Should You Pick Up That Extra Shift? It May Not Pay Off

Dina Cheney, Medscape

Is picking up extra physician shifts actually worth the additional income?

Physicians should look beyond the advertised pay and consider the financial, personal, and professional costs.

• Extra income isn’t always extra take-home pay. Higher earnings can increase taxes, student-loan payments, and other financial obligations—especially with 1099 work.
• Consider the true value of your time. Unpaid documentation, commuting, childcare, and lost personal/recovery time can significantly reduce the benefit of an extra shift.
• Check whether you’re being fairly compensated. Physicians should research current market rates rather than relying solely on an employer’s compensation data.
• Burnout is a major consideration. Taking extra shifts when already overworked can contribute to exhaustion, impaired judgment, and eventually leaving clinical practice.
• Extra shifts can work when they’re strategic. One physician profiled chooses only highly compensated shifts and avoids working when he needs recovery time.
• Extra work can have career benefits. Additional clinical experiences can help physicians discover new interests, develop skills, or transition into different career paths.

Extra shifts can be worthwhile, but physicians should evaluate the net financial benefit, time commitment, and impact on well-being rather than simply looking at the extra paycheck.

Contact SCC to explore ways SCC can empower you to choose the extra work that enables you to “build things, learn, and keep your career growing”.

READ THE FULL MEDSCAPE ARTICLE HERE