I'm good at what I do because I love it.
I have been associated with the health care field for much of my life. I was a volunteer and first responder at our local fire department, EMT, Certified Nurse's Aide then attended college toward a Bachelor's degree in the nursing program. I have great respect for those that dedicate their lives to the demanding health care profession. This is not an article about my love for the field of health care. It is quite the opposite.
The term Burn Out is used often in the health care profession. It is a leading cause of good nurses and EMT's leaving the field. It should not be assumed we are simply tired and bored with saving lives day in and day out. Burn Out in the health care field refers to the monotony of constantly struggling with the unrealistic demands of administrations, medical-legal jargon and risks to our license every day we put on our uniform. The joy I felt after saving someone's life was the reward that made it all worth it. A gentleman once came to our table while I was having dinner with friends and exclaimed, "This man saved my life. I just want to thank him." I could honestly say I loved my work.
As an EMT, I enjoyed my job but the business side of the profession I could live without. We were constantly under changing administration and always having to adjust to changing policies. Supplies were difficult to keep stocked and sometimes our patient care suffered for it.
We even had to protect ourselves from our own management who would lay the burden of failing equipment and lack of needed supplies on our shoulders. I left the career I loved after our office finally closed. After a bitter and childish rivalry between our new EMS Service and the local established service, we were left jobless. Those of us who worked for the new service were prevented from ever working with the local service. After witnessing the behavior of the local EMS administrator, I lost all respect for the man and had no desire to work for him.
While attending college toward a nursing degree I was offered a position as a Nurse's Aide in the state operated mental facility for the elderly. Our orientation was basically various insurance agencies attempting to get us to sign up for their policies. I was sent to work in the elderly ward. Again, the job of caring for my patients was greatly rewarding. All seemed well until after our first scheduled health physical.
A week following our physical examination 14 of us had been relieved of our positions with no apparent cause. A former health care worker called me later to inform me that I needed to go to a doctor immediately. Each of us that had been relieved had been exposed to the tuberculosis virus. The facility had taken insured patients with active TB and neglected to warn the staff. I started a regimen of treatment for 6 months for my exposure. I was among the few lucky to have only been exposed. Other health care workers were not so lucky and developed active TB. We had no legal recourse due to the fine print in our employment contracts stating we relinquish our rights to sue a state facility. This cost me a semester of college considering I could not go near patients while under treatment for TB. My coworkers who were now sick would spend the rest of their lives under house quarantine.
When I finally was able to attend college again I completed 4 of 5 semesters toward a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. During my last 4th Semester clinical, a young mother lost her baby during childbirth. All the nursing students as well as the student instructor huddled around the pediatric nurse attending to the stillborn infant. The operating physician stated the mother was losing blood. None of the nurses seemed to hear him. I stepped forward and stated that I was a licensed EMT and I would help. We stabilized the mother. The student instructor and other attending nurses did finally help him finish.
The mother was one of my patients. I was with her when she awakened and I informed her that she had lost her child. I asked her husband to come in and I stepped out. My nursing instructor pulled me into the nurse's lounge and berated me for my lack of empathy for the child and the mother. She informed me that it was my place as her nurse to remain at her side while she dealt with the emotional pain of losing the child.
I began taking off my equipment and filled the instructor in on some things she had overlooked. She and the other students whimpered over the infant that was in the competent hands of a pediatrician and left the mother to bleed out. When the mother awoke, I took her vitals and administered her medication. The task of dealing with her loss was well covered by a strong and loving husband with whom I had spoken already.
I had worked in and around the health care field since I was 16 years old until I was 30. I was considered a veteran in the field when most people my age were barely out of high school. I still love the work and I keep my EMS license current each year. But I will never do it as a profession again.
Previously Posted on FullofKnowlege.com
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