Sometimes, even when you enjoy your profession, it can get exhausting.
Although every workplace has its stressors, healthcare is demanding and requires personnel to make life-or-death decisions, resulting in practitioners regularly experiencing stress, anxiety, and Burnout.
W.H.O. describes Burnout as a syndrome caused by unmanaged workplace chronic stress leading to exhaustion and lack of motivation (2019).
Causes of Burnout
Mayo Clinic shows that Burnout is caused by extreme activities prevalent in the healthcare setting. Another cause is limited control of work dynamics, such as your work schedule, workload, and insufficient tools to help efficiency. Also, lack of work-life balance causes depletion as, “All work and no play makes Tommy a dull boy.”
Social interactions with loved ones and self-care are rejuvenating. Lastly, a lack of teamwork and a supportive work environment expedites Burnout.
Burnout is characterized by the feeling of being exhausted or energy depletion.
You get the following symptoms:
1. Dragging yourself to work and reduced efficiency.
2. Lack of energy and enthusiasm.
3. Being easily irritated and impatient with colleagues and patients.
4. Feeling negative and dissatisfied with your job.
5. Unexplained physical problems such as headaches and stomach problems.
Burnout is better handled sooner or later because if ignored or unaddressed, it affects both the caregiver and the patients at risk. Mayo Clinic research indicates that Burnout leads to
mood and emotional disorders, including excessive stress, fatigue, cynicism and irritability, insomnia, and alcohol abuse (2021). It can also cause physical health implications, including weakening immunity, predisposing heart diseases, Hypertension, and type II diabetes.
How to manage Burnout
Seek Support
To handle Burnout at work, take action quickly by evaluating your options and determining a way forward. First, you can discuss any concerns with your supervisors, such as long shifts, excessive workload, and lack of teamwork and necessary tools, and amicably reach new arrangements. You should concurrently seek support from loved ones and colleagues, as support and cooperation can help you cope. If your organization
has an employee support program, you should lean into their help.
Self-Care
Delve into relaxing and rejuvenating activities to lighten and calm yourself. Self-care activities include sleeping, taking programs such as yoga and meditation, intentionally creating solo activities, and spending time in meaningful friend groups that will leave you feeling brighter and rejuvenated.
Get Enough Sleep
Although sleep falls in the self-care category, it necessitates separate attention for emphasis. Sleep rejuvenates and helps the body heal and is necessary for coping. It is also a cheap and readily available relaxing activity. So, nap and have 8 hours of sleep daily to cope with work stress and Burnout.
Exercise Regularly
Equally, exercising is a form of self-care that goes a long way in handling Burnout.
Exercise is an excellent way to keep your brain off work and gives your mind and body the ability to cope with stressful events. Moreover, hobbies that make you exercise keep your body fit and your mind alert for your work activities.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is essential in handling Burnout. It entails being aware of your body and environment, focusing on breathing, moving at your pace, and dealing with yourself, tasks, and colleagues with grace, patience, and openness. Always strive to maintain an equilibrium between offering your best at the job and maintaining a work-life balance.
One can also consider advancing in careers and changing employment if necessary.
The key to managing Burnout as a C.N.A. is to extend the same level of care and compassion you give your patients and to fill your cup so it overflows to others.
References
Mayo Clinic. (2021). Job burnout: How to spot it and take action.
(https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-
20046642.
WHO. (2019). Burnout an " occupational phenomenon" International Classification of Diseases.
Written By: Shamim Atira