May 9, 2016 – Chronic Care

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Anchor lead: Teamwork is key to reducing burnout in healthcare, Elizabeth Tracey reports

Many healthcare professionals report becoming burned out in the workplace, but no one more than nurses in the ICU, a recent study reported.  One-quarter of the nurses in this high stress environment reported burnout, along with plans to transition to less high stakes units in the hospital or even to simply leave the profession.  Trish Davidson, dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, suggests one possible solution.

Davidson:  I think what is really important is creating a teamwork in the ICU. When everybody is coordinated around a single goal, which is meeting the needs of the patient and their family, generally the work environments are more harmonious. In times of crisis good relationships get better and bad relationships get worse.  Certainly amongst health care teams that plays out, so if you can create an environment where there is trust.    :30

Davidson says as ICU populations are rising, keeping experienced professionals there is key.  At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.