Burnout in Healthcare
""To bring about change, you must not be afraid to take the first step. We will fail when we fail to try.” - Rosa Parks
Burnout poses a significant concern in healthcare, with mounting stressors often leaving professionals feeling unheard and unsupported. The absence of formal support, such as career coaching and leadership guidance, further compounds this issue.
Here are some eye-opening stats
In Audiology, 32% of professionals with only 1-10 years of experience reported burnout (Zimmer et al., 2022). For physicians, burnout rates can soar as high as 63% (Shanafelt et al., 2022). Additionally, burnout rates among Physician Assistants, pre-COVID, hovered around 45% (Blackstone et al., 2021). These numbers are staggering! One can only imagine the toll post-pandemic.
What does burnout feel like?
Burnout shows up differently for everyone. Some symptoms may include persistent stress, feelings of isolation, an imbalance between work and personal life, a perpetual sense of inadequacy, unrelenting exhaustion regardless of rest, compassion fatigue, detachment from one's job, and more. Remember, just because someone doesn't fit the classic burnout profile doesn't mean they're not experiencing symptoms!
At a recent presentation, we asked participants (healthcare professionals) to share one word that describes burnout to them. Here is what they had to say about burnout...
What is one word that you would use to describe what burnout feels like to you?
Spectrum of burnout
Burnout isn't one-size-fits-all. I usually hear questions about burnout presented as "yes" or "no" but there is a spectrum, ranging from mild overwhelm to full-blown burnout. Recognizing this spectrum can help address and manage burnout effectively. You can flow through these different stages or hop around as your feelings of burnout fluctuate and as you recover and heal from burnout.
You can think of the spectrum of burnout like these examples:
What stage of burnout are you in?
We know that burnout is challenging and recognize that it is a systemic problem (especially in healthcare!). In our next newsletter, we will discuss strategies to begin healing and recovering from burnout. For now, start noticing what stage of burnout you’re in. Does it change daily? Are there certain triggers that exacerbate or alleviate it?
Remember, you are not alone on this journey (click here to set up a time for a FREE Career Strategy Call). Together, we can cultivate a culture of resilience and empowerment within the healthcare community.
Stay tuned for more insights and resources in our upcoming newsletters and stay tuned for tips on how to combat burnout in our next issue! Until then, keep shining your light and making a difference in the lives of those you serve.
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Amy Badstubner, AuD, CPC
Co-owner dB Coaching Group, LLC
Career and Leadership Coach
