I’ve always sympathized with health workers, and then the pandemic struck, and my sympathy increased tenfold. You were already individuals from whom too much was expected, and then we as a society tripled up in expecting too much of you.
Whenever I read about medical practitioners suffering from healthcare burnout, I think, “Of course. Why wouldn’t they?”
The amount of stuff that would burn you out is simply too huge. Just a scattering: Long work hours
Rude patients
Insurance companies
Bureaucracy
Staff shortages
Working on your feet all day
Having to continually renew your education
Rushed appointments
Cyberattacks
Pressure
Problematic health systems
Occupational hazards
Fatigue
I do not know how each of you can take care of patients and/or equipment (technicians) for a whole day and then get home and take care of someone else. Even if you do not give care outside of work, it’s still difficult to work and then take care of yourself, your house, and perhaps some animals.
I just couldn’t do what you do—too many reasons, one being how high-stakes your career is. For example, I might mess up in my line of work. I might get people the wrong information, and there might be repercussions, but nobody will die. Suppose a healthcare worker has a bad day and messes up: That error might kill someone.
My mother was a nurse, my husband’s parents are nurses, a great many others on my husband’s side work in healthcare, and I have a few friends who are doctors or physician’s assistants. Through them, and you, I observe the many conditions that could cause healthcare workers to become burned out.
Because healthcare burnout is on the rise, we’ve put together a cover package on the subject in this issue of our magazine. If you feel like you’re drowning, I hope the articles will make you feel less isolated. For better or for worse, as far as burnout goes, you’re among friends. And if none of the above describes you and you’re still wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, three cheers to that!
To locate the burnout article, go to p. 18, and may you discover the rest you require, burned out or wide-eyed.
