With the large physician shortage and a growing population, current healthcare providers are experiencing high levels of burnout. The COVID-19 pandemic tested healthcare workers, putting them under constant pressure. Although the pandemic has passed, providers still struggle with its aftermath and arising healthcare issues.
According to the American Nurses Association, about 62% of nurses in the United States experience burnout. This is especially true for younger nurses under 25, where 69% of them reported burnout. But what exactly is burnout, and why does it impact healthcare providers so deeply?
What is burnout and its signs?
Healthcare providers are in unique positions, their work constantly consists of patient care, long hours, and stressful situations. Facilities like hospitals have a fast-paced environment, everyone is constantly moving and must be vigilant with their patients. Because of this the signs of burnout are prevalent among hospitals and healthcare clinics.
While difficult to accurately measure, burnout is basically the feeling of exhaustion from overworking. This fatigue manifests emotionally and physically, but the symptoms can vary from person-to-person. Burnout for healthcare professionals has three main symptoms, exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of efficacy according to Christina Maslach.
Depersonalization refers to the lack of compassion you may feel from having to be compassionate constantly. Being unable to sympathize or create a connection with a patient leads to a strained relationship. This prevents the patient from receiving the best care possible.
The lack of efficacy tends to be a result of the previous symptoms. Being exhausted emotionally and physically leads to a drop in the quality of care for patients. The report from Dike Drummond also notes that providers may begin to doubt their work, thinking that what they do doesn’t matter.
Locum tenens to addressing burnout
One of the main ways to deal with burnout is to take a long break or a dramatic life change. But through locum tenens work, healthcare professionals can recover from their slump without suffering from a lack of income.
Vacation Time
Overworking is the cornerstone of burnout. Even if your profession is crucial, you cannot care for others if you do not care for yourself. Unlike healthcare workers in permanent, full-time positions, locum tenens providers have gaps between each assignment.
Locum tenens assignments are temporary positions, providers have as much downtime between assignments as they desire. The beauty of locum tenens is how flexible your schedule can be. Permanent positions suffer from monotony, doing the same thing over and over again with a static environment.
In a survey from 2023, Barton asked their providers why they initially chose to pursue locum tenens work. 37% stated it was because of flexibility in their schedule, meaning that time is important to many providers. Some even use the opportunity to pursue their interests. Chris K., a locum tenens nurse practitioner (NP), chooses New England jobs because of his passion for fishing.
Generally, the breaks between assignments is what makes locum tenens work so attractive to providers. Some choose to have months to spend at home between assignments, while others are constantly traveling to their next destination. Barton helps tailor your schedule to your wants and needs, so providers can prevent burnout from overworking.
Change of Scenery
Many locum tenens providers travel to different states for each assignment. Many appreciate these opportunities, experiencing new people and cultures. One locum tenens physician assistant, Kathrine K., has traveled to many Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities. These areas provide her with a new perspective and insights into issues she hadn’t considered before.
Shifting your horizons can benefit your mental health. Barton provides guides for each of the 50 states, so locum tenens providers can prepare themselves for their next assignment. Each one contains worthwhile destinations. During your locum tenens assignment, you can check out Disney World in Florida or the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania.
Overall, a change in environment is a great way to combat burnout. Fixed routines can become miserable. Some appreciate sticking to a schedule, but over time each day can feel just like the last, lacking excitement or purpose.
Meaningful Work
One of the biggest indicators of burnout is the lack of motivation to work. Healthcare professionals are crucial to society, providing care and saving lives. But situations like the COVID-19 pandemic created an extremely stressful environment for healthcare workers. The American Medical Association (AMA) reported that physician burnout was at an all-time high from 2021 to 2022.
One of the distinguishing features of locum tenens work is that the assignments are for those most in need. Usually this comes from facilities suffering from the nationwide staffing shortage. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) stated that the U.S. will have a physician shortage up to 86,000 by 2036.
Many facilities that partner with Barton suffer from this shortage. As previously mentioned, IHS facilities often look for providers through Barton. Kathrine K. has worked in several reservations like Pine Ridge, Rosebud, and Tuba City. Locum tenens providers can rediscover their passion for helping others, especially in impoverished areas that lack stable healthcare options.
Learning to love your job again may take time, but being a locum tenens provider can remind you how important your job is.
Find your Next Locum Tenens Assignment with Barton Associates
Recovered from your bout of burnout? Talk to one of our skilled recruiters to find your next locum tenens assignment. To see our openings, explore our job board and apply today!
