Feeling defeated or unmotivated? Physically and emotionally exhausted? Physician burnout has become an increasingly prevalent issue, further exacerbated in recent years by the onset of the pandemic. It’s transformed into a critical health crisis that demands the implementation of ongoing initiatives to address and mitigate the issue. Burnout impacts an estimated two-thirds of today’s physicians, according to the American Medical Association, and is characterized by symptoms like decreased satisfaction or sense of accomplishment, emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization.
Job-related stressors that contribute to burnout can stem from a lack of work-life balance, long hours, heavy administrative burdens, and navigating an understaffed facility. In addition to jeopardizing the health and well-being of the physician, burnout can negatively impact patient care and outcomes – causing costly medical errors.
For the majority of physicians, passion and engaging in purposeful work are the overarching drivers for entering the field. So, what happens when it feels like your work has lost meaning? And worse, when you’re forced to operate under circumstances that are potentially hazardous for your patients?
Forget the ludicrous idea of permanently abandoning your career. The solution is simple: pursue a new job opportunity. And, equally important, understand the causes, signs, and symptoms of burnout, so you can recognize and address it in the future.
A Deeper Dive into Physician Burnout
While a myriad of variables can cause or intensify burnout, a primary driver is lifestyle. Think about it: long hours and a packed schedule translate to depleted time with friends and family. What’s more, mounting administrative responsibilities (along with a lack of support and efficient technology) also deprives physicians of precious time spent interacting with patients.
Years of training, student loans, and dedication – all to spend the bulk of your time handling clerical work? No thanks. Therefore, effectively addressing the issue requires finding a low stress physician job that values work-life balance. Align yourself with an employer that is actively invested in improving physician well-being through initiatives like flexible scheduling, stress management training, and task diversification.
Ways to Address Physician Burnout
Experiencing burnout? You’re not alone. Luckily, there are several strategies you can employ to combat the issue moving forward.
Remember Your “Why:” Why do you wake up each morning? Why did you pursue a career in healthcare? Likely it was a desire to engage in meaningful work. Proactively revisiting your goals and purpose can help refocus your energy and rediscover that motivation that’s been waning.
Strengthen Your Resilience: From therapy to yoga and meditation, building mental and emotional strength is vital for weathering hardships and mitigating feelings of burnout.
Practice Gratitude & Self-Care: As a healthcare professional, you already understand the importance of a healthy diet and exercise routine. Infusing these practices into your weekly schedule along with similar activities, like connecting with loved ones and exercising gratitude, can help transform negative self-talk and bolster well-being.
Seek Change: Whether it’s aligning with an employer that actively addresses burnout and incorporates wellness into the corporate culture, or you opt to pursue another field of healthcare, oftentimes the most effective way to stave off burnout is to put yourself in an environment that’ll protect your well-being.
Combat Burnout with Low Stress Physician Jobs
By reducing unpredictability and pursuing an alternate career path, like wound care, you can effectively gain more autonomy, increase satisfaction, improve work-life balance, and increase patient engagement. Joining a wound care practice can reintroduce you to the love and passion you once had for the field of healthcare.
By transitioning from a position that lends itself to burnout and into the field of wound care, doctors can build deeper relationships with patients and navigate an environment that promotes self-care and work-life balance.
For physicians who are frustrated by their current careers, wound care might be a good option for you. Interested in learning more? Reach out today!
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