We’re all pretty familiar with the phrase, “the power of perfection,” or maybe, “the beauty of perfection,” but have you ever thought about the burden of perfection? It’s a strange, and somewhat depressing, thought. But in our world, it exists, and it’s something that’s so engrained in us as healthcare professionals, that I wonder if we even realize it’s a burden that we’re carrying.
Think about it: we work in a high-stakes, high-risk environment. One mistake could cost a patient their lives, or cost us our license and careers. There really is no room for error. But we come to work, day in and day out, shouldering that responsibility, oftentimes without giving it a second thought. This is just what we do and it’s part of the job.
But how well do we really carry that burden of perfection? Does that responsibility, that expectation of constant perfection, hover inside our subconscious, slowly chipping away at our physical and mental health, wearing us down and, perhaps, contributing to the possibility that we might make a mistake?
Culture of Safety
If you’ve been in a healthcare setting for more than two minutes, you’ve heard about your organization’s efforts to foster a culture of safety. It’s definitely reasonable and highly desirable to want to focus on patient safety, achieving “zero harm,” and preventing future errors. I don’t think anyone would argue with those efforts. Most organizations even encourage self-reporting of mistakes and near misses because they want to learn from those mistakes and prevent them from happening again. But I think an unavoidable side effect of the (perfectly reasonable) emphasis on zero harm is that we’re constantly carrying a burden of perfection.
Here’s what I mean by that: The organization wants to avoid error, prevent harm, and have a safe culture for its patients and employees. Of course they do, but it’s really only possible in a perfect world. We’re human. We’re prone to error and inclined to make mistakes. And yet, we’re working in an environment where our potential for error could cause permanent harm or death. Which then adds another layer of stress to an already stressful work environment.
So how do we carry that burden?
First, I think it helps to recognize that it exists. We really need to understand that the environment we work in demands perfection. Mistakes cost patients their lives. They cost us our licenses and careers. And the fact that we’re human doesn’t hold up very well when we try to explain why we made a mistake. So shouldering the burden of perfection well means that, first and foremost, we recognize it. We accept it, and we realize that our chosen career demands something of us that will be a struggle to accomplish.
But beyond recognizing and admitting that it exists, there are three other things you can do to carry this burden well.
1. Keep Learning
- Seek out knowledge and information.
- Learn the why behind the things that you do.
- Understand the process.
- Know your facility’s policies and procedures.
- Pay attention in staff meetings and in-services.
- Stay up-to-date with the guidelines and recommendations.
Improving your education can help prevent an ignorant mistake. Education isn’t just about getting CEs, but it’s everything that improves our professional development. Reading articles, going to seminars, watching webinars, or attending conferences can all improve our understanding of what we do. Continuing to educate ourselves will ease this burden of perfection because we will have armed ourselves with the skills necessary to do our jobs correctly. We know the right way of doing things and we’re not second-guessing every decision that we make.
2. Rest
This is so hard. Especially now as we struggle with the prolonged strain of the Covid pandemic and the reality of a severe staffing shortage. We want to help out and pick up extra, but we’re all teetering on the edge of burnout. Some employers are offering huge bonuses to their current employees to entice them to pick up extra shifts or work longer days. Other employers are asking the same thing, but without the tempting allure of extra money. Either way, bigger numbers on your paycheck can only motivate for so long. We all need to rest. We need to get away from our jobs and give our bodies and minds a break.
- Say no to the extra shift.
- Say no to the extra call.
- Take your days off.
- Go to bed early.
- Do whatever you enjoy that helps you relax.
The American Journal of Nursing posted an article in 2014 discussing fatigue in nursing. They said, “Fatigue has emotional, physical, and behavioral consequences, including lapses in attention, diminished reaction time, and reduced motivation. As a result, workers make more errors.” They went on to say that, “the risk of medication and other errors increases significantly after eight hours of work and is even higher after 12.5 hours. The rate of employee accidents increases after nine hours of work and doubles after 12 hours. One study has also shown that critical care nurses who experienced fatigue were more likely to report βdecision regret,β a concern that they might have made the wrong decision for a patient.” [source]
When we’re tired, we make mistakes. It’s that simple. In an environment that requires so much awareness, mental acuity, and critical decision-making, we need to make sure that we’re showing up every day well-rested and ready to face whatever comes our way. Don’t let guilt drive you to work more than you physically can. Lack of rest and the resulting fatigue and burnout only make this burden of perfection harder to carry.
3. Prioritize your mental health.
The pandemic has only made it more apparent that we’re not ok. While getting away from work and resting will definitely help improve our mental health, there’s more to caring for ourselves mentally than just taking a nap (although that’s very enjoyable). Seek out counseling if you need it. There’s no shame in needing to talk to someone. Other times, we just need to know that it’s ok to prioritize caring for ourselves.
The American Psychiatriac Nurses Association (APNA) shared a self-care tip sheet for nurses that I found very helpful. You can check out the full tip-sheet here, but I wanted to highlight a few of their suggestions.
- Take up a hobby.
- Use self-talk to help you think positively.
- Unplug – leave work at work.
- Don’t be afraid to say “no” when your schedule is full
- Eat healthy
- Exercise
- Prioritize sleep
These are a few of their suggestions. They also remind us that whole body health begins with mental health. And when you have a strong foundation, you’re better able to cope with the stressors you face at work (and in life), your resiliency is improved, and you’ve got the capability to shoulder that burden of perfection that you’re always carrying.
Our patients are counting on us.
Mistakes can be costly – injury, death, ruined careers, etc. Safe patient care doesn’t leave room for error. That’s a responsibility that none of us should ever take lightly. And inherent to that responsibility to provide safe patient care is that “burden of perfection.” Arm yourself by always learning, by getting the rest that you need, and by prioritizing your mental health. Don’t be crushed under the weight of this burden, instead, shoulder it with purpose, determination, and a willingness to invest in yourself.
Until next time,
Melanie
Read More:
- You Must Make Yourself A Priority
- Effective Communication – The Foundation of Patient Safety
- Change What You See in SPD
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