Certain challenges that prevent you from maintaining a healthy, active medical career may be prevented by avoiding the following three most common mistakes doctors make with their careers.
1. Allowing Medical License(s) to Lapse
Whether you are taking a break from practice or simply have collected a generous amount of state licenses through locums assignments, allowing a medical license to expire can impact the possibility of new assignments. Having an active license in a state where you are seeking work will be beneficial and expedite the process. If not, you will have to reapply for a license which takes time. Retaining active licenses allows you more opportunities for locums assignments.
In addition, renewing a license, versus reinstating an expired one, typically costs less. VISTA can assist you with renewals and make the process easier so you can get to work.
2. Financial Upheaval
When your financial house is in order, your life will run a bit more smoothly. Financial planning and arranging a will and power of attorney are crucial to maintaining order in this area of personal finance. When it comes time to pay off your student loans and finding the best repayment plan, a staffing agency can assist you with finding a permanent job that offers student loan repayment or extra locums assignments to help you pay off your loans quickly.
3. Working Too Much
Burnout is a real thing and is especially common with doctors because of long hours and high stress levels. Physician burnout was reported among 70% of survey respondents. Burnout differs from normal stress and causes an inability to recover reserves of energy, a lack of desire to give your best to your patients and a decreasing level of energy that doesn’t improve, says The Happy MD. Signs of burnout include emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced accomplishment.
Recognizing the early warning signs of burnout and learning how to decrease stress are essential to rejuvenating yourself and your career. Take time to decompress, step away from your work and allow yourself to take regular vacations.
Prevent further stress by maintaining active licenses and keeping your financial house in order. Learn how VISTA can help!
