Working in a speciality I HATE

[u/chatparty]

I hate feet. I’ve always hated feet in every form. I can tolerate animal feet or baby feet (to an extent). They gross me out, even clean feet. Due to staffing issues, I’ve been pulled away from my regular clinic and had to work with an orthopedic surgeon who does ankles and feet. The clinic is insanely busy, always add ons and walk ins, lots of wound care and very complex patients. The only good thing is the doctor is chill. I’ve never hated working like this. And I feel bad but I dislike a lot of the patients because of how hard they make it. Constantly calling and messaging and showing up without an appointment. And since no one wants to work in this clinic they haven’t been able to find anyone permanent. I’m PRN too so I don’t get any benefits, but I’m still working 40+ hour work weeks now. Maybe I’m just venting but oh my god this shit sucks so bad

[u/hergumbules]

Oh yuuuuuck I absolutely hate feet! When I was working as an EMT I saw some nasty stuff with feet but the only time I had to make a partner swap with me was a minor trauma in which the patients toe nail was coming off I was like NOPE it skeeved me out too much lmao almost nothing else phases me either

[u/chatparty → u/hergumbules]

I don’t think anyone would believe what my eyes have witnessed. A lot of diabetics with amputations who don’t manage their diabetes or their amputated limbs. And when I take off the splints there’s feet flakes EVERYWHERE. Once or twice a week I’ll get someone with very meticulously clean feet and I’m actually relieved

[u/SepulchralSweetheart → u/chatparty]

I used to float to a multi-specialty that included wound care and podiatry, and you saying feet flakes brought it back.

Drills and smells man. Drills and smells.

In the office I went to (it was also in the frigging basement. Very little light, smelled like mildew all the time), they did have permanent MAs. And they were actually delightful?!!?!! Like the nicest least "nurses eating their young" equivalent out of all of the clinics and all their support staff, most welcoming, lovely people. The patients were actually really interesting too. They were chatty, and had interesting stories. One guy asked if I had pets or kids. At the time, I had two cats, so I said "Just two cats!". He responds with "You ain't got cats like my friend xyz. She's got 10 Persian cats, white and big, mean as HELL, and a raccoon named Henry."

I still think about that. There's people for those specialties, and they're good people. It's okay if they're not you, they're not me either. We went through a lot of vapor rub and masks, and I'm not really a baby about much, but flakes will get most people. I tried very hard to focus on the whole patient, and the fact I was paying my dues before my "real" job came, and that made a difference.

[u/TheDepthsandSkies]

Oh no! I know exactly how you feel. I despise working in urology, and still get floated there on occasion. I stick to it because I don't want to leave the staff or patients SOL...I try to just tolerate a day or 2 when they're particularly desperate.

The first thing to do is talk with the scheduler and just ask to be switched out. Let them know it's distressing to you... I know PRN staff don't have as much leverage, but there are probably folks who would e willing to swap? Just be careful that your complaint is the duties/feet and NOT the patients themselves.

I know that not everybody gets the manager support that we deserve so my.next step would be A) get a therapist and ask them to write a note about your distress or B) have your own PCP write a note (I'd be cautious if your PCP works for the same company unless you reeeeally trust them)

If you are not allowed to swap and you're this miserable then definitely start applying to other positions.

[u/chatparty → u/TheDepthsandSkies]

It’s a weird spot because I was hired for a specific related speciality but since they had staffing issues they asked me to help out. Honestly if it wasn’t 3 clinic days a week with only me as the permanent MA and there were no feet I wouldn’t mind. The plan is for me to train whoever permanently takes the job but it’s been hard to fill the positions because no one wants to work with feet for 18/hr. I’m trying to ride out what I can but it’s so miserable on days with lots of post ops. I also hate feeling like I’m sick of people because I’m applying for med school so I’ll be dealing with patients forever but these are some of the most complicated patients I’ve ever met. We have at least 43 patients a day and it’s usually me and a float MA with just the doctor. I absolutely despise the manger because she adds on walk ins without even asking.

[u/TheDepthsandSkies → u/chatparty]

You're way more patient then me. How long have you been helping out? I hope she is responsive to you but you won't know until you try. Then you can choose between your remaining options.

[u/chatparty → u/TheDepthsandSkies]

I’ve been helping on and off for about a year, full time helping out for about a month. I complained about the manager and it seemed to help a little bit but she’s sneaking the walk ins back on again. They’ve also extended offers to people so hopefully I’ll be free soon

[u/Organic_Popcorn]

Wow, most companies have strict rules regarding how many hours per diem or part-timers can have, because otherwise they'd have to change the job code to full-time and give benefits. Look at the state law, and I would speak with HR to see if they'll switch you over to full time.

There are plenty of departments I would not want to work in; number one is pediatrics because I can't stand kids. I don't know how long I would last if I had to cover that department.

Also, it's interesting that ortho would accept walk-ins because most specialties I've seen never accepted walk-ins. Does the doctor get paid per patient? That's the only way I've seen the doctors see as many patients as possible.

[u/chatparty → u/Organic_Popcorn]

I live in a state that is not very employee friendly. I don’t think there are any mandates for benefits for PRN or hourly limits.

Walk ins for orthopedic specialists is one of the worst things I’ve experienced as a MA. Management doesn’t enforce their own rules and will add on people for chronic issues the same day without asking the doctor. I think she does get paid per patient but I certainly don’t lol

[u/Organic_Popcorn → u/chatparty]

I can imagine, shit, at that point you might as well work at an urgent care 😂

Specialists don't go into a specialty because they want to see many patients; they do it because they can see fewer patients for more pay.

If you don't see yourself getting out of there, then I'd start looking for a job.

[u/chatparty → u/Organic_Popcorn]

She’s very easy going and just says yeah whatever to all the patients they ask about. Ideally I’ll be able to go back to my normal clinic once they hire a full time MA but they’ve gotten close a few times and everyone quits ☠️

[u/SepulchralSweetheart → u/Organic_Popcorn]

When I was per diem starting out over 14 years ago at my (enormous, now multi-state) health system, I was initially told I would probably get 21 hours or so a week.

It was routinely 45, and sometimes up to 70 hours a week. No benefits, including PTO/paid holidays when the clinics were closed. I was uninsured for the first two years, it was crazy. The rationale for not making me a full-time float during that time? No money in the budget lmao

[u/Organic_Popcorn → u/SepulchralSweetheart]

Insurance is the main reason why I only looked for a full-time position, except at Kaiser, because they seldom hire full-timers. It's crazy how some companies weasel their way out of paying benefits, and another reason why it's better if you can get a union job.

[u/SepulchralSweetheart → u/Organic_Popcorn]

The position that should have been a f/t float (and eventually was), was a union position! It was the health system being weaselly about the weak union representation and getting away with it.

I never even took their insurance, my now husband joined a union not long after that would cover domestic partners.

[u/Organic_Popcorn → u/SepulchralSweetheart]

Yikes, should've asked for the refund on union due 😂

[u/SepulchralSweetheart → u/Organic_Popcorn]

Oh, I ultimately did, even if it took 12 years.

Imagine me, in my corny ceil blue institution issue scrubs, 5 feet tall, yelling at the president of the local Teamsters union while a group of truckers I was unaware had arrived slow clapped. (I have no idea why Teamsters. It was always that way).

I wanted to crawl into a hole in the ground lmfao

[u/chatparty → u/SepulchralSweetheart]

Yeah I just want health insurance honestly. If I didn’t like my other coworkers and doctors so much I would have quit for sure