Burn Out

[Sasha]

I was talking to someone about burn out earlier today, and I'm wondering other's perspectives.

If a provider feels burnt out, although they feel they are still good at their job, do you feel they should remain in the profession? Do you feel it's possible to be burnt out and still be a capable provider?

 

[reaper]

If it is truely burn out, then no.

The best thing a provider suffering from burn out can do is to take a break from EMS. Take six months to a year and work another job. If you truely love the job, you will be back. You will come back refreshed and have a new lease on the job.

Some do not have burn out, they just can not handle the stress of the job. Not all are set out to work EMS.

 

[Epi-do]

The best thing a provider suffering from burn out can do is to take a break from EMS. Take six months to a year and work another job. If you truely love the job, you will be back. You will come back refreshed and have a new lease on the job.

+1

I don't know if I would say I was truly burnt out, but I did walk away from the job I had at the hospital-based service that provides 911 service for Indpls right after having my son. (Could have been some post-partum stuff going on as well, but that's another post all together.) I went to work for a pediatrician and was layed off after about 8 months when she had to make cutbacks due to a shrinking practice. I collected unemployment and went back to school. After being away from EMS for about 18 months I called up a friend that was the operations manager of a private service and went back part-time. I eventually was working full-time hours, and eventually took a civilian position with a FD on the east side of Indpls. I then went back to medic school, and don't regret returning to EMS at all.

 

[marineman]

Sasha, I think it will really depend on the individual person and their interpretation of the terminology. To me if you are suffering EMS burn out you cannot possibly be an adequate EMS provider so no you can't still do your job. It is entirely possible that they're still able to perform the skills (start an IV etc) but to be a good EMS provider we have to do a bit more than that. Again it depends on your definition of burn out.

 

[medicp94dao]

Sasha, I think it will really depend on the individual person and their interpretation of the terminology. To me if you are suffering EMS burn out you cannot possibly be an adequate EMS provider so no you can't still do your job. It is entirely possible that they're still able to perform the skills (start an IV etc) but to be a good EMS provider we have to do a bit more than that. Again it depends on your definition of burn out.

I completely agree, we all have days where we just are "BURNT OUT" to where we just dont want to be there. I have had a few of those days and I can honestly say I have just stepped back and taken a break. if it becomes more than a few days, talk to a co-worker or even a supervisor, maybe they can make a suggestion to help. If you are truly burnt out then you are doing a dis-service to your patients and to your self. Yes you probably can start an IV or read an ECG, but are you really listening to your patients complaint or are you just going through the motions?

 

[berkeman]

I was talking to someone about burn out earlier today, and I'm wondering other's perspectives.

If a provider feels burnt out, although they feel they are still good at their job, do you feel they should remain in the profession? Do you feel it's possible to be burnt out and still be a capable provider?

One of the best pieces of advice I've ever received, came from a very senior paramedic in our local Fire service. After long years in EMS and then Fire (before stress debriefs), and after a serious burnout and recovery, and subsequent awards as the best paramedic in our county, his mantra was this:

"I did not cause this. I'm here to help."

That mantra has helped me so many times. Maybe it can help your friend, Sasha.

 

[MSDeltaFlt]

I was talking to someone about burn out earlier today, and I'm wondering other's perspectives.

If a provider feels burnt out, although they feel they are still good at their job, do you feel they should remain in the profession? Do you feel it's possible to be burnt out and still be a capable provider?

There are no clear cut answers here, sweet. It depends on the individual and the level of burnout. There is a difference between one's job and one's career.

I believe you can be sick and tired of your job approaching burnout, but still love your career. There are still ways to keep yourself from burning completely out. However, when your burnout reaches the level that you run the risk of compromising pt care, then something has got to be done up to and including changing careers completely.

Which is why I left respiratory. I still love my vents and the critically sick and injured adults, kids, and babies. I just could no longer stand "the floor". It was time to leave before I abandoned my first love.

I left before I compromised pt care.