Well I think I've hit that spot again… OT burnout. This is not some legendary thing, it's a very real issue that many therapist experience. My real concern is that I'm already experiencing it.
I know there are parts about OT that I love. I know there was and is a reason I went into this field. I know that I'm proud to say I am a OT. However, currently I am burned out. As a therapist I get to not only write evaluations and goals but I also get to make treatment plans and follow them as I see fit. However, the last few months I've been left a note telling me my treatment plan and ultimately that I'm going to be "bathing" 6-8 people a day. It is exhausting and not always appropriate… and truthfully I am sick of OT being represented as the shower givers… Part of the problem is the facility that I work in only has one community shower and once community tub and part of the problem is I'm pregnant and OVER IT. I honestly hardly have the energy to bathe myself at the end of the day… little less 8 people then myself and then my child. I want to make a difference in these peoples lives, I want to be selfless, and serve people, I want to send these people home stronger, more independent, happier and with them knowing and loving what OT is and stands for. However, the only thing they are getting to see is my ability to "give a bath". And let me just say, you have not lived until you've had to tell an elder that you are not going to wipe them, or wash them or whatever it is they are refusing to do until they have at least tried…
Here are some of my least favorite things I hear every single time I work.
"Are you giving me a shower today?"
"How many baths are you doing?"
"Wash in-between my toes"
"Wash my back."
"I can't wipe!"
"That's not how ____ does it."
"I just had therapy"
"I don't want therapy on Saturday or Sunday,"
"Can you come back, I have visitors"
"I have to poop, it's going to be awhile."
"I can't do ____."
"I want to go home."
"Blow my hair dry."
"This is just play"
Here are the things that run through my mind
"Why don't I see any progress."
"This pt looks like death and you want me to work with them for an hour or more?!"
"How is ___ doing it, if it isn't the way I am?"
"Don't these people want to get better so they CAN go home?"
"I do not bathe your or give you baths, this is your time to work towards gaining your independence."
"I can't teach you or help you get better if you don't try"
"You do realize I'm charging and your insurance company by the minute to work with you"
"Every second I spend not with a patient/ waiting on your visitors leave, I am being penalized by productivity expectations."
"A little warning before you poop or if you don't know when you are going to poop would be GREAT."
"If you can't wipe here and aren't willing to try, what are you planning to do when you get home?"
"Why won't they just refuse therapy instead of wasting our time and making me come back 4 times a day to refuse at the end of the day."
Honestly, I think that sometimes our patients forget that therapist are people too and that our goals are aligned with theirs. We want what they want… we want them to go home, we want them to be pain free, we want them to be independent and yet somehow our means to reach these goals don't always match. Sadly it does take work, and the saying "use it or lose it" applies WAY more than many elderly will ever know.
One more work day this week for me, I can make it and hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.
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