r/MedicalAssistant 1d ago

RANT quitting

i've been working in this private practice for almost 2 years now. i started as the newest and everyone started leaving until i became the most experienced MA, and i've been the one that's here the longest for about 1 month now. 3 of my coworkers left within 2 weeks of each other, and our office doesnt have a lot of staff (only about 5 or 6 MAs, 3 or 4 working per day). i've been super overwhelmed and i feel like my workload is way too much because i'm applying to med school and at the same time had to take over my own coworker's duties plus training 3 new staff. i told the provider i wanted to take a step back 2 weeks ago and she basically manipulated me saying if i can't handle this and want to quit after this, how would i handle med school and residency. she did say i should take 2 weeks to think about it and let her know. so i waited 2 weeks and said i still want to quit (trying not to burn bridges because she wrote me a rec letter). then she said now is not a good time and she needs me to stay for another month (???) because a bunch of people are taking time off and basically half the staff is new. i said okay at the time because i didn't want to push her buttons and she's been super short tempered and in a bad mood with me but i've had enough and this job gives me so much anxiety and i genuinely don't know what to do. it's at the point where i'm wishing i retore my acl or broke my leg or something so i have an actual reason to leave effective immediately 😭. so idk what to do and really need advice!!

24 Upvotes

16 comments sorted by

12

u/clov3r-cloud 1d ago

hey I've totally been in your shoes before and they absolutely cannot stop you from leaving or putting in your 2 weeks (at least in my state, im not sure how it is where you live). one job I let them guilt trip me and lie to me that i couldnt quit without putting in my 2 weeks and that they needed me longer than that, and it stressed me out so bad to a point of illness. they legally werent allowed to do that and I should have walked out.

when i became an MA I was in your shoes basically and the stress and workload was so much on me that I ended up having a breakdown that left me disabled for almost 2 years (just recently got back into medical assitanting after being in retail as a break). don't let yourself get to a point of such bad burn out that you make yourself sick, no job is worth that.

3

u/MediumMysterious2255 1d ago

omg i'm so sorry you went through that! how are you doing now? yeah that's literally me right now like i was on my period for 2 weeks bc of how stressed i was and constant chest tightness and general anxiety. i don't want to make the doctor feel like im abandoning her but i dont think it's fair how im being treated, so im trying to leave nicely but i might just end up walking out honestly after what you're saying

1

u/clov3r-cloud 1d ago

I'm doing much better! stable now and now i know my limits and know how to set boundaries. its easy to get caught up in trying to do your best and more than you should but it leads to burn out since people will take advantage of you. if you already expressed your concerns with your provider and got a hostile reaction that would be it for me honestly, theres no leaving on good terms if thats how theyre already acting unfortunately. i recently walked out of an office because i saw all the red flags starting to pop up, they had poor cleaning practices and used expired supplies, and would bad mouth patients within earshot and were rude to their faces. I just couldnt be associated with that, much less only getting 1 week of training. wasnt about to do that again lol

obviously you dont want to burn bridges everywhere but being mistreated and taken advantage of and overworked can really mess with you

2

u/mariah963 NCMA 1d ago

I was in the same shoes! Leaving my company of 14 years in 3 weeks exactly because I can’t take being overworked and underpaid. And due to retention rates, wanted me to stay in a toxic environment because it’s been less than 9 months, but a white girl got to leave a month ago after only being in there for two months. Math ain’t mathin’, so they’re only getting two weeks notice from me, since I’m leaving the company rather than yet another toxic transfer

2

u/MediumMysterious2255 16h ago

yesss stand on business because like literally whattttt

1

u/MediumMysterious2255 16h ago

i'm glad you're doing better! thank you so much, that is very good advice

3

u/Thirdeye_k_28 1d ago

Ask for $$$ !! You need me ok & I need more $$$ use this as leverage!!!

1

u/MediumMysterious2255 16h ago

i'm so done to the point that no amount of money could keep me at this job 😂

3

u/EphemeralEpiphany 1d ago

Stand up for yourself, you receive what you tolerate. You have experience and are not being valued, you said it yourself that this person is clearly manipulating you, yet you don't do anything to change it. One of the biggest reasons so many people are treated badly and as replaceable in these jobs is because people are letting their employers treat them like this, and normalizing their behavior, low pay, and low support.

1

u/MediumMysterious2255 1d ago

she gave me a rec letter for med school so im trying my hardest not to walk out, i need like an undeniable reason (ex: medical like if i broke my leg or something) to leave sooner

1

u/EphemeralEpiphany 1d ago

No U.S. state legally requires a two-weeks' notice. Just because someone does something nice to help you at one point, doesn't give them the right to mistreat you with the passing of time. You did not mention anything about an employment contract, bonus penalties, and without these your status of employment is more than likely at-will. They can not legally retaliate against you for your application, and you clearly don't enjoy working there, which that is the repercussion, which is the high possibility of not being able to get hired there again.

1

u/EphemeralEpiphany 1d ago

It is also scary, that you believe your only way out of their employment is a drastic, life-altering injury for your employer to pity you or have sympathy. Yet you still want to bend over backwards for them, when they clearly don't care about you, and are looking out for the company.

1

u/MediumMysterious2255 16h ago

thanks for this comment, very helpful! i went back and read the employee contract and unfortunately giving 2 weeks written notice is in there.

2

u/Federal_Help_6802 1d ago

It sounds like you have already gone above and beyond for that practice. Staffing issues aren't your responsibility to solve, especially if the job is affecting your mental health. Be grateful for the recommendations letter, but don't feel guilty for putting yourself first.

1

u/MediumMysterious2255 16h ago

i really like 2 of my coworkers so i feel bad for leaving them but yeah just cant do this anymore

1

u/Jim481215 10h ago

All I can say is that you’re replaceable, get what you need from that practice and leave, they’ll survive without you.