If one of the employees that you supervise came to you and stated that she is experiencing 'burn out,' what would your response be?
"When I was in college, I had a mentor who was very encouraging. She told me if I didn't remember anything else she told me, that I should always remember to take care of myself. I have grown to understand what she meant and I try to share that advice with everyone on my staff. When someone tells me that they feel 'burned out,' I try to find out if they have had any time for themselves, or when their last day off was. If staffing allows, I like to offer the employee a little time off, and remind them if we are bogged down physically and emotionally, it is easy to become overwhelmed and experience feeling burned out."
"Unfortunately, I can speak from experience about burn out. Because I have experienced that kind of stress myself, I try to stay aware of those who work with me and make sure that I am available any time they need me. If an employee does approach me about feeling overwhelmed, I like to ask them to tell me about their daily activities and routines and try to offer suggestions of ways to reduce stress. Often, a day off or a change in routine is all it takes to help those feelings ease. The important thing is trying to find out why the employee feels overwhelmed and then addressing the issue so that it does not escalate."
Unfortunately, burn out is something that healthcare workers often experience. As a medical manager, you will likely be the one that employees come to when they feel overwhelmed. The interviewer wants to know that you are capable of talking with and encouraging employees and are comfortable with offering the necessary resources to help relieve any anxiety the employee may be experiencing.
"I understand how some healthcare providers can experience burn out. It has nothing to do with wanting to change professions or leave a job. Sometimes it's just hard to lose patients or to feel like we can't save them all. When I have had coworkers or subordinates come to me and express their frustration or the feeling of being burned out, I like to encourage them to share their thoughts and feelings to try and get to the bottom of what is causing their stress. Often, taking a few days of personal time just to relax and recharge is helpful for employees. Other times, a transfer to a different department is helpful. Talking to them and understanding where the feeling of being overwhelmed comes from usually helps to develop a plan to overcome those feelings."
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