Burnout and Joy in the Profession of Critical Care Medicine

Abstract

The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) can be a stressful environment for patients and families, with well-established long-term consequences. The impact that this unique environment can have on healthcare professionals is being increasingly recognized. Challenging ethical situations, exposure to high patient mortality and difficult daily workloads can lead to excessive stress for those caring for critically ill patients. A growing body of literature suggests that this excessive stress and resultant moral distress can lead to Burnout Syndrome [BOS]. In this State of the Art (SOA) review, we focus on the epidemiology of BOS in the ICU and the impact it can have on clinicians, patients and the health service. Risk factors for BOS, alongside potential strategies to mitigate burnout and optimize fulfillment, are also discussed. We conclude that burnout is a threat to the profession of critical care medicine, with high prevalence rates across critical care provider disciplines. However, with a robust community response to the call to action, the opportunity exists to mitigate burnout and optimize fulfillment by critical care professionals to ensure that caring, compassionate, high-quality critical care is delivered to all critically ill patients.

Innovative Partnership Between Intensive Care Unit Nurses and Therapists to Care for Patients With COVID-19

“…4,6,7 Crowe et al 8 reported that up to 73% of ICU nurses who cared for patients with COVID-19 demonstrated mild to severe symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. Nurse burnout is a significant concern under normal conditions in various health care settings (including ICUs), 9 but it has been even more of a concern during the pandemic.…”