Tag: stress
Why are doctors plagued by depression and suicide?
Suicide among medical students and doctors has been a largely unacknowledged phenomenon for decades, obscured by secrecy and shame. Now, it’s beginning to emerge from the shadows. More than 62,000 people, many of them medical... read more
NAM Goes Public with Efforts to Combat Burnout
The National Academy of Medicine called upon the public on Friday to help shape its ambitious plan to combat burnout among doctors, nurses and other health workers. At an open meeting at the organization's headquarters... read more
Patient Safety Concerns Over New 24-hour Shift Rule for First-year Doctors
On Saturday, 30,000 first-year medical residents begin work and new rules taking effect that same day could add eight or more hours to their shifts. Doctors fresh out of medical school will be able to work for up to 24 hours... read more
An NIH-Kennedy Center Initiative to Explore Music and the Mind
Music is fundamental to the human species in ways that reach beyond entertainment or pastime. In Musicophilia, Oliver Sacks noted that music can "calm us, animate us, comfort us, thrill us, or serve to organize and synchronize... read more
Withholding Pantoprazole for Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis in Critically Ill Patients
A decreased frequency of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and a possible association of proton pump inhibitor use with Clostridium difficile and ventilator-associated pneumonia have raised concerns recently. The Reevaluating... read more
Why a stay in the ICU can leave patients worse off
Almost 6 million patients land in an intensive care unit every year, and for many, it marks a turning point in their lives. A substantial number of patients leave the ICU with newly acquired problems, from dementia to nerve... read more
Simulation of a Novel Schedule for Intensivist Staffing to Improve Continuity of Patient Care and Reduce Physician Burnout
Despite widespread adoption of in-house call for ICU attendings, there is a paucity of research on optimal scheduling of intensivists to provide continuous on-site coverage. Overnight call duties have traditionally been added... read more
COPD can increase risk of developing sepsis
People with COPD have a higher than average risk of developing lung infections, such as pneumonia, which then puts them at higher risk for developing sepsis. Sepsis and septic shock can result from an infection anywhere in... read more
Burn Till You’re Out
When using the technical definition of burnout: "The reduction of a fuel to nothing", it clearly describes the state of being of the few people that I have met who are having a burnout. The problem is huge and almost... read more
3 Reasons Many Nurses are Leaving the Profession
A 2017 study from RNnetwork, one of the largest, travel nursing companies in the country, shows nearly half of the nurses they surveyed are considering leaving the field altogether. RNnetwork provided an email poll to more... read more
What emotions are doctors allowed to feel?
As a medical professional, struggle between feeling too much and feeling too little is constant. Feelings are a double edged sword in medicine - many times they can shake you or beat you down. After two years, I know this:... read more
Nurses are burnt out. Here's how hospitals can help
Studies have found that overworked nurses lead to more errors and lower patient satisfaction. Nurses across the country are stressed, burnt out and thinking of leaving the profession. Surveys, polls and studies of all kinds... read more
Using Clinically Accessible Tools to Measure Sound Levels and Sleep Disruption in the ICU
Ambient sound was measured for 1 minute using an application downloaded to a personal mobile device. Bedside nurses also recorded the total time and number of awakening for each patient overnight. Across a large number of... read more
Burnout Syndrome in Critical Care: A Call for Action
Burnout syndrome (BOS) is a work-related constellation of symptoms and signs that usually occurs in individuals with no history of psychological or psychiatric disorders. BOS is triggered by a discrepancy between the expectations... read more
The Epidemic of Physician and Medical Student Suicide
In the past decade, numerous studies have shown that physicians and medical students have higher rates of suicide than the general population. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention reports that over 400 physicians... read more