Great article and very relevant. I'm definitely sharing it with my co-workers.
I have only one issue - the quote from Steinburg that says "nurses and teachers" are more prone to burnout than others. I don't doubt that they are prone to burnout, but as a 911 Dispatcher there are many in our profession, and also police, fire and ambulance workers, who are not only "prone to burnout" but have a more severe form which is Compassion Fatigue. A definition of compassion fatigue from Jennifer Brandt, PhD, LISW: "Compassion fatigue is an emotional and physical burden created by the trauma of helping others in distress, which leads to a reduced capacity for empathy toward suffering in the future." I think it lies somewhere on the spectrum between burnout and PTSD.
The busier the 911 call center the faster this can happen. While hospitals are inundated with patients during recent massive shootings, the call centers are quickly overwhelmed with calls, all people needing help. They also need to get the shooters location, the victims' location, dispatch officers, ambulance, fire, keep track of where they are, and try to keep THOSE people safe. In a matter of minutes you could be blindsided by a huge event out of nowhere, quickly inundated with calls and pulled in many directions at once.
Imagine that your coworkers could be shot at any moment, any day? And you might hear it happen. Imagine, too, someone calling your work, killing themselves ON THE PHONE on purpose, so that you can witness it? There is nothing so frustrating, futile and hopeless as being the emergency operator and not being able to help.
We are not recognized as First Responders and often do not get the accolades and support that police and fire get. The government classifies us as "secretarial", which is an insult. We are required to multi-task, something many studies say is "impossible" and harmful, but it's the main job requirement. We work 24/7, so that means shift work, which is also a source of stress. We work weekends and holidays. We miss out on much of family life. We are often short-handed and work forced overtime (we've been in forced overtime mode for about 3 years now). So you see, just showing up to work IN ITSELF is stressful. Then add the stress of those calling for help! Sometimes you wonder if anyone cares about what you do, who you are, if you matter. I kind of wish I was a teacher.
ORIGINAL COMMENT
Great article and very relevant. I'm definitely sharing it with my co-workers.
I have only one issue - the quote from Steinburg that says "nurses and teachers" are more prone to burnout than others. I don't doubt that they are prone to burnout, but as a 911 Dispatcher there are many in our profession, and also police, fire and ambulance workers, who are not only "prone to burnout" but have a more severe form which is Compassion Fatigue. A definition of compassion fatigue from Jennifer Brandt, PhD, LISW: "Compassion fatigue is an emotional and physical burden created by the trauma of helping others in distress, which leads to a reduced capacity for empathy toward suffering in the future." I think it lies somewhere on the spectrum between burnout and PTSD.
The busier the 911 call center the faster this can happen. While hospitals are inundated with patients during recent massive shootings, the call centers are quickly overwhelmed with calls, all people needing help. They also need to get the shooters location, the victims' location, dispatch officers, ambulance, fire, keep track of where they are, and try to keep THOSE people safe. In a matter of minutes you could be blindsided by a huge event out of nowhere, quickly inundated with calls and pulled in many directions at once.
Imagine that your coworkers could be shot at any moment, any day? And you might hear it happen. Imagine, too, someone calling your work, killing themselves ON THE PHONE on purpose, so that you can witness it? There is nothing so frustrating, futile and hopeless as being the emergency operator and not being able to help.
We are not recognized as First Responders and often do not get the accolades and support that police and fire get. The government classifies us as "secretarial", which is an insult. We are required to multi-task, something many studies say is "impossible" and harmful, but it's the main job requirement. We work 24/7, so that means shift work, which is also a source of stress. We work weekends and holidays. We miss out on much of family life. We are often short-handed and work forced overtime (we've been in forced overtime mode for about 3 years now). So you see, just showing up to work IN ITSELF is stressful. Then add the stress of those calling for help! Sometimes you wonder if anyone cares about what you do, who you are, if you matter. I kind of wish I was a teacher.
I'm sorry. I guess I'm a little stressed out...