Burn out and Turnover

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As fun as googling for silly images advising ya'll to get back on track with this thread has been, please don't make me find another one.
 
Niccigsu said:
Ok, so I have read a lot of posts on this forum and for the most part they have been very informative. I have noticed a trend with a lot of posters though. At first, I read very encouraging words and positive info from people when they first start posting, but as you look at other posts over time these same people have become negative and jaded. (I don't knock anyone for this because I became the same way at my previous job, hence the reason why I don't work there anymore) I know this happens in every profession and I know people can get burned out. I'm just curious as to why people stay in a profession that they have grown to dislike and dread going to work. I don't think you are a benefit to anyone anymore when you are burned out. I would consider being an EMT/Paramedic a highly stressful job and could see burn out happen quickly. My questions to everyone are, what are the different ways you personally deal with stress and burn out so it doesn't have an impact on your ability to care for a pt. or impact your personal life? Also, do you consider the EMS profession to have a high turnover rate?
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I found the biggest stressors come from co-workers, oddly enough. When you compare the amount of time you spend with them versus your patients, the calls themselves didn't stress me out nearly as much. When I ran with private companies, I found the turnover to be higher than when I was working for municipal services. I think this was because the money was better, and like any career, once you're in it, it's difficult to change, so most folks just stayed... some way too long and got burned out.

When you invest the time and effort into becoming an EMT and make a career choice, I think it's too easy to feel locked into it. So many of us, by nature, resist change. We get in ruts and accept the status quo. Getting out of that habit takes some serious discipline and effort.

Personally, I deal with stress by keeping a certain perspective. If I've done something to create stress, I try to correct it so it doesn't hang over my head. If someone else can help, I'll ask for advice and try different things to speed the process along. If someone else is the source of my stress, I like to address it head-on right away.

I remember one EMT I used to work with would constantly berate me and it was starting to wear me down. I finally said to him, "Why do you treat me like this? I don't treat you the way you treat me."

He had no reply and just walked away. After that, he never bothered me again and started treating me like a normal human being. What an easy solution to a potentially painful relationship.
 
Niccigsu said:
I don't think you are a benefit to anyone anymore when you are burned out.
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Most long-time paramedics I know who are burned out at all are frustrated with their wages, benefits, supervisors, working conditions, lack of respect from other agencies and medical staff, and the politics - not their patients. They are still fantastic caregivers and their patients are probably clueless to the fact they get paid $12 an hour and haven't had a day off in weeks.
 
Wow$12.00/hr. What I have found around here is $9.75/hr. Are raises possible where you are?
 
Come to Canada - Tim Hortons pays $12/hour starting wage I hear...

Really though? Less than $10/hour? Is the cost of living in the states like 50c a day or something? Parking in some parts of downtown Calgary is 10 bucks an hour!
 
hippocratical said:
Come to Canada - Tim Hortons pays $12/hour starting wage I hear...

Really though? Less than $10/hour? Is the cost of living in the states like 50c a day or something? Parking in some parts of downtown Calgary is 10 bucks an hour!
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Yup. The south is known for its cheap wages. My fiance works for the local SO and by himself he makes below the poverty line for our area :sad:
 
Thanks for the Spur!

Well, y'all got me to thinking and searching again, and here's what I came up with on my BLOG.

Burnout is something that prevents us from becoming a real profession.
 
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