Working as a health professional can be incredibly rewarding, both professionally and personally, however it is also frequently associated with high levels of stress for clinicians. Working in healthcare services, clinicians are often exposed to physical and emotional issues of patients, in addition to managing conflicting demands and increased work hours (Kakunje, 2011). As a result of these job stressors, it is widely recognized that health professionals are susceptible to negative impacts on their emotional, physical and mental health (Rice et al., 2014). The implications of working as a health professional and the subsequent need for self-care, will be implored in this essay.
The prevalence of stress and burnout in health professionals has been the focus of a multitude of studies. Kakunje (2011), recognizes that health professionals, are highly susceptible to excessive levels of stress, which can ultimately impede on quality of care and work performance. Health professionals regularly face debilitating job stressors, for example “excessive working hours, sleep deprivation, repeated exposure to emotionally charged situations, dealing with difficult patients, conflicts with other staff” (Kakunje, 2011, p.1). Additionally, it is noted that decreased ability to engage and maintain a social life, is a main contributor to increased stress levels (Kakunje, 2011).
A study by Rice et al., (2014) explores the correlation between stress and physical health among health professionals. It found that the majority of health professionals included in the study, rated themselves as experiencing moderate to high levels of stress (Rice et al., 2014). A multitude of physical health implications were identified as a direct result of work related stress, particularly poor lifestyle and chronic fatigue (Rice et al., 2014). Furthermore, studies have identified clear links between chronic fatigue and poor lifestyle with increase risk of poor health (Hegg-Deloye et al., 2013). These include such “implications as cardiovascular/metabolic diseases and musculoskeletal injuries” (Rice et al., 2014, pg.159) which ultimately impedes on quality of care. Consequently, reduced psychosocial health in clinicians can lead to reduced attention to patient care and compromised patient safety (Rice et al., 2014). This is further reinforced by Meeuwsen (1996), who found that job satisfaction in health professionals is heavily dependent on emotional wellbeing. Additionally, it concluded that physical and emotional health, were strongly correlated (Meeuwsen, 1996). This suggests that the presence of stress may have a reactive affect, impacting emotional wellbeing, decreasing job satisfaction in addition to impeding on physical health. Wallace et al., (2009), also reviews the personal implications of a health care career with high job stressors. …show more content…
Health professionals, who are affected by work associated stress, are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, troubles in social relationships or substance abuse (Wallace et al., 2009). Emerging research is showing the health professionals who experience stress, burnout, depression or general psychosocial distress, are likely to provide reduced quality of care (Wallace et al., 2009). Thus, when health professionals are unwell, their role in the health care system is negatively impacted. Tsutsumi & Kawakami (2004), found that an increase in stress and burnout levels were also found in health professionals that were not regularly exposed to the job stressors discussed previously in this essay. This was determined to be a consequence of poor work-life balance and an imbalance between effort and reward (Tstutsumi & Kawakami, 2004). This further signifies the importance and benefit of maintaining self-care as a health professional.
The prevalence of stress and burnout in health professionals has been the focus of a multitude of studies. Kakunje (2011), recognizes that health professionals, are highly susceptible to excessive levels of stress, which can ultimately impede on quality of care and work performance. Health professionals regularly face debilitating job stressors, for example “excessive working hours, sleep deprivation, repeated exposure to emotionally charged situations, dealing with difficult patients, conflicts with other staff” (Kakunje, 2011, p.1). Additionally, it is noted that decreased ability to engage and maintain a social life, is a main contributor to increased stress levels (Kakunje, 2011).
A study by Rice et al., (2014) explores the correlation between stress and physical health among health professionals. It found that the majority of health professionals included in the study, rated themselves as experiencing moderate to high levels of stress (Rice et al., 2014). A multitude of physical health implications were identified as a direct result of work related stress, particularly poor lifestyle and chronic fatigue (Rice et al., 2014). Furthermore, studies have identified clear links between chronic fatigue and poor lifestyle with increase risk of poor health (Hegg-Deloye et al., 2013). These include such “implications as cardiovascular/metabolic diseases and musculoskeletal injuries” (Rice et al., 2014, pg.159) which ultimately impedes on quality of care. Consequently, reduced psychosocial health in clinicians can lead to reduced attention to patient care and compromised patient safety (Rice et al., 2014). This is further reinforced by Meeuwsen (1996), who found that job satisfaction in health professionals is heavily dependent on emotional wellbeing. Additionally, it concluded that physical and emotional health, were strongly correlated (Meeuwsen, 1996). This suggests that the presence of stress may have a reactive affect, impacting emotional wellbeing, decreasing job satisfaction in addition to impeding on physical health. Wallace et al., (2009), also reviews the personal implications of a health care career with high job stressors. …show more content…
Health professionals, who are affected by work associated stress, are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, troubles in social relationships or substance abuse (Wallace et al., 2009). Emerging research is showing the health professionals who experience stress, burnout, depression or general psychosocial distress, are likely to provide reduced quality of care (Wallace et al., 2009). Thus, when health professionals are unwell, their role in the health care system is negatively impacted. Tsutsumi & Kawakami (2004), found that an increase in stress and burnout levels were also found in health professionals that were not regularly exposed to the job stressors discussed previously in this essay. This was determined to be a consequence of poor work-life balance and an imbalance between effort and reward (Tstutsumi & Kawakami, 2004). This further signifies the importance and benefit of maintaining self-care as a health professional.