Back in October, I received a promotion at work. It was a promotion from an in-field Case Manager to an in-office Care Coordinator. It was wonderful to be considered for the job and promoted to the position. It always feels good to be valued like that – – to be recognized for your work, experience and knowledge. I accepted the position and started it October. I told myself I’d give it six months to see if it’s something I liked and a position in which I felt I could make a difference.
It’s been almost exactly six months, to the day. Yesterday, I walked into my Administrator’s office… sat down and resigned my position, and requested to take up my previous position as in-field Case Manager.
She was shocked, really. I went into an explanation about how miserable I was in this new position. I’m not an office dweller. I don’t like pushing paper. I feel that the greatest difference I can make in these people’s lives is at their side – – not making sure that we’re paper compliant. I understand the importance of paper compliance — but I’m not the one to be the Paper Police . . . let someone else do it.
My Admin. frowned and said, “But Lisa – you have the knowledge to do this job. You’re so good at it!” I replied, “I understand – I’m good at taking out the garbage, but that doesn’t mean I want to do it”, I smiled.
She understood and was actually very good about it. As soon as they find a replacement for me in this position, I’ll be back in the field – taking care of patients where I feel I belong. I feel relieved and really can’t wait until they find someone to fill this job…because, personally, I can’t take it anymore.
I shoulda known.
It’s hard to step down at any job. My cousin almost had a nervous breakdown from not stepping down. She was qualified for her job but hated it…not everyone can work in an office and be a desk jockey..not there’s anything wrong with it..it’s just not for some folks. I’m happy that you had the sense to step down. If you work you might as well enjoy the job you’re going off to do and I bet those patients will be better off having a gal like you around. People need people like you by their sides not pushing paper.
Ah well, at least you gave it a chance – even if you didn’t like it. It’s good to know what you want. And it is good to know what will make you happy.
Lisa, I did the same thing. After being a field case manager for several years I took a clinical supervisor position. I hated being stuck in the office all day and lived for the days when I could go out on supervisory visits. Eventually I went to another company as a supervisor but soon went back into the field. The one thing that was grafifying was that when I left the first company, several of the case managers told me how much they learned from me. That felt good. But I much prefer having the freedom of being out in the field over sitting in the office all day. Being a supervisor, I felt like the papework police too, which I didn’t like.
Suzi – I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one out there that just can’t handle it. I know exactly what you mean about ‘living for’ those supervisory visits. It’s funny, though – after 11 years of practicing in an institution…I was a field case manager for 2 years, and now I can’t stand being stuck behind 4 walls.
It’s so important to be happy in your day to day work – at least it is for me, because otherwise my work performance suffers greatly.
I agree- live is too short to be miserable in a job every day.