5 Key Factors That Tell You It Is Time to Change Physician Assistant Jobs

The other day I had a long talk with a friend who is also a physician assistant. The topic of conversation was when do we know it is time to switch jobs? As a medical provider, it can be an extremely tough choice. You have spent potentially years building connections with your patients. So, making the decision to change physician assistant jobs and leave them can be hard. It has been a personal struggle of mine since my husband is on active duty. I am essentially forced to leave behind my job every few years.

In my case, I know approximately when I am going to leave and go to a new state. I have been lucky so far that my employers have understood my circumstance and hired me anyways. I hope I will continue to experience this level of understanding as my career progresses. In my friend’s case, there were a lot of other factors that she had been considering prior to making this decision. It brought up the question in my mind, when should people make moves to change to a different job? Whether it is within the same field of medicine or a completely different specialty altogether, there are definitely factors that should make the decision to switch jobs very tempting if not unavoidable.

Of course with everything in life, It is not always a black-and-white decision. There are so many different situations such as non-competes that may impede you from making moves that you know are in your best interest. My hope is if the thought of switching jobs has been on your mind, then after reading this article you should know what questions to ask yourself to help guide you to the decision that is best for you and your family.

A long commute could be a factor when deciding to change physician assistant jobs

If you consider the amount of time people sit in a car during a long commute it can be almost panic-inducing. I used to commute an hour and a half EACH WAY every single day to my first physician assistant job. That was 3 hours of driving a day. I started off working 4 days a week and eventually went down to 3 12 hour shifts per week.

This meant that I was up at 4:30 am. I left the house by 5:30, and got to work around the time clinic started which was 7 am. I would then work from 7 am to 7 pm, likely not leaving the office until 7:30 pm. If I was lucky, I would get home around 9 pm. I worked the 3 12-hour shifts for over 6 months every week. This means I was in the car for over 500 hours that year simply for work.

You can bet I will never do that again. I made the calculated decision to do it in the first place for a few reasons. Ultimately, it was so I could get my foot in the door of my chosen specialty. It did end up being the right decision for me. But if I had been in a position where I could have switched jobs, stayed in the same specialty, and worked closer to home then I would have. Time spent commuting to work is in my mind a huge factor when deciding if it is time to switch jobs.

You have hit a glass ceiling

If you have been working at the same company for years and no matter what you do or say they aren’t budging on your salary, it may be time to look elsewhere. It is my personal belief that if you are contributing to the growth of a company then you should be compensated accordingly. After a few years of work, physician assistants should absolutely be at a point where they can contribute to the growth of their company. As a new grad, you are in a slightly different position. It takes time and money upfront to train you. This means it may be a year or so before the practice starts to see returns on their investment (you).

Raises may not be on an annual basis like some other career paths but they should be anticipated at least every few years. For example, when your contract is up for renewal is a perfect time to discuss a raise. If a company says you have met your maximum I would consider that a red flag. One perk of my circumstance of having to move around every few years is that I have an excuse to search around for better financial opportunities.

Promises aren’t being kept

If you are in a situation where your employer keeps promising you things and not following through then it may be time to look elsewhere. Whether you asked for a change in your schedule or more assistance from staff. False promises at work are not a sign of a happy future. If you are doing your job and following through on what is expected of you then it is absolutely in your right to expect the same of your employer and management. My friend was promised monthly meetings to discuss her progress and the employer did not follow through. One or two times may be no big deal. If that is happening for a year straight then something needs to be done.

Uncomfortable working environments

One obvious thing that tells us it is time to change physician assistant jobs is that you are working in an uncomfortable environment. I am not talking about an uncomfortable chair, but instead, that feeling you get in your gut when you know something is not quite right. It may be obvious or it may be subtle. It may even have nothing to do with you. But if you are experiencing this then start putting out feelers for other opportunities.

We spend so much of our waking time at work. Working in a hostile working environment or uncomfortable one for any reason at all, in my opinion, is not worth your mental well-being. I have been in situations where I dreaded going to work (prior to physician assistant school) because other staff members were simply unkind people… to put it mildly. I stuck with the job for way too long because I didn’t want to feel like a quitter. Once I finally left the job and was able to properly reflect on the experience I made a promise to myself. I would never stick with a job if I was made to feel that way again.

Feelings of burnout

Similarly to the above, if you are experiencing signs of burnout then it is simply not worth your mental health. It may be time to not only switch jobs but maybe even switch specialties. An amazing benefit of a career as a physician assistant is the ability to move freely from specialty to specialty. You can do this without the need for a residency or any other additional formal training. If you are no longer enjoying your work or maybe the patient population then consider a change. Maybe this means working in a different specialty that may better suit your strengths and aspects of the job you do enjoy.

For example, if you are let’s say in primary care and are experiencing signs of burnout then make a list of everything you love about the job and then the things you could do without. You may realize you like the 9-5 lifestyle and want to stay with that and maybe you love treating orthopedic injuries but you hate treating high cholesterol. Perhaps you should pursue an outpatient ortho PA job.

Alternative suggestions to try before you decide to change physician assistant jobs

You may be unsure if deciding to change physician assistant jobs is the right move for you. I would suggest first attempting to adjust your current job to make it more enjoyable. Whether this is asking for a raise, decreasing the amount of days per week you work, or switching your hours around there might be a simple solution to your discontent that doesn’t involve leaving for good.

If you or a friend is in a position where you are deciding whether it is time to make a change, comment below with factors that you are considering. I would love to discuss them with you!