Health is Important…Physical and Mental
Our Industry can leave us feeling burnt out due to increased demands and high expectations set by ourselves and others. How can we protect our health?
Last year, ECRI Institute listed “burnout and its impact on patient safety” at number 3 on its ‘Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns’ report. As we work our way through a unique time, maybe we should take a personal assessment of our stress level personal health.
In our industry, we face increased demand, high levels of expectation from others and ourselves, increased workloads, and sub-optimal resources. These issues can leave us feeling underappreciated, ineffectual, and “burned out.”
The road to stable health and happiness can be a long journey for some. I recently read a book entitled The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. The four agreements highlighted in the book are:
- Be impeccable with your word: Say what you mean and mean what you say. Most issues or failures can be traced back to lack of communication or confusion if it is unclear.
- Don’t take anything too personal: We tend to interpret conversation on verbal word and physical cues. How often do we discover that there was a misunderstanding?
- Don’t make assumptions: Question often and in detail with the main source.
- Always do your best: At the end of the day, if you have done your best, allow yourself grace and imperfection. Remember that we learn from mistakes, not only what not to do but new best practices.
Put that stress level back in check. Don’t let your “burnout” affect patient care.
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