EMS Trend Report 2022: 3 Toxic Traits in Medicine

Sixty-nine percent of EMS Trend Survey respondents report symptoms of burnout in 2022.

What if, by saying yes, we stop ourselves from being fully authentic? Here’s the difficult pill to swallow: stop saying yes to the good in life, to make space for the great.

Saying yes has a cost: it commits you to something. And, it turns out, there are 3 toxic traits that stop us from creating space for the great in our lives.

1. Not Digging Into Self-Care

In medicine, the lack of self-care is evident. We should focus on our wellness, but we don’t, and the stats show it. Medical professionals are 10-15 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts and are 2-4 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population.

It sounds selfish to put yourself first, but is it?

Think of a brand-new mom. She is running on fumes ... not sleeping … not eating. While she is 100% committed to nurturing the baby, she can only do so much. How much better would she be if her tank was full?

How about you? How much better as a friend, family member, clinician, or world-changer would you be if your tank was completely full?

You can only give your best when you’re at your best. You’re at your best when your tank is full. If you prioritize you, you’ll have the capacity to reach for the great.

“But Kris, I don’t have time.”

It’s not that you don’t have time. It’s that you haven’t prioritized yourself as worthy of your time. You, those around you, and your patients deserve the best version of you.

Prioritizing you is scary. It opens an entirely new world of being uncomfortable.

Challenge: Learn to recognize the signs of when your tank is running low. Uncover the activities or passions that fill your tank. Stop making excuses and build time.

2. Choosing to Stay Comfortable

Becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable is an intentional action and is scary. We get nervous when we review a case in front of our peers. We are anxious when we take a protocol test. Are we good enough?

We fear the judgment that can come when we step outside our comfort zone and try something new. But once we do, we often find the fear of the unknown is greater than the reality.

Because that, in turn, will make it easier to be vulnerable.

Challenge: Determine which situations make you uncomfortable and reflect on why. Seek these situations until being uncomfortable becomes comfortable.

3. Not Allowing Yourself to be Vulnerable

How do you get to the great without being vulnerable? You can’t. It’s impossible. It doesn’t mean that you won’t experience moments of great, but if you want a life filled with “great” you have to get used to being vulnerable.

When things get challenging, all we can control is our behavior; how we feel and how we respond. But taking ownership is hard to do. It’s infinitely easier to point blame. But it’s unfair and leads to broken relationships much of the time.

And yet, instead of becoming walled up and defensive, vulnerability has the power to do the opposite.

Challenge: Notice which situations cause you to want to run away. Stay present during those uncomfortable moments. Challenge yourself when you’re tempted to get walled up to stay in that vulnerable moment.

Want a great career in medicine? Want to be a world changer? Then, be willing to say no. Be willing to prioritize you. Be willing to be uncomfortable. Be willing to be vulnerable. And… be prepared for the great that follows.

About the Authors

Sara Kaull is the Executive Director of Simulation in Motion – Montana (SIM-MT), a high-fidelity simulation non-profit serving healthcare in rural communities. Her background includes education, branding, marketing, consulting, team building, sales, and public speaking. When not creating, Sara is the ultimate bookworm, an avid writer, and enjoys world travel with her family.

Kris Kaull is the Chief Growth Officer at Pulsara. He has driven innovation and positive change in EMS for nearly 30 years. He combined his love for EMS and technology, developing new information sources and platforms that improve patient care and EMS operations. He is regarded as a leading expert in EMS, healthcare, online media, and technology. He regularly speaks and writes on topics ranging from technology to current clinical issues to leadership – all with a focus on the importance of the human connection.

97% of the 3,000-plus respondents to the 2022 EMS Trend Survey reported some level of difficulty with recruitment and retention. In response, readers shared their innovative ideas to improve recruitment and retention, as well as creative practices that are proving successful to improve staffing.