Finding Your Perfect General Practitioner Job
Posted on: 3 July 2018
As a general practitioner, your job can vary a significant amount depending on where you're based. With the GP role covering such a large area and one health centre varying so much from the next, there's plenty of room for differences to arise.
When you're looking for a new position, or perhaps your first permanent one, this can make the decision a difficult one, especially if you've already been offered more than one job.
Here are some of the things you should consider when you're deciding which GP job is the right one for you.
The location
Depending on what type of place you're based in, the experience can be massively different. A GP in a busy city, for example, can expect to have a lot of patients and treat a relatively wide range of conditions. In a rural location, on the other hand, you'll be able to get to know your patients better, and you'll be more like a traditional family doctor.
If you want to integrate into a new community, go for somewhere smaller. If you want a fast-paced job, a city might be for you. There are towns in between, too, if you want a mix of the two extremes.
How much scope there is for advancement
If you want to advance your career and eventually get a more senior role, how much is that possible in a job you're considering?
Make sure you think about where you want to be in the future, and whether that will mean staying put or looking for another job a few years down the line. Some health centres have been around for ages and the staff rarely change, where others have a high turnover of different doctors.
The size of the healthcare centre
The size of the centre is often linked to where it is, but not always. In larger centres, you'll have more colleagues and probably more patients, but there may be a greater possibility of promotion or developing a specialism.
In the bigger places, there are probably more support staff, which is useful if you want to concentrate on seeing your patients. The extra tasks in small centres can be enjoyable for some people, though.
Your experience and its fit
In the outback and other remote places, GPs with experience in emergency care are often more sought-after, due to the lack of other health facilities. If this is you, you could really put your skills to use there.
Anywhere else, look at the other doctors working and see if there's a gap in specialisms where you could use your knowledge and expertise.
Finding general practitioner jobs that let you use your experience makes you feel more valued and can make work a lot more satisfying.
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