As Emergency physicians we need frequent exposure to critically unwell patients in order to hone our resuscitation skills. It is often said that the mark of a good critical care clinician is one who runs towards the sickest patients. However, repeated exposure to these events can take a toll on the staff involved. Many find themselves emotionally affected by what they see and experience. Particular events such as the death of a child, grossly disfiguring trauma, resuscitating a staff member or an unanticipated poor outcome can leave staff experiencing strong emotional reactions to these events.

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