JANNEN BELBECK 2021-09-15 20:40:45
Burning out
“High rate of COVID-19 burnout could lead to shortage of healthcare workers” was a recent headline featured in CND’s weekly e-newsletter. (If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe for the latest health news and research at cndoctor.ca/subscribe.) The article states the following:
“Burnout is bad for everyone. It is associated with diminished safety and quality of care for patients, and mental health problems and poor quality of life for professionals. For the health-care system, burnout is associated with absenteeism, reduced productivity and thoughts of leaving one’s job. During a time when nurses and doctors are in short supply, we cannot afford to lose more because of burnout.”
A sad consequence and new reality of the COVID era is that our frontline healthcare practitioners (particularly nurses) are leaving their profession in light of unfair wages, being overworked, and unfortunately, in a small county, even losing a handful of nurses impacts countless people and the surrounding community as a whole. In my own area, there’s such a dire need for nurses that the area’s hospital had to end obstetric care for a period of approximately 18 months. Even offering signing bonuses and thousands of dollars for relocation fees couldn’t attract nurses to the area to work. One nurse commented on a Facebook post sharing the news that “most shifts [at one particular hospital] have a third of the required staff” – during a global pandemic.
Burnout is real, it’s here, and I’m sure many of you are feeling it, too. Perhaps some of these healtcare practitioners are your own patients, treating them for their chronic pain and overworked bodies from 15-hour shifts, or treating them naturally for stress or anxiety. Let’s realize the power of caring. The pandemic has been an extremely lonely time for some. Grief and feelings of despair are running rampant.
Don’t forget that your patients count on you. Not only to treat them, but to feel seen and heard. This issue is filled with uplifting stories to hopefully inspire you personally, your teams and your practice. Dr. Elias Markou hints at an economic boom in 2022 (page 22), while Dr. Anthony Lombardi stresses for chiropractors to stand up and be ambassadors for their profession (page 12). Turn to page 14 for a story from Dr. Derke Lee and his own experience being an advocate for his son during his scoliosis journey. Read, share and continue to inspire.
Take care,
©Annex. View All Articles.