When trying to balance all the ups and downs that life throws at us, it is so easy for us to exhaust ourselves until we burn out. It is essential for healthcare professionals who prioritize their patients' well-being every day to take care of themselves as well. Burnout is super prevalent in the healthcare field, given the demanding nature of the work. Identifying burnout early can help in addressing it before it becomes more severe and impacts care.
Here are three key signs to look out for burnout:
Increased Irritability or Anger
Do you find yourself…
Frustrated or annoyed every time a resident has a question and it’s starting to really feel like a real pain in your you know what…?!
Being impatient with patients. Say that 10x fast. Do you find yourself making hasty decisions, like starting medication without further tests based on assumptions about their age or ethnicity to “save time”?
Getting home and realizing you have a short fuse with loved ones, reacting with impatience or irritability?
These are common examples, and not to shame you, but to help you recognize that anger and irritability are often a symptom of being burned out.
2. Depersonalization (Cynicism)
Are you noticing yourself:
Feeling more judgmental about patients who miss appointments or seem “noncompliant"? Maybe recently you’ve thought "Here’s another patient not taking their health seriously," rather than meeting them with curiosity.
Using broad generalizations like, "Based on your age and ethnicity, you're likely to have high blood pressure," and opting for treatment without further exploration?
Treating patients as objects rather than individuals and distancing yourself from them emotionally can be a way to cope with burnout, but it isn’t always the best patient care. Finding new ways to cope can be more productive for all involved.
3. Loss of Empathy
Again, no judgies, but have you noticed yourself:
Minimizing or rushing through a patient's feelings about a new diagnosis, without providing space for patients to express themselves?
Feeling the urge to rush through patient or colleague interactions because you have “too much to do”?
Communicating in a detached manner. Cutting patient’s off to just get the answer you need rather than creating a space for patients to feel comfortable voicing concerns or questions?
We recognize going through this list may not be the most comfortable but it’s about helping you become more aware of “true signs” of burnout so you can get help or identify them in others around you.
If you notice yourself slipping into one of these behaviors and want support, we have a therapist just for you!
Carla specializes in providing authenticity-focused virtual therapy for medical professionals navigating chronic stress, burnout, anxiety, and grief. She is available for new clients in New York and is In-Network with UMR, Aetna, and United. She also takes client’s Out-Of-Network as well.
To learn more about Carla, click here.
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