Scrubs and Beyond
I’ve worn a police uniform for 25 years. That uniform has been judged, heralded, hated, misunderstood, criticized, reformed, brutalized, and used as political propaganda.
Scrubs, the familiar term for a healthcare worker’s uniform, can also signal different emotions and assumptions, which outside forces may manipulate for their own ends. But a uniform, be it scrubs or a police uniform, does not define the person wearing it.
Other Resources Prepare To Act Offers Healthcare Workers Within Our Scrubs and Beyond Mission.
5 To Thrive. A Survival Guide for Healthcare Workers. Free Download!
Never Stop Taking Care of Yourself.
In This Post:
We Support Our Heroes (On These Conditions…)
Hailed as heroes throughout the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our nurses risked their personal health and the health of their families to go to work and perform their jobs. Armor-coated firefighters, often perceived as the more beloved faction of emergency workers, paid tribute to the healthcare profession in major cities all around the country. People in the crowd waved flags, shouted their thanks, and wrote empowering messages on signs, all likely with pure intent.
Heroes are great for headlines and feel-good cover stories that help us feel safe and secure in the comfort of our own homes. Prepare To Act’s Scrubs & Beyond Mission aims to show the real side of your hero’s journey. The triumph and the struggle of each person who puts on their uniform each day.
It’s easy to misjudge healthcare workers, law enforcement officers, and emergency responders like firefighters. We rely on these workforces to be there for us in our times of greatest despair. Have we ever considered what it must be like to put on scrubs, a bulletproof vest, or heavy firefighting gear?
It’s Okay To Not Be Okay
There are many groups of people in the world, but only one group can do what our healthcare professionals do. For that reason, I have created the Scrubs & Beyond Mission.
I recently gave a presentation to about 85 healthcare professionals, mostly nurses and nursing supervisors. My session focused on how these workers can stay safe and protect themselves, not just at work but in all facets of life.
The topic of loss inevitably came up, a common thread that binds my personal safety programs. I noticed several audience members beginning to tear up. It was clear to me that so many in the healthcare field are struggling. It was then that I realized that I to help. I’ve been in the thick of things and didn’t realize how many were struggling and needed help preventing and managing burnout in the healthcare industry.
Some Forces Can’t Be Quelled By Armor
The Scrubs & Beyond Mission is individually and psychologically based in a way that understands how your upbringing, experiences, and beliefs make each of you unique. More than a person behind a uniform.
While a uniform can protect a person from bloodborne pathogens, accidental needle sticks, toxic chemicals, and even natural elements, there are invisible forces that penetrate these safety barriers every day. Let us explore some of these forces and how they can impact people like you in the healthcare industry.
Trauma
You’re numb to it, right? I mean, you must be. It’s the only way to survive in the field of healthcare. At least, it can often feel like the only way to cope.
A loss of a patient, an acute injury, or the death of a child in the emergency room – maybe it’s your job to tell family members that their loved one is dead. That experience could break a person, but you are trained to “break the news.”
It’s not just that the person “didn’t make it” or that they simply “passed away.” They are “dead,” and it happened in front of you.
Dead – the most powerful word on this page. But don’t you dare admit it to anyone, no. Bury that shit deep inside you because you’re not supposed to be human. You’re a hero! With armor! Invincible and impervious. Right?
Wrong. You are human, and at the end of the day, at the end of your shift, you are alone with yourself and what happened on your watch, regardless of how you did your best to fight for someone else’s life.
I honestly did not realize how twisted I really was until I retired and had to learn to shut that self-protection off. And trust me when I tell you, after 25 years, it’s not easy to do. I understand you might be afraid to let your guard down. In real life, when faced with real trauma, guards don’t just come down. It takes time to make yourself vulnerable when every cell in your body might be telling you to preserve yourself. Take some baby steps today to remember the person you were when you began this career and if you need to look deeper into some methods of therapy that can change your life. Check our blog post: These 8 Types of Therapy Help People Change Their Lives.
Stress
Stress is a universal experience, but its effects can be particularly damaging in the healthcare industry. The demands of the job can be constant and intense, leaving little time for self-care. As a result, healthcare workers are at an increased risk for burnout, anxiety, and depression.
Studies have shown that chronic stress can also lead to physical health problems, such as heart disease and high blood pressure. In addition, stress can negatively affect patient care.
When healthcare providers are under immense pressure, they are more likely to make mistakes and exhibit poor judgment. For both individual workers and the healthcare system, it is essential to find ways to manage stress effectively. Promoting a culture of wellness and self-care can help to reduce the negative impacts of stress in the healthcare industry.
Loss
Every day, healthcare workers see firsthand the toll that illness and injury can take on patients and their families. While we are trained to deal with physical symptoms, the emotional impact of loss is often much harder to cope with.
Whether it’s the death of a patient, the loss of a limb, or the news that a loved one has a terminal illness, grappling with grief is a difficult and necessary part of our jobs. In many ways, the healthcare industry is a “house of sorrows” where we are constantly surrounded by death and suffering.
Loss can take a toll on our mental health, causing us to feel cynical, pessimistic, and even depressed. It’s important to remember that we are not alone in this – many healthcare workers are struggling with the same emotions.
If you are finding it difficult to cope, reach out to a friend or colleague for support. Together, we can help each other through this tough time.
Heartache
Anyone who has ever experienced heartache knows that it can be a debilitating experience.
The physical pain of a broken heart is well-documented, but the psychological effects can be just as profound. Heartache can lead to depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and even actual heartbreak in the form of cardiovascular disease.
For healthcare professionals, this can have a significant impact on job performance. Studies have shown that employees who are dealing with heartache are more likely to make errors, take longer to complete tasks, and call in sick more often. In a profession where even small mistakes can have serious consequences, this is a significant concern.
Fortunately, there are steps that healthcare workers can take to mitigate the effects of heartache. These include seeking professional counseling, talking to friends and family members about their experiences, and taking some time for themselves to grieve and heal.
Heroes Deserve Help
By taking the steps to seek help, healthcare professionals can begin to cope with the challenges of trauma, stress, loss, and heartache to continue providing quality care for their patients.
Will this journey be linear? Most likely, no. It is important to anticipate setbacks, acknowledge when they happen, learn from them, and not allow them to derail your progress.
Many people may find that this endeavor is easier to accomplish with a support network, and Scrubs & Beyond aims to provide just that: a community of hard-working, heart-working heroes.
In-Line With Our Mission - PTA Wrote A Free E-book Specific To The Healthcare Industry
“5 To Thrive - A Survival Guide For Healthcare Workers”
FAQ’s
What Are Some Common Causes of Stress and Burnout in the Healthcare Industry?
Long hours and demanding workloads and schedules. With little downtime and rest this can and will lead to chronic stress and burnout.
Constant exposure to difficult situations and challenging and emotionally draining experiences.
Limited support and resources. And this is exactly why PTA is beginning it’s Scrubs and Beyond Mission. We will continue to build and offer resources to help keep you healthy.
What Are Some Effective Strategies for Managing Stress in the Healthcare Industry?
Prioritizing self-care. It's important for healthcare workers to make time for self-care and to prioritize their own physical and emotional well-being.
Developing healthy coping mechanisms. This can include things like meditation, deep breathing, and other relaxation techniques that can help them manage stress and stay calm in difficult situations.
Seeking professional help when needed. Healthcare workers should not be afraid to seek professional help when they are struggling with stress or other mental health issues.
Want To Learn More? Download Our Free Ebook: 5 To Thrive. A Self Care Survival Guide for Healthcare Workers!
How can healthcare workers protect themselves from violent attacks and other safety threats on the job?
Staying aware of their surroundings. Healthcare workers should always be aware of their surroundings and should be alert to potential safety threats.
Using verbal and non-verbal communication to de-escalate situations. Healthcare workers can use verbal and non-verbal communication techniques to help de-escalate potentially violent situations.
Seeking help when needed. If a situation becomes dangerous or out of control, healthcare workers should not hesitate to seek help. This can include things like calling for backup, activating an alarm, or seeking help from security or law enforcement.
How To Stop A Stalker in Their Tracks - This blog post helps with situational awareness.
How can healthcare workers support each other and cope with the emotional toll of patient loss and trauma?
Developing a supportive team culture. Healthcare workers can support each other by creating a team culture that encourages open communication, collaboration, and support.
Seeking out peer support and professional help. Healthcare workers can benefit from seeking out support from their peers and from mental health professionals.
Seeking out resources and support from outside organizations. Healthcare workers can also seek out resources and support from outside organizations that are dedicated to helping healthcare workers cope with the emotional demands of their job.
What are some legal protections and resources available to healthcare workers who have experienced violence or trauma on the job?
Workers' compensation. In most cases, healthcare workers who are injured on the job are entitled to workers' compensation benefits.
Employee assistance programs. Many healthcare organizations offer employee assistance programs (EAPs) to help workers cope with the demands of their job.
Support from professional organizations. Healthcare workers can also seek support from professional organizations that are dedicated to helping workers cope with the emotional demands of their job.