There will be occasions when you need to prepare for something, such as a presentation, or do some research outside of work in order to catch up or expand your knowledge base. This may be especially true when you are new to your profession, but you need to learn to not mix your work with your home environment. You need a place to retreat and get away. Perhaps spending an hour at the library on your way home can accomplish this.

Consider whether your habit of bringing work home stems from something that you can resolve by purchasing an item such as a PDA (personal digital assistant), which can house databases and offers access to the Internet. If you've been spending time at home researching medical information, you might consider having one of these in your pocket for quick reference while working instead.

Can you accomplish the same thing by staying a little later or going in a little early? This may not be ideal either, but at least you're not allowing your work to enter your home. Keeping the two separate is important. Sometimes you cannot help but mix the two if, for example, you have to be on call for the night. Even then, try not to mix in any more than is necessary. Take and make necessary calls in another room if possible.

You may live and work in the same area, which gives rise to the possibility that you'll encounter patients in the community, such as at the grocery store. You can be warm and friendly, but you also may need to set limits with them and tell them to call you at work and not discuss business when you run in to them. Never give out your home or other private phone numbers to patients, no matter how much they beg for it. Remember to keep your relationships professional. Just as you respect their right to privacy, expect patients to respect your privacy as well.