Hi all,
I am a new grad vet who has been in the mentorship phase of joining my new practice (general practice). I will be looking to talk/figure out my long term schedule with them soon. My ideal schedule would be to work Mon-Thursday, and then take a Saturday per month. Friday off would be my ideal due to rotating schedule of taking care of a sick family member, but I recognize that may be less likely as a new grad and I would be fine with any day depending on the clinic needs.
I'm feeling a lot of anxiety about discussing this with the practice manager/medical director, as it seems like all of the doctors have more sporadic schedules that vary. Sometimes they are off on different days during the months (inconsistent between weeks), sometimes they vary hours, etc. I would really like to have a consistent schedule with consistent hours figured out per week. I do not thrive well with a changing day off or changing hours per week, it just makes me anxious constantly checking the schedule to know when I need to be there or what my days working are that week. I've currently been following a couple different doctors, and I already feel a major strain/anxiety with the changing days off/variable hours every week. I have ADHD/generalized anxiety disorder and honestly I think the constantly changing/variable schedule just makes me feel out of control of my life.
What is the best way to approach this with them when discussing it? I don't want to come across lazy or entitled, but I also don't think I will thrive/do my best with a constantly changing schedule and I will quickly get burnt out. Obviously I want to be a team player and I am happy to cover/be flexible if another doctor has to be out for a reason, but I would really prefer to have consistency for my own mental health.
This has become a major source of anxiety for me over the past few weeks. I stupidly didn't negotiate my contract down so I am stuck in it for 2 years, and the idea of having to work very inconsistent and varying hours for two years is looming over my head.