dry heaves every day and walking around the office with ice packs on my hands. What a nightmare. I saw my kids less than when I worked locums which defeated the whole purpose of taking the job in the first place.

So after all that, I am super leery about jummping into another permanent position. Seems I am destined to be a locums doc forever. All my assignments I have been on I totally loved but the locations were terrible and I can't afford to repeat what happened juring job #1.

Thanks for listening. I agree that the article is crap. You have to do what is best for you.

Welcome back, Kathie, DO! It sounds like your family has been very flexible in moving with you to the different locations. I think a lot of people end up stuck in a particular location because of a husband's job or a child's school or an unsellable house and then they have a limited choice of non-ideal jobs.

Yes, I understand about being stuck. I still have a home in texas that is unsellable. I have one of my inlaws living in it taking the loss on taxes which helps. My poor son is in his third high school in 2 years so I will not be moving him again. He has managed to maintain an A+ average despite the turmoil. My husband stays home so whether I am away at a locums site, he is the constant and takes care of the home front which makes my life so much easier and I don't worry. When I am away I talk with my kids on facebook instant message since each one has a computer and I help with homework over chat lines. It all seems to work out and while I wish I could just find a job that was agreeable and happy, I have peace knowing that the kids are settled and doing well whether I am there in person or not. I try to co-ordinate locums assignments so they are no longer than 8 weeks and I tend to take a month off at least inbetween. We have done well. Nice to take extended vacations and not have to ask permission.

Wow, Kathie, DO, that is really unconventional but it sounds like it is working out well for everybody.

Wow, I just skimmed through all of the posts on this topic. Kathie, DO, thanks for sharing your work stories. SAHMD, thanks for being such a steady voice on this website.

Hi Kathie- good to see you back!