burnout

Compassion Fatigue and Burnout in the Helping Professions

Posted on by Mark Moran

The helping professions are strenuous at a personal level but also a professional level.  They demand the best of everyone to not only at a personal level but also at a professional level.  One is not only taking upon their own personal stressors but also a number of other personal stressors and crises of other people.  Whether a police officer, social worker, counselor, nurse, chaplain, first responder, crisis worker, or hospice care worker, one will find oneself in situations of intense pain, crisis and trauma.  This involves not only juggling one’s own daily life but also being emotionally, mentally and physically available at a professional level.  Compassion fatigue and burnout is very common in these areas and can cause intense crisis to the helping professional.

Burnout and Compassion Fatigue

Burnout is common for individuals who are overworked or feel helpless or not valued. Human Service Workers especially experience this type of burnout if not careful

According to James, burnout is the “internal psychological experience involving feelings, attitudes, motives and expectations…the total psychic energy of the person has been consumed (2017, p. 544).”  Burnout just does not occur as a crisis overnight but is a long process that gradually emerges over a variety of reasons.  Occupational burnout according to James occurs for six major reasons.  First, workload becomes too complex, urgent and traumatic.  Second, freedom and control are restricted and the individual becomes micromanaged and has to deal with ineffective leaders or teams.  Third, lack of reward whether emotional, financial, symbolic or even simple recognition of service is ignored.  Fourth, absence of social support.  Fifth, lack of justice and fairness to the case or situation and sixth, discordant values with employer or organization (2017, p. 544).  All of these sources can lead individuals into a state of burnout when dealing with their job or cases.  In addition, these overall stressors can lead to stress related diseases or as Selye refers General Adaptation Syndrome (James, 2017. p. 545).

Individuals who suffer from burnout face multidimensional symptoms which are behavioral, cognitive, spiritual, affective and physical.   Burnout according to James can be trait in that is is all encompassing and has rendered the worker unfunctional, or it can be a state of activity in which the activity being performed over and over becomes the primary source (2017, P. 551).

Those who suffer compassion fatigue share in the same basic issues of burnout but because of dealing with cases and victims.  This can in addition lead to secondary traumatic stress disorder through the stories and experiences or at a higher level secondary trauma via vicarious traumatization where the caregiver beings to transform and shares the client’s related trauma (James, 2017, p., 554-555).

Intervention for Burnout

Individuals need to identify key signs of potential burnout and address it properly.  The biggest thing to realize is how can someone help another person if one is in crisis him or herself?  It is important to administer self care and recognize the signs of burnout before they negatively affect career.  This involves recognition of burnout, addressing them with appropriate measures, setting boundaries when necessary, and practicing self care when appropriate.  Organizations are also responsible to ensure that employees are not over worked, and in cases that involve trauma ensure that their workers receive the necessary counseling to process what they witnessed.

Since many Human Service workers are perfectionists and many place too much weight on their shoulders to help as many as possible, it is important for self evaluation. Hence intervention exists at three levels involving training to identify burnout, organizational oversight and individual self care (James, 2017, p. 557).  Training to identify burnout is key and also emphasis on self care.  Individuals need to have a strong understanding of the type of trauma their career will demand.  Organizations need to maintain proper monitoring of hours of their workers, as well creating a work place that is open to expression, ideas and values that both organization and employee share.  Managers need to take a personal interest in their workers mental health and identify signs of burnout or compassion fatigue.  When seen, they need to intervene and help the individual find time off, counseling or other resources to help their employee fulfill daily duties.  Social support systems within the organization that supply listening, technical support and emotional support are key (James, 2017, p. 562).   Individual support groups of liked careers can also play key roles in helping individuals face the stressors and traumas of the job.

Self care is one of the key preventing resources to burnout as well as a way to alleviate it. James attests that individuals are just as responsible for maintaining emotional and mental stability as their employer (2017, p., 564).  Hence it  is important to self monitor for signs of distress and if distress starts to occur, then to properly address it.  This may involve recognizing that the world is not one’s full responsibility or other false narratives that only oneself can help this particular person.  It may involve not being a perfectionist and reducing work load.  It may involve understanding that one is not defined solely by career but also multiple other social connections It may involve imposing boundaries and understanding it is OK to say no to something or someone.  Self care is hence critical especially since burnout slowly erodes a person sometimes before a person can recognize it. Below are a few self care ideas in relation to cognitive, behavioral, affective, physical, social and spiritual aspects of one’s life.

First responders, chaplains, hospice workers, nurses, counselors, social workers, crisis workers and other behavioral health professionals need to practice self care

Cognitive

  • One’s thinking has to go beyond problems at work.  It is important to find time cognitively to think of other things.  Reading and music can be excellent forms of self care that challenge the brain and force it to think of other things than work.  Pick up a novel or even read a comic book!
  • Study something new and entirely foreign and different from work.  Challenge oneself with games, or crossword puzzles
  • Set boundaries with others who push

Behavioral

  • How we act at work needs to be different at home.  Take time to loosen up and dress down.  Enjoy the simple unrestrained life at home and embrace it.  Act upon adaptive coping strategies that promote healthy behaviors and avoid maladaptive ones that attempt to hide the issue
  • Do something safe but spontaneous and fun outside the regular weekly life

Affective

  • Emotionally, case loads and co workers can be exhausting.  We can have anger and frustration.  It is important to emotionally care for ourselves.  This can involve music, but also meditation and mindfulness.
  • Massage
  • Treat yourself to a snack or dessert or anything that is safe but provides self comfort
  • Visit a place that is special
  • Allow time to express to a good friend and vent or utilize a diary to manage negative emotions

Physical

  • Exercise is key to helping one let out aggression but also release healthy endorphins.
  • Exercise can give one other goals outside the office such as good health and strength
  • Jogging, biking, hiking, swimming, weight lifting, brisk walking, yoga or whatever physical activity helps you find yourself
  • Find time to sleep

Social

  • Many times, individuals with burnout turn into only work and become isolated.  It is important to remember that life exists after work.  Positive activities are key.  Some can be planned, others should be implemented as time permits.  It is important to have time management so that activities do not stress or make one feel they are neglecting work
  • Family game night
  • Out to dinner
  • Hobbies
  • Movie or show
  • Any type of party or entertainment
  • vacation

Spiritual

  • Balance in life is key.  We many times balance profession, academics, mental, emotional and physical life but forget spiritual.  Spirituality is a key health component of a person because whichever the belief it gives life a higher meaning.
  • Personal prayer
  • Reading the Bible, Koran, Torah, or whichever spiritual or life meaning book on philosophy
  • Attending one’s religious services and other events
  • Keeping good spiritual hygiene that correlates with one’s religious beliefs

Conclusion

Self care is key to preventing burnout crisis. Please also review AIHCP’s Crisis Intervention Specialist Program

Burnout occurs especially for human service professionals.  Those in healthcare, behavioral health, ministry, human service, and public service are faced with the double edged sword of not only personal issues but also being exposed to secondary stressors of other people.  Through time, compassion fatigue or burnout can occur and professionals need to be aware of what causes it and also understand the steps to prevent as well as intervene regarding it.  Organizations and employers also have a responsibility to protect their crisis and human service workers through various checks and programs.  Self care is ultimately a key friend to any human service professional and is a must for anyone who wishes to work in a field exposed to so much trauma and pain.  While self care can be very subjective in nature to the person’s life it is very objective in the end result of better affective, physical, and cognitive functioning for the professional

Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Consulting Certification, as well as AIHCP’s Crisis Intervention Specialist Program.  Both programs are online and independent study with mentorship as needed.

 

 

 

 

Resource

James, R. & Gilliland, B. (2017). “Crisis Intervention Strategies”(8th). Cengage.

Additional Resources

Jackson, K. (2014). “Social Worker Self-Care —  The Overlooked Core Competency”. Social Work Today. Access here

Sparks, A. (2023). “7 strategies to help prevent burnout”.  Medical News Today.  Access here

Sherman, L. (2022). “8 Tips for Avoiding Burnout and Functioning at Your Best”. Healthline. Access here

Hendrlksen, E. (2021). “7 Ways to Recover from Burnout”. Psychology Today.  Access here

“Job burnout: How to spot it and take action”. Mayo Clinic Staff. Mayo Clinic.  Access here

How Accident Cases Impact Stress Levels Among Healthcare Professionals

Posted on by Joseph Gerard

Outdoor, female nurse and stress, tired and mental health of medical employee outside. Exhausted, healthcare worker or woman with migraine or burnout, anxiety and overworked pressure in balcony.Written by Nadine.

Stress is rife in the healthcare sector, yet it’s not a completely unconquerable problem in spite of the scale it has reached in recent years.

Those who feel it most acutely are frontline workers, dealing with the coalface of patient care day in, day out. With that in mind, here’s an analysis of what happens to the mental wellness of healthcare pros when they frequently face injuries brought on by extreme events like auto collisions, and how such concerns can be addressed.

The Impact of Repeated Trauma Exposure on Mental Health in Medical Settings

It’s no surprise that constantly facing the fallout of traumatic car accident cases affects healthcare workers. The psychological toll is significant. Compounded by the repercussions of the recent pandemic, it makes sense to see that a recent survey found 47% of workers in this field on the brink of quitting.

It boils down to the fact that emergency room doctors, nurses, and paramedics frequently deal with high-stress situations. Over time, these experiences can chip away at their mental well-being.

Healthcare professionals often exhibit symptoms associated with:

  • Anxiety and depression
  • Emotional exhaustion
  • Burnout

Dealing with repeated trauma is emotionally draining, and it also rewires the brain. The more people encounter intense stress, the harder it becomes to switch off that “fight or flight” response.

Again, there’s hard data to support this. 60% of industry professionals are afflicted by burnout, while 13% have symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. They experience intrusive thoughts and hypervigilance, affecting their personal lives as well.

We can’t ignore this issue anymore, and the mental health of our frontline workers must be a priority as they continue saving lives under immense pressure every day.

Recognizing Early Signs of Stress Among Healthcare Workers

Healthcare professionals, especially those handling accident cases, often miss early stress indicators. Spotting these signs early can prevent severe mental health issues down the line.

Common symptoms include:

  • Irritability and mood swings: Even small frustrations can cause big reactions.
  • Sleep disturbances: Difficulty falling or staying asleep disrupts recovery.
  • Physical complaints: Frequent headaches or stomach issues without a clear cause.

Stress impacts decision-making and patient care quality. Missed diagnoses and errors increase when healthcare workers operate under unrelenting pressure. This is an economic issue as much as anything else, with the costs that are created by medical errors estimated at anywhere between $20 and $45 billion a year.

Leading hospitals have programs in place to identify stress signals, with regular mental health check-ins being mandatory. They provide immediate support to staff showing initial signs of burnout or distress.

It’s also important to provide professional support in serious cases that goes beyond the realm of medical expertise. For instance, ensuring that patients and practitioners can speak with an auto accident injury attorney can provide peace of mind that compensation is available, making the long road to recovery less pitted with financial potholes to go with the emotional ones.

Effective Stress Management Techniques in High-Pressure Environments

Managing stress in the chaotic world of healthcare is essential. Healthcare professionals, especially those handling car accident cases, need robust strategies to stay grounded and effective.

Key techniques include:

  • Regular Exercise: Physical activity releases endorphins, helping alleviate stress.
  • Time Management: Prioritizing tasks prevents overwhelm and burnout.
  • Mental Health Days: Taking occasional breaks can prevent long-term exhaustion.

Integrating these practices into daily routines doesn’t have to be complex. For example, brief meditation sessions can happen even in break rooms or quiet corners of hospitals. There are also a couple of other strategies to consider:

Team-Based Approaches

Collaboration is another critical element. Staff support each other by sharing workloads and offering emotional support after particularly tough cases. Some hospitals have buddy systems which pair staff members for mutual check-ins, which is a simple yet effective way to create connections and reduce isolation-induced stress.

Technology-Assisted Methods

Hospitals now use apps designed for mental health tracking, like Headspace or Calm, to offer guided meditations directly on workers’ phones, making self-care more accessible than ever before.

In short, employing diverse strategies like exercise routines, structured teamwork, and leveraging technology solutions lets healthcare professionals limit the knock-on effects of repeated trauma exposure. It’s not the whole story, as discussed, but it’s a good start.

Building Emotional Resilience

For those regularly facing traumatic accident cases, cultivating the trait of emotional resilience can mean the difference between thriving and burning out. It’s a proactive step, rather than a purely reactive one. So you’re taking control of the situations you face, rather than letting them steamroller you.

Core practices to build resilience include:

  • Continuous Learning: Staying updated with medical advancements and refreshing essential skills enhances confidence in your own capabilities.
  • Reflective Practice: Taking time to reflect on challenging cases helps process emotions.
  • Strong Support Networks: Relying on colleagues and mentors provides a safety net during tough times.

There are also programs available in many regions which explicitly set out to shore up the emotional resilience of healthcare employees. These include:

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

This program teaches mindfulness meditation techniques specifically geared towards reducing stress and increasing self-awareness, both of which are essential tools for emotional resilience. Many hospitals now offer MBSR courses as part of their employee wellness programs.

Resilience Training Programs

Institutions like Johns Hopkins and May Clinic have implemented formal resilience training, incorporating simulation exercises where staff practice managing crises in controlled environments before facing them in real life.

These programs focus on building key skills:

  1. Adaptive Coping Strategies: Teaching ways to handle stress effectively.
  2. Emotional Regulation Techniques: Helping maintain calm under pressure.
  3. Positive Thinking Frameworks: Encouraging optimistic outlooks even amidst challenges.

Embedding these best practices into everyday routines means healthcare professionals can strengthen their ability to cope with stressful situations without compromising either their mental health or patient care quality.

The Last Word

As we’ve shown, the psychological impact of handling car accident cases on healthcare professionals is profound. Early recognition and effective management of stress are a must in terms of maintaining their mental well-being.

Integrating best practices like emotional resilience training, mindfulness techniques, and leveraging technology means we can support these vital workers. Prioritizing their mental health ensures they continue to provide top-notch care while sustaining their own well-being in high-pressure environments.

Author bio: Nadine is a dedicated health coach and passionate writer, empowering clients to achieve phenomenal and sustainable results through a unique blend of nutrition, fitness, and fun. With a core belief in the importance of living a happy and balanced life, Nadine emphasizes that a successful lifestyle must be both sustainable and enjoyable. Her holistic approach and infectious enthusiasm inspire others to embrace a healthier, happier way of living.

Additional Resources

“Clinician of the Future” (2022). Elsevier Health. Access here.

Sulaiman Alamri, M. (Editor) et al (2023). “Emotional exhaustion and traumatic stress among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: Longitudinal changes and protective factors”. PLoSOne. Access here.

Rodziewicz, TL et al. “Medical Error Reduction and Prevention”. StatPearls. Access here.

 

 

 

Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Certification program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.  These programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification

Stress Management Consulting Program Article on Worker Burnout and Stress

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Worker burnout is a big issue in today’s work field.  It can range from dissatisfaction of a job due to mundane chores to the opposite of overload and over specialized tasks.  It can occur due to poor personal relations with other employees and managers.  It can occur due to poor job descriptions and task goals. Finally it can be due to lack of overall content with the job due to lack of advancement or security.

Worker burnout is due to chronic stress.  Han Seyle, the father of stress study, emphasized that stressors can negatively affect the organism.  In doing, so the organism responds with a fight or flight response.  In agrarian communities, this was a far simpler response.  In prehistoric times, one could face a larger predator such a saber tooth tiger, or flee.  In modern day, minor stresses, although less fatal acutely can become fatal on a chronic level because employees cannot fight or flight.  An employee facing a difficult customer, or a demanding manager, or an over loaded office desk, cannot externalize the frustration or flee the scene.  Instead, stress is internalized and becomes toxic without an outlet.

Worker Burnout is a reality in the modern day work paradigm. Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Consulting Program

 

During the stress encounter, Seyle pointed out that organisms react in three phases.  The first phase, is alarm.  This phase prepares the body for fight or flight.  The heart pumps more blood, blood pressure increases, the body excretes adrenaline, and organs release sugar to burn.  Temporarily, this prepares the body for action. It gives the body more focus, more energy and an ability to react.  However, when this alarm is constantly on, it can cause health issues, especially when there is no way to externally release the stress.

The second phase is resistance.  In this stage, the person is not able to fight or flight, and is forced to deal with the stressor.  Anger and frustration can emerge in these cases.

The third phase is exhaustion.  In this phase, the raw emotion is gone and the person succumbs to the stress.  The person may in this phase exhibit burnout.  Burnout syndrome is caused by prolonged chronic stress.  Burnout though has two elements.  Some become constantly angry and easily frustrated while others become detached and depressed. Burnout is ultimately a sign that one has no control over the stressors that ate tormenting them. One becomes powerless.

In preventing burnout, it is essential that one identifies issues that could lead it to it.  One acronym that helps individuals become more positive about stress is OPEN.  Open looks to rethink the way we look at stressors and stress.

O represents opportunities.  One should look at their position and look at the opportunities associated with it instead of the negatives.

P represents positives.  One should look at the positive elements of one’s work or place in life

E represents environment.  One should look at the environmental issues at work and see how they can be better faced and create better productivity.  Stressors can help us show what is wrong with something and create better responses.

N represents negative.  One should identify the negatives of a job or position and see how they can become less impactful.  How can one face the negatives and reduce stress?  This is the key element of looking at the negatives.

In addition, stress reduction goes beyond the individual’s attempts to reduce but also at the organizational level.  Better organizations can lessen the chance of burnout among employees.  Over taxing jobs or under stimulating jobs, while opposite extremes, can produce stress and create burnout.  In assessing this, organizations need to see where more balance can be produced for employees.  Employees with more balance see less burnout.

The Job Diagnosis Index looks at a few critical points in a job that lessens burnout.  Does the position hold skill variety?  Does it possess task identity as well as task significance?  Does it offer some autonomy to the employee? And does it offer feedback from the others as well managers regarding the position and how things are done?  When positions lack a variety different tasks  and became over mechanized, the employee may burnout from boredom, or feeling of lack of significance.   When an employee feels zero autonomy they feel enslaved and free from expression or innovation.  And finally, when an employee is not given feed back or allowed to express concerns, then the position can truly become stagnant.

Positions without task variance, task identity, significance, employee autonomy and employee and manager feedback are more likely to lead to burnout

 

Positions with clear cut mandates, significance, variances in tasks, autonomy with less strict oversight, and communication between management and feedback from staff, experience less burnout.  Team work, team orientated goals, autonomy and communication are key in reducing burnout.  Keeping the position challenging but not over tasked and preparing the training necessary can make the employee become one of the team instead of a step in the process.

Hence employers should offer task variety, provide task identity and offer some autonomy with feedback and discussion.  Beyond these basics, job enrichment can also be amplified through increased responsibilities, opportunities for advancement and job security.  With an umbrella of communication and structural support, a better job position can be created that reduces stress and pushes one to do better in more healthy environment.

Some positions, such as nurses, waitresses, customer service centers,  social workers, and police offers find a more difficult time in dealing with these issues. They face a chronic criticism and deal with many situations that can tie their hands in how they respond to certain things.   With better structural support as well as stress management skills, they can also better face the issues they deal with regarding the public.

Some individuals may be better equipped to handle stressors.  They may be able to find outlets and also have the resources for support.  Others may fall victim to burnout.  Unfortunately in recent history, one can identify the stress for police officers as they come across difficult crowds due to policing policies that need reformed.  The ability to handle the stress becomes internalized and chronic stress can lead to a break down.

Learning to create a better work environment is key to preventing burnout. Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Consulting Program

 

Stress Management is critical in the modern world.  With industrialization, one must deal with stress without being able to fight or flee it.  Individuals are over worked or under challenged due to these new labor paradigms.  In addition, jobs that deal with the public especially during the recent turmoil are pressing first responders.  Stress Management remains an important skill set.  Stress Manager Consultants can offer guidance to business, organizations and police stations.  Stress Management Consultants can help employees and employers better deal with stressors and help create more conducive environments that limit chronic stress and prevent future burnout.

Please review AIHCP’s Stress Management Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.

 

Sources: “The Stress Management Sourcebook” by J. Barton Cunningham, PhD