. . . When Enough is Enough

Sometimes a person needs to be able to say “enough is enough.”

In my years in EMS, I have seen a number of people come and go. Â  The wear and tear of being a field provider ends up being too much for some bodies both young and old, some decide to move on to other careers (nursing, physician’s assistant, fire fighter, police officer etc) and even more still are overcome by burnout.

We all know those people that I am talking about: the ones that just can’t seem to have a good day; the ones that are crispier than burnt bacon.  They act like their motivating factor for continuing to work is that leaving would be admitting defeat to a job, an organization or even an individual person like a boss or a supervisor.  Some may think that the only casualty suffered in this scenario is the person themselves, but these crispy individuals usually cause a lot of collateral damage.  I’ve seen good EMT’s dragged down by cynical, burnt out partners, becoming a clone of the person they sit next to for forty hours a week and that makes me sad.  People should be allowed to enjoy their job, and do it at their own terms, but exposure to people like this make that difficult.

Then, there are the patients.  How can a person give their best at a job when they are miserable day in and day out?  It does not seem possible to me.  Our job is a very serious, vital one, and the people we encounter every day deserve nothing short of a caring, competent, compassionate individual coming to their aide.  When a provider starts putting their patients second, third, or even forth, or worrying more about how their employer is “screwing them” or this particular 9-1-1 call is going to make them late for this or that, it stops being about the patients, and when it stops being about the patients, it is time to question one’s motivations and desire to stay in the field.

Don’t get me wrong, everyone has a bad day.  The problem arises when that bad day turns into a bad week, or that bad week turns into a bad month.  Before long, that bad month turns into a bad year, and a person finds their stress and misery they carry with them at work following them home.  It is not as easy to shed as a pair of boots or a uniform shirt at that point.

Burnout is something that can affect the newest of the new, or the saltiest veterans, but it is not a chronic or terminal condition.  I am living proof of that, but while it can be beaten, sometimes it’s just easier and better for everyone if a person moves on to another venture.  It is not a matter of being defeated by anything, and deciding to move on is not admitting defeat.  A person has a right to be happy with what they do, and where they do it, and if one of those pieces (job title, description, employer, location) is even just a little bit off, the rest of it becomes very difficult to balance.  While saying “maybe it is time” might be one of the hardest things a person ever has to do, sometimes it’s the right choice for everyone involved.

Jonathan Hall, a paramedic who I worked with for four years over at my part time job is one of the smartest providers I have ever encountered, and someone who I look up to.  While receiving an award in our county a few months ago, he described how a person’s career should be viewed as a bell curve, but rather a sine wave.  That is to say, life is not made up of one high period followed by an inevitable drop off.  It is actually a series of peaks and valleys, some higher and some deeper than others.  It was really a great analogy, and I feel that some people who are truly effected by burnout look at their careers and think “well, this is it” and will hold on regardless of the damage that is done.  In fact, if they just looked around the corner, they might see another opportunity, or even a fresh start that pushes them back up that next hill to a peak.

I have seen people move on from my service who are genuinely much happier at other services.  That change of pace, scenery or faces is exactly what they were looking for.  Others though go move on and realize that maybe things weren’t so bad where they were before, and they gain a better appreciation for where they came from and the twists and turns their career took.  All in all though, the majority of the people who I encountered who said “maybe it’s time to move on” made the right choice for themselves.

As I wrap up this post, ask yourself, “Did what I just read make me mad?  Am I insulted?”  If it did, that means it might have hit too close to home.  The intention of this was not to belittle, single out or put down anyone, but rather to open your eyes.  Well, now that they’re open, take a look at where you’re at.  Maybe it’s time for a change.