Questioning ones career path, reengineering it or looking at it differently does not equate to leaving it.

Defining career change BEFORE you make any big decisions

If one is not enjoying work there may be a tendency to leave career planning until thing get super uncomfortable. At this point it is very easy to assume that the only way forwards is radical change. Occasionally - it is ...but it is not a great idea to "assume".

​Before anyone embarks on a significant career re-evaluation it is useful to realise that change can encompass many different "styles'
  1. Changing some aspect within your current career
  2. Changing where you work such as relocating within same organisation or being home based
  3. Changing who you work with such as moving departments or teams
  4. Changing how you work – e.g. from employee to self employed or self employed to own business 
  5. Changing job or role yet within the same career, industry or organisation
  6. Adding to an existing career with a bolt on extra ( the start of a portfolio career perhaps)
  7. An industry shift - leaving one career or industry and moving into another yet with the same fundamental role
  8. Radical change - entirely different role in another career altogether requiring retraining of some sort
The very earliest stages of reevaluating a career often benefit from some basic preparation activities.
howtoleavemedicine
These fellows "change" every day!
When people think of making changes to their career it is easy to think this means only number 8 - a radical decision. 

They naturally fear losing something or that it means they are being demoted  or failing or that the future is somehow scarier than just leaving the status quo (it is  worth pondering too that making no decision is also - a decision & that leaving things as is - may have consequences).

Such an attitude fosters huge procrastination as the person oscillates between " I must do something" and " I can't leave what I have struggled to achieve". This either/or thinking is not helpful and can cause careers to remain in limbo for years.

In reality - career re-evaluation is more about improving both where you are going professionally and how you get there.

It might require a major overhaul but it might also merely require one or two career planning skills improved.
career planning Medical Forum style is NOT about "leaving" anything.
Some thought provoking points:
Don't make assumptions about career guidance or your career options - find out.

Career planning might involved making changes in you as well as to the career

Career change is in reality a lot less scary than most people consider it to be - IF - it is well planned.

Changing attitude might at times be more important than changing the job ( and may indeed be a prerequisite for making any long lasting, appropriate and effective changes)

No time put to career planning generally means no career plan.

Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results could be considered a form of madness.

Questioning ones career path, reengineering it or looking at it differently does not equate invariably to leaving it.

Careers are like chariots - you've either got the reins - or you haven't (Think Ben Hur!)

The biggest career decision is not the end point - its making the decision to do career planning with some help.