Failure. The doctor’s f-word. Resilience is about bouncing back, acknowledging that we are human and finding the best way to remount that old career war horse. Mostly this is day to day stuff about getting to the end of the clinic, the ward round, the shift with your sense of humour and/or sanity intact. Sometimes it’s about recovering from a horrible event or when life gangs up and gives you not only lemons but melons, kiwis and kumquats.
What resilience definitely is not is an employer refusing to provide a functioning workplace then blaming it on you if you show signs of struggling. Sometimes the most resilient you can be is stand up and say ‘this is not safe, fair or good enough and something needs to be done’.
Of course, take advantage of any free opportunities that are offered for mind, body and soul from cycling schemes, choirs, meditation, Schwartz rounds and yoga. But resilience is more. It’s about accepting your limitations and in others and finding the cheat codes that help you negotiate the difficult days. Advanced resilience is looking out for others struggling and helping them because like systemic problems, if those around you are battling, it is going to be an uphill struggle for everyone.
There is no one size fits all model for resilience learning. We do know however from longitudinal studies that young people even with the most catastrophic adverse childhood events can be taught resilience into later life. Achieving work and relationship stability is a core element. However, we know this is a huge vulnerability for all medical trainees; moving jobs, accommodation and the stresses this places on relationships. Add rota gaps, winter pressures and exams and even the toughest cookie can crumble. Sadly, we know , especially is on the rise and so now more than ever we have to look after ourselves and others in order to care for our patients.
I’ve made some suggestions of what you can try or look out for, it’s not exhaustive but small changes can make a big difference. The College has also collated a list of organisations who provide paediatricians with direct links to health, wellbeing and other referral sites for doctors in need. Make sure you seek support if and when you need it.
- Take a break – seniors must ensure the juniors take lunches and have coffee/rest periods. This might mean a break in a ward round. Some departments are developing rest facilities and it’s up to the team leaders to make sure everyone uses them.
- Team meals. Team pizzas on Fridays? A sandwich run for lunch one day? It’s the small things that help.
- Fill in exception forms for overtime so the Guardian of Safety can identify struggling departments and claim owed money. Get paid.
- Please go home if you are sick or if anyone in the team is ill. Presenteeism is such a doctor malady. If one person gets noro and hangs on in a whole team could be ‘indisposed’.
- Share innovative ways of working to spread the load so everyone can get breaks.
- Reminding everyone to not drop the things that give them meaning out of work; don’t stop your morning walk, your evening run, chatting with friends.
- Look out for the surly, cross or unpleasant colleague who is pushing everyone away. This is tricky to do but these can be signs of burning out and that person may need support. Make them tea. Ask them how they are.
- Take your praise. Tell everyone when they have done a good job. This is simple but it is so important for self-esteem. It makes people want to come back to work the next day.
- Make your own list. Prizes for innovation.
This is going to evolve and change as you do. But then that’s the fun journey part of it all. Life is a fun ride and at the end of the day, medicine is just a job. I know. Treasonous.