Big/Little

[ladysprite]

I've always worked in big veterinary clinics, ever since I graduated - at my first job I was one of seven vets at the hospital, and at my second I was one of four. Even when I was by myself at the clinic, I knew that I was part of a team. Someone else was almost always available to help out with an extra hand, or advice from a similar case that they had treated, or a moment to look at test results and offer their interpretation. There was also a kind of cowardly but comforting anonymity in being part of something so big, a knowledge that I didn't need to worry about setting policy or determining protocols because they would already be figured out for me by bosses and associates who had come before me.

Now I have an opportunity in front of me, and it bears no resemblance to anything I've ever done before. There's a clinic, not too far from my house, where the current vets are both retiring. The owners are looking for two new vets, one to be chief of staff and one associate. The vet they're likely to hire as chief of staff is a friend of mine, and they've offered me the job as associate.

I know I can work with the other vet; we've worked together as associates in the same clinic before. She's a fun person and a good doctor, and she practices sound medicine. The facillities aren't bad, and they're being renovated. The compensation package is nice, the hours are okay, and the location is good. But I've never been part of something so small before, and I've never been in a position where I'd have such free rein.

She and I would be the practice, more or less. We'd set our own policies, practice our own medicine, make our own hospital. In so many ways, this is wonderful; at the same time, it's terrifying. There's safety and comfort in being just a cog in someone else's big hospital, and not having to make any clinic-wide decisions, and having rules set for you. The medicine aspect is a little scary, too - we'd be on our own, without a handful of others to poke their heads in on our cases and comment and help and debate.

I know I'm a good doctor, and I know I don't need the safety net of half a dozen colleagues, but that doesn't stop me from wanting it. If I can get past my wembling and worrying, I think this could be a very good opportunity. I can't help fretting, though, about what might happen if it doesn't work out. I've been burned twice in a short time, and I don't want it to happen again. On the other hand, I'm probably going to be distrustful of any opportunity that presents itself to me. On the other other hand, I'm still getting other offers. So far none of them quite match this, but I've got two more interviews this week.

I keep thinking of more reasons to go for it, and more reasons not to. I'm running out of other hands, and I need to make a decision soon.....

Comments

[figmo.livejournal.com]

I can't think of any reason not to go for it.

[sdorn.livejournal.com]

Go for it!!!!!!!!!! This is one of those opportunities that doesn't present itself often.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

This sounds wonderful!

[leanne-opaskar.livejournal.com]

GO FOR IT! (: This sounds like a tremendous opportunity. Scary, hell yes, but this is a huge break for you.

*hugs* Best wishes, whatever you decide. (: But I think you're tremendously capable and can handle something like this really well once you get settled in.

[autographedcat.livejournal.com]

When we look back on life, we often find we regret the things we didn't do far more than the things we did.

Go for it! *hug*

[jiggliusceasar.livejournal.com]

What they all said. If you do it, Saru-chan will come!

[kightp.livejournal.com]

When faced with decisions that make my head spin around from considering pros and cons, I take the easy way out.

I flip a coin.

Invariably, my gut reaction to seeing it land heads- or tails-up will tell me exactly what I need to know.

[oakleaf-mirror.livejournal.com]

I was just going to suggest this very method. Good luck!

[pocketnaomi.livejournal.com]

My cousin is a vet who has recently (a year or so) started up her own hospital and it's thriving. If you'd like her perspective on running your own show, I'd be glad to put you in touch.

[bess.livejournal.com]

Go for it!

[wcg.livejournal.com]

I do appreciate the quandry, and I see the reasons that make you hesitate. But from here it seems to me that it'd be a very good move for you.

Of course, you're the one who knows best.

[alexx-kay.livejournal.com]

There's safety and comfort in being just a cog in someone else's big hospital, and not having to make any clinic-wide decisions, and having rules set for you.

Isn't that exactly what *didn't* work about the last (allegedly) permanent job? That they set rules that you didn't manage to immediately adapt to? Whereas this is a situation where the rules would be much looser, and set by someone that you already know that you can work with productively. Sounds worth trying to me.

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

This is all part of growing up. It's like the decision to purchase a house, or to get married. Sooner or later you just... do it, even though you feel wobbly and scared inside. And then you discover that it really isn't as big and scary as you thought it was, because you've grown to fit.

They think you're grown up enough. Your friends think you're grown up enough. It's not always easy to see yourself as being grown up enough, but I think you are. Stop listening to the tapes, they don't know you and they don't know what they're talking about.

[thbeatnik.livejournal.com]

Most of the vet clinics where I live are small, 2-3 doctor businesses. My experience with them, which was mostly watching as my mother took our various pets in while I grew up (but, since she raised and showed corgis, that was quite a lot of vet visits over time)was that the doctors wound up working quite hard, but tended to develop a strong connection to their regulars, because of the smaller base of patients. i remember one litter in particular that we named after the various members of our vet's family, in appreciation of his guiding us through a particularly rough delivery.
I would hope that the experience would be similar where you are, although with perhaps fewer rural influences; more pets and less livestock. If that is likely to be the case, then my advice would be to go for it.

Good luck!

[rabbitorf.livejournal.com]

Give Dr. Neer a ring for his opinion? It sounds like he's a good person to talk to when deciding whether to take a new job.

opinion from a stranger

[freyja.livejournal.com]

oh, you HAVE to do it. you just have to. :)

Opinion from a strange person who's not a stranger

[filker0.livejournal.com]

It sounds like a good opportunity, but I'll leave the "Go for it" or "Keep in mind" stuff for spiritdance, as she's the one who knows these things.

*hugs*

It was good seeing you last week! I hope you enjoyed the fudge. :-)

*more hugs*

[rectangularcat]

Go for it!

If the other vets are retiring - does that say that they will be totally uninvolved? Do you have some sort of profit sharing with them?

[wren13.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I may know the hospital you are talking about - give me a ring if you want. My usual way of dealing with these decisions is a pros/cons list, then sleep on it and see how I feel the next day.
Whichever way you decide, best of luck!

[spiritdancer]

Gee, why do you think Steph (the referral co-ordinator at OSU) knows my voice on the telephone? Even when all I've said is "sure" when she asks if I could hold (yes, she's come back and greeted me by name when I've just said that one word ;-)

Working on your own (more or less) is one sure way to get your feet under you and get a lot of confidence in yourself.

Drawback may come down to what happens for after hours stuff/emergencies and when you're out of town. One of my "2 doc" experiences where I was the associate basically left me taking all the emergencies, all the time (for eight weeks straight); that's where I finally learned to say "no, dammit, I need some time off!" (not in those exact words, but pretty close). It's also part of why my office hours are set the way they are now ... it gives me a nice balance between work hours and having a life outside the office (I think your husband might appreciate seeing you once in a while, too *grin*).

Having had the experiences you've had lately, I would suggest NOT going for this one unless you are absolutely sure about it - what your heart tells you.

Then again, as you know, I have a vested interest in keeping you doing relief work for a while yet :->

*hugs*
_M_

[pagawne.livejournal.com]

Becky, I have absolute faith in you. If you choose to do this, you will do well.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

It sounds like there are more positives than negatives. Are there other people you could call for another opinion if you needed one?

[warinbear.livejournal.com]

I think that it sounds like a good opportunity for you.

The fact that it is presently a two-vet system, and that you and one other person might be occupying the two existing posts, does not mean that it will always stay that way -- the owners might decide to expand, or give you and your partner some hiring authority. Also, there's no reason not to draw on the same kind of resource that you presently represent, that being the veterinary equivalent of a substitute teacher (IIUC).

[cyan-blue.livejournal.com]

Go for it! This sounds like a wonderful growth opportunity.

chiming in from CowTown

[gmkieran.livejournal.com]

Even Zaphod Beeblebrox would be out of other hands by now!!! In any case, I say grab the tiger by the horns and pin the tail on the oliphaunt! (translation "Go for it!", but everyone else said that)

*HUG*

One thing more to consider

[cristovau.livejournal.com]

If you do go for it (and I like everyone else thinks you should), you are not married to this practice. Especially as the associate, you should allow yourself the freedom to leave if it really doesn't work for you. There is the underlying assumption that because the vets you are replacing considered it their lives, you must as well. It might become this. It might not. Take the opportunity as an opportunity, not as a limitation. Don't worry yourself with musts and shoulds. It isn't good to live must-y and heavy should-ered.

[hfcougar.livejournal.com]

I have nothing to say that hasn't already been said, only that you should go for it.

A scene from the movie Sliding Doors comes to mind...

"What's the worst that could happen?"

"Uh, I could fail miserably, and end up looking like a complete toss-up?"

"Exactly! So nothing to worry about!"

[thatwasjen]

I can't tell you what to do, but I would suggest a close look at your decision making process. It can't just come down to listed pros and cons.

Are you reluctant because you're nervous about a new situation, or are you worried that your patients won't get the best possible care from a small practice of two newly hired vets?

Are you holding out for a larger practice because it's familiar, or because you think you function better as a DVM when you're in a bigger group?

You will do what is best. Good luck.

[sdavido.livejournal.com]

Sounds a bit frightening, but ideal. I'd say go for it, as long as you have someone look over the financial aspects.

Good luck! Let us know when you have the opening!

[dornbeast.livejournal.com]

There's safety and comfort in being just a cog in someone else's big hospital, and not having to make any clinic-wide decisions, and having rules set for you.

But this way, you know all the rules. No unwritten rules that "everybody knows," apparently through telepathy.

The medicine aspect is a little scary, too - we'd be on our own, without a handful of others to poke their heads in on our cases and comment and help and debate.

Or nitpick, second-guess, and cause paranoia.

Good luck, whatever you do.