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 Provided by Clinician1
Burn-out.
An ugly word, of sorts. It implies that the practitioner does not like what she/he is doing...that perhaps one should step back and rethink the field one has chosen. The symptoms are quite clear, even researched in the literature: poor sleep, depression, irritability, inability to concentrate, mood changes, anxiety, and a whole host of other symptoms. Patients may irritate us more than usual. The seemingly endless paperwork that always seems to pile up, non-stop, makes us grit our teeth. A patient triage may make us seethe with frustration, when normally, we’d shrug our shoulders and just “deal” with it.
The question becomes, is it true “burn-out,” or is it just not taking the time for ourselves...to recharge the battery, to regroup, find solace in activities that comfort us.
In short, doing things that make us happy...outside of the office or work setting.
We can only care for others if we care for ourselves first. How often do we tell patients that? How often do we say this, while, deep-down, think, “yeah, I should heed my own advice.” Yet, we don’t, as a whole. We are self-sacrificing, do-it-all providers for EVERYONE else. No matter that if neglecting our own well-being costs us dearly…
A question I often ask patients who present with the above symptoms is: “When is the last time you did something JUST for yourself? Taking time JUST for yourself?” Not including grocery shopping without the kids, or paying bills while your partner watched them, and so-on. I’d estimate that about 90-plus percent of my patients say, “I don’t know.” I’ve gone so far as to WRITE OUT on an Rx pad, “[patient] needs to take 60 minutes daily/weekly, etc. to have time for herself,” in order to make a significant other take it seriously.
We as a society have filled our schedules to the breaking point...with family, work, and school responsibilities. Is it a wonder we are so stressed and need time to breathe? I have asked my patients, conversationally, do they have any plans for vacation this summer? I’m not surprised to note that most of them say, “no.” They cite financial concerns, or a need to keep working, or increased family responsibilities as the reason they don’t take vacation time. All of those who say, “no,” however, have the same look of dejection that I currently feel. They don’t see an end, or “down-time” in sight. They are exhausted from the day-to-day struggles of making ends meet, of working (for those who have jobs)...or looking for work, if they don’t.
This is a stark reminder to myself...I need to take my vacation time. My last full week of vacation was February, 2009. I just realized this over the past week. I’ve taken a few long weekends, or half-weeks, but nothing longer. Why? Well, there was always...”something” that came up. My boss’ vacation, or my husband’s job...and I wanted a long weekend here-or-there. However, there was nothing that allowed me a full week of respite. I am realizing...I am no “super-human” NP...I need my down-time, too.
So...my resolve is that I will take my vacation this year...all of it. We have two vacations planned this summer, and I hope to take off more time this fall. I, too, am reminded that I cannot care for others, unless I recharge my own “battery,” and help myself. We all need that occasional reminder...to prevent that burn-out that plagues so many...The care-giver needs to take care of herself or himself, too. Otherwise, that pesky burn-out is the subtle specter in the background, threatening to loom up and engulf us in our every-day work.
 Kim Spering is a family nurse practitioner who currently works at Brndjar Medical Associates, P.C., a family practice in Emmaus, PA. Her past experience includes the fields of medical/surgical ICU, open heart/trauma ICU, labor and delivery, nursing education, nursing supervision, and as a nurse practitioner in both family practice and OB/GYN settings. She currently serves as a NP preceptor for her graduate school alma mater, DeSales University, as well as for local baccalaureate programs. She is passionate about patient education and helping patients understand that they are ultimately responsible for their own health. She also firmly believes that the public needs to be educated on the value of NPs and PAs in meeting the health care needs of the next decade and beyond. In her free time, Kim enjoys family vacations with her optometrist husband, Mark, and her two sons, Matthew and Connor.
The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.
Kim Spering is a family nurse practitioner who currently works at Brndjar Medical Associates, P.C., a family practice in Emmaus, PA. Her past experience includes the fields of medical/surgical ICU, open heart/trauma ICU, labor and delivery, nursing education, nursing supervision, and as a nurse practitioner in both family practice and OB/GYN settings. She currently serves as a NP preceptor for her graduate school alma mater, DeSales University, as well as for local baccalaureate programs. She is passionate about patient education and helping patients understand that they are ultimately responsible for their own health. She also firmly believes that the public needs to be educated on the value of NPs and PAs in meeting the health care needs of the next decade and beyond. In her free time, Kim enjoys family vacations with her optometrist husband, Mark, and her two sons, Matthew and Connor.
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