1. Between burnout and boredom
Basil Henrick
Mater Misericordiae Hospital
Dublin
43rd Congress on Perfusion, Leeds
Saturday 11th November 2017

3. Odd one out?
Intensivist
Perfusionist
Nurse
Surgeon

5. Burnout in Perfusion

6. Credentials
Psychologist

7. Credentials Psychologist Inotropic support on arrival to MMUH:
Noradrenaline
Adrenaline
Dobutamine
Amiodaone

8. Credentials Psychologist Social scientist Expert in career guidance
Inotropic support on arrival to MMUH:
Noradrenaline
Adrenaline
Dobutamine
Amiodaone

9. Credentials Psychologist Social scientist Expert in career guidance
Inotropic support on arrival to MMUH:
Noradrenaline
Adrenaline
Dobutamine
Amiodaone

10. Credentials Psychologist Social scientist Expert in career guidance
Philosopher
Guru
Life Coach
Inotropic support on arrival to MMUH:
Noradrenaline
Adrenaline
Dobutamine
Amiodaone

11. Credentials Psychologist Social scientist Expert in career guidance
Philosopher
Guru
Life Coach
Inotropic support on arrival to MMUH:
Noradrenaline
Adrenaline
Dobutamine
Amiodaone

12. Credentials Psychologist Social scientist Expert in career guidance
Philosopher
Guru
Life Coach
PERFUSIONIST

13. Burnout Colloquial 1961 (Graham Greene) Psychology 1980s
Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)
Emotional exhaustion
Depersonalisation
Diminished sense of accomplishment

15. Burnout: emotional exhaustion
Chronic fatigue
Insomnia
Forgetfulness
Impaired concentration
Physical symptoms / increased illness
Loss of appetite
Anxiety
Depression
Anger

16. Burnout: depersonalisation
Cynicism
Loss of enjoyment
Pessimism
Isolation
Detachment
“… judging patients as somehow deserving of their troubles”1
1. Maslach C, Jackson SE. Burnout in health professions: A social psychological analysis. In: Social Pscychology of Health and Illness. Sander GS, Suls eds. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, 1982;

17. Decreased sense of personal accomplishment
Feelings of ineffectiveness
Lack of accomplishment
Apathy
Hopelessness
Increased irritability
Lack of productivity
Poor performance2
2. Felton JS. Burnout as a clinical entity – its importance in health care workers. Occup Med 1998; 48:

18. Burnout Existential view:
Burnout is a result of one’s need to believe that his/her life is meaningful and that the things he/she does is useful and significant.

19. Factors that relate to burnout
Case load
Hours worked
Call duties
Stress level
Conflict
Role clarity
Resources
Participation

21. Boredom French – ennui German – Langeweile
Japanese - うんざりして (unzari shite)
Swedish - leda

22. Boredom nothing to do same thing over and over
feel pervasive lack of interest
“ … an emotional and psychological state experienced when an individual is left without anything in particular to do and becomes disinterested in their surroundings”

23. Boredom nothing to do same thing over and over
feel pervasive lack of interest
“ … a psychological response to a moderate challenge for which the subject has more than enough skills”

24. Attributed to boredom Poor performance at work Accidents Absenteeism
Errors
Increased risk taking
Sleepiness
Job dissatisfaction

25. Boredom Fatigue Forgetfulness Impaired concentration
Physical symptoms / increased illness
Depression
Apathy 
Lethargy
Motivation

26. Boredom Fatigue Forgetfulness Impaired concentration
Forgetfulness
Impaired concentration
Physical symptoms / increased illness
Depression
Apathy
Lethargy
Motivation
Boredom

27. Burnout Boredom Chronic fatigue Insomnia Forgetfulness
Impaired concentration
Physical symptoms / increased illness
Loss of appetite
Anxiety
Depression
Anger
Cynicism
Loss of enjoyment
Pessimism
Isolation
Detachment
Feelings of ineffectiveness
Lack of accomplishment
Apathy
Hopelessness
Increased irritability
Lack of productivity
Poor performance
Fatigue
Lethargy
Motivation
Burnout
Boredom

28. Burnout Boredom Chronic fatigue Insomnia Forgetfulness
Impaired concentration
Physical symptoms / increased illness
Loss of appetite
Anxiety
Depression
Anger
Cynicism
Loss of enjoyment
Pessimism
Isolation
Detachment
Feelings of ineffectiveness
Lack of accomplishment
Apathy
Hopelessness
Increased irritability
Lack of productivity
Poor performance
Fatigue
Lethargy
Motivation
Burnout
Boredom

30. Strategies to beat burnout
Identify3 the concept of burnout!
Job environment
Workload
Individual control (role ambiguity & conflict)
Reward (intrinsic fulfillment)
Community (support from peers)
Fairness
Values
Vacation
Recognition
3. Dignam J et al. Occupational stress, social support, and burnout among correctional officers. Am J Comm Psych. 1986; 14:177-91

31. Strategies to beat boredom
Staying busy (focus on tasks rather than time)
Be creative about devising tasks
Show up on time
Get to own new tasks
Take pride in doing your job well
Learn new skills
Change your daily routine
Find life enlarging interests

33. Conclusion We are all at risk
Prevention is possible if we develop strategies
Develop personal and professional life
Become a serial enthusiast!
Get out of your comfort zone!
Even more at risk in the future?