How to Handle Burnout in the Emergency Medical Field
The EMS field now more than ever features long hours, low pay and repeated traumas. Combine these qualities with the stress of the post-pandemic era, the uncertainty in financial and job security, and the stressors of home life…what was once a badge of honor in the workforce now becomes the downfall of both the emotional and physical wellbeing of an individual. This downfall is commonly named “burnout.”
The APA Dictionary of Psychology describes burnout as a result of prolonged emotional, physical and mental stress. In addition it is usually associated with lowered motivation, decreased performance and negative feelings towards oneself. Burnout can be very detrimental in the workplace and especially in the emergency medical field. It can result in paramedics being disengaged, leading to medical errors, or lack of attentiveness. It is crucial in the workplace to realize the emotional, physical and mental health of employees and how this alters their work performance. Here are some ways to not only recognize burnout in employees, but also how to handle burnout when it arises.
Recognizing Burnout
It’s extremely important to identify burnout before conditions worsen in the organization. More often than not burnout is realized too late, so these are a couple things an individual, or employer can watch for to try and recognize it early.
Fatigue - Probably the biggest symptom of burnout. This happens on both a physical and emotional level with difficulties falling asleep, feeling tired, and a lack of motivation.
Reduced Satisfaction - Losing pleasure in your work when you used to find joy, negative feelings towards your job or uninterest in getting out of bed for work are signs of this.
Depersonalization - People may lose their ability to communicate effectively or start to exhibit self isolation.
Loss of self appreciation - Some may start to lack self value and begin to experience feelings of self-doubt.
There are several other physical, emotional and behavioral symptoms that could be identified but these exemplify the largest outcomes of burnout. Recognizing burnout is one thing, but being able to help employees when they reach that point is another thing.
Dealing with burnout
First and foremost, it is essential for the organization to establish a protocol and support system for first responders that are experiencing stress or dealing with traumatic incidents. Crew that are having a difficult time should have people to turn to for help, and know that they have options within the agency. In addition it should be a priority for managers to track their paramedics hours and ensure that each employee is getting an adequate amount of rest and time off.
As an individual there are many steps that can be taken to help one get out of burnout or to alleviate the stressors that caused it.
To start, prioritize you.
Take the time to see a therapist, step away for a moment to check in with yourself, and give yourself the time to have a mental break. It may be difficult to do this in a field like EMS, but speak with your supervisor and come up with a set of boundaries or scheduled days to help remove any reminders of work and give yourself a true day off.
In addition, schedule small breaks into your shifts. These can be as simple as taking time to practice breathing techniques or going for a mid-day walk. Having these small breaks will allow your brain to recover and remove itself from the chaos of the day.
Other ways to cope with burnout can include:
Exercise- Working out on a regular schedule can help free your mind and body from any stressors you may encounter throughout the day.
Practicing mindfulness- Performing mindfulness exercises, like meditation or yoga will allow you to be as emotionally present as possible.
Prioritize sleep
Find hobbies that can take your mind off work- Doing hobbies like gardening, or cooking can help create a great work-life balance and will prevent the effects of burnout.
As prevalent as burnout is in our post-pandemic society, there are a lot of techniques that can be done to improve one's mental health and prevent the development of burnout in the workforce. It is not only on the individual to handle these stressors; companies play a large part in both the development of burnout and the prevention of it. It is crucial that EMS companies begin to recognize the burnout in their employees in order to better improve their effectiveness and success.