Those who work in healthcare such as Physicians, Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses and Health Care Aides often have higher levels of burnout than those in other professions. What factors contribute to this phenomenon.  Often it is a combination of situations.

If you believe that you are suffering from burnout do you recognize any of the common contributing factors below?

1. Heavy patient load not allowing for the kind of care you want to give.

2. Resources that you require to do a good job are unavailable.

3. Shift work that often leaves you feeling exhausted and makes planning a “normal life” more difficult.

4. Cases that appear to be more complex than they used to.

5. Management that has unrealistic expectations and does not support changes to improve things.

6. Difficult interpersonal situations with coworkers or management.

Through Counselling and Therapy strategies can be put in place to help you minimize the impact of your situation on your physical and emotional health.

Burn out is a term that is used to describe a group of symptoms that can be debilitating and lead to all kinds of unpleasant physical and emotional symptoms.  It is one of the main reasons employes take short and long term disability.  Burn out is extremely common for people who work in helping professions like health care workers, especially Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses and Resident Care Attendants or Health Care Aides.  If you answer yes to any of the following symptoms or situations you might be experiencing burn out and not know it.

1.  A feeling of overwhelming despair thinking about going to work.

2. Panic attacks or anxious feelings at work or on the way to work.

3. Inability to focus on work and complete tasks.

4. Impatience and irritability with co workers or patients/clients

5. A feeling of learned helplessness-no matter what I do I won’t be able to make the difference I want so why bother.

6. A change in sleep patterns, sleeping too much or sleeping to little.

7. A change in eating habits, eating too much or eating too little.

If you answer yes to 3 or more of these symptoms you might be experiencing burn out at work.  Counselling and Therapy and can also help you learn to manage yourself in a workplace that might not change.  Counselling and Therapy can also help you learn to change and improve relationships and supports so that they work in your favour.