Resilient Response: Self-Care Strategies for Emergency Medicine Part 1

Chris and I talk about my background and motivation for my podcast. 

I talk about a pediatric arrest I ran that had a huge impact on me. 

We tend to dehumanize patients in this job to keep our distance, but that is not always the best technique.

Emergency standards are standards I have developed working in the ER.

One of those standards is to walk slowly through the department. Become mindful. Be intentional and in the moment. Think through the proper order to complete your tasks. It is not your emergency.

Mindfulness practices are key to mitigating anxiety and stress. 

Getting off work on time is key to separating work and life and maintaining that balance. Of course, much of this is outside your control, but control as much as you can. 

Let the shift go before you get home. Refocus on the rest of your life.

Take care of yourself before you take care of patients. Self-care is critical.

Overtime is often needed when you need to focus on making money, but this cannot be sustained long term.

Daily, consistent discipline will prevent a crisis or emergency down the road.

Debriefing and talking through cases can help you process and heal from them.

Acute and chronic burnout are different problems and require different solutions. 

Focus on the factors you have control over. 

Know your why. A powerful why can overcome a lot of how’s.

Check out Mind the Frontline below and help their mission to improve lives of first responders:

Resilient Response: Self-Care Strategies for Emergency Medicine (mindthefrontline.org)