By Barbra Backus, Phil Dobson, Noortje Dorscheidt & Benjamin Gerretsen
Are you feeling emotionally exhausted by the ongoing pandemic?
Do you find it hard to switch off after your shifts, and difficult to fall asleep?
If you’re feeling a little burned out, you are certainly not alone.
Critical Care workers have a notoriously high-risk for developing burnout, despite being a generally resilient group of health care workers. The COVID-19 pandemic has further increased the amount of health care workers suffering from exhaustion and subsequent burnout symptoms.
Health care workers, known for their enormous dedication towards patients and their work, are challenged under the current circumstances to choose between carrying out their duties as caregivers, and protecting themselves and their loved ones.
Recent surveys indicate that the majority of you already experience increased stress and workload, anxiety, fear of losing patients and concern about personal or family safety due to COVID-19.