1. Presenter: Stephanie Price Provisional Psychologist
Preventing Burnout
Presenter: Stephanie Price
Provisional Psychologist

2. Burnout
Burnout is a cognitive-emotional reaction to stress characterised by high levels of exhaustion resulting from the chronic demands made on a person’s resources (Raedeke & Smith, 2009).
Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress.
It occurs when you feel overwhelmed and unable to meet constant demands. As the stress continues, you begin to lose the interest or motivation that led you to take on a certain role in the first place.

3. How Does This Apply To You?
Demands on clinical hospital staff include: complex patient loads, long shifts, fast paced environments, emotional and physically demanding area.
Anton Wildgans “What is to give light must endure burning”

4. What Leads To Burnout At Work?
Feeling overwhelmed or overloaded
Working in a role that is physically, mentally or emotionally demanding a lot of the time
Feeling bored / not feeling sufficiently challenged
Feeling under-appreciated
Experiencing compassion fatigue over a long period

5. What Are Signs Of Burnout?

6. What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Burnout?

7. Difference Between Stress And Burnout
Characterized by over-engagement
Characterized by disengagement
Emotions are over-reactive
Emotions are blunted
Produces urgency and hyperactivity
Produces helplessness and hopelessness
Loss of energy
Loss of motivation, ideals, and hope
Leads to anxiety disorders
Leads to detachment and depression
Primary damage is physical
Primary damage is emotional
May kill you prematurely
May make life seem not worth living
Source: Stress and Burnout in Ministry

8. Compassion Fatigue
Emotional, physical & spiritual exhaustion from witnessing and absorbing the problems and suffering of others. (Perry, 2010; Sabo, 2011).
The stress that results from helping or wanting to help a suffering person
Those with enormous capacity for empathy are most at risk
It is often identified by others before being identified / admitted by the individual
Skills, experience and longevity do not result in “immunity” to compassion fatigue

10. What Characterises Compassion Fatigue?
Feeling of being overwhelmed
Exhaustion
Inability to focus
Decrease in productivity
Unhappiness
Self-doubt
Isolation
Poor sleep
Nightmares
Low mood
Irritability
Anger
Helplessness
Confusion
Loss of passion and enthusiasm

11. Barriers in Addressing Compassion Fatigue and Burnout
Fear of being labelled weak or a whinger
Fear it may affect employment or career prospects
Believing that stress is a normal part of the role
Not realising of how severe stress / fatigue has become
Bargaining with oneself – “if I just make it through the next month, things should get easier”
Unsure of options or supports available

12. Hidden Costs of Compassion Fatigue and Burnout
Absenteeism / Lost time / Replacement staff / Added workload
Impact on other staff
Impact on individual health
Interpersonal conflict at the workplace and grievances
Low morale
High Turnover, talent replacement
Poor productivity
Physical injuries and accidents
The impact on resilience to manage critical incident stress

13. What Support Systems are in place at RCH?
You’re Not Alone
What Support Systems are in place at RCH?

14. Support: RCH has a range of internal and external support
Access your line management or colleagues
Peer Support Team (currently recruiting/start date: July TBC)
AMA Victorian Doctors and counselling support/ Nursing and Midwifery Health Program
Junior Medical Staff – Mentors
HR Partners
GP support – mental health care plans to see a psychologist through Medicare
EAP – Davidson Trahaire Corpsych
Phone:
Lifeline:
SuicideLine:

15. Self Care Strategies What are your self care strategies?
Work on a self care plan.
Here are some examples:

17. Summary Burn-out: prolonged and excessive stress.
Compassion Fatigue: Steams from the need to help others whilst excluding our needs.
Look out for the Signs and Symptoms
Support Options (Speak up!)
Self Care is vital. You are the best judge.

18. Questions?