Advice to Live By... The Keys to Countering Stress

Abstract

An important deadline is looming, and work is piling up because of a staff transition in your office. There are new regulations that you need to learn about and committee meetings to attend. Your “to-do list” is overflowing.With so many decisions impacting patient safety, it's no surprise that healthcare is often considered a stressful job. So what steps can you take to cope?According to stress experts, it's often helpful to step away from a stressful situation—to get out behind your desk and walk through the office or near your building to exercise. And, it can also be very helpful to discuss stress with family members or friends, and to take stressful conditions at work in stride. Think about something pleasant.Some medical technology professionals say it's helpful to leave work at work. “A job is a job. Sometimes it is easier to walk away from a problem that you can't resolve and work it out in your head that night or the next day,” says Ron Greenwalt, biomedical manager for the Children's Medical Center, Dallas, TX.No matter how much you love your job, don't make it your whole life. When Paul Sherman, a biomedical engineer for the Department of Veteran Affairs, clocks out of work, he turns his attention to rebuilding a 1940 Chevrolet hot rod. “Find a mechanism when you go home to relieve any stress you might carry with you,” he suggests.When stress is significant, take a time-out, stress experts say. A few minutes away from a problem can help. Allowing ample time to complete tasks is also important, because being overly busy is often a major source of stress. Build enough time into your schedule to deal with the unexpected issues of the day.“Have a good handle on time, and the overall time and project management,” advises Izabella Gieras, ARAMARK Healthcare director of the clinical engineering department at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. “I think that is very important, along with the ability to prioritize your tasks.”It's also important to find ways to gain control over your duties, says Paul J. Rosch, MD, a stress relief expert with the American Stress Institute. “Avoid excessive demands by learning to say ‘no’ when they are unreasonable,” he says. “Many times we create our own stress by faulty perceptions and taking on too much of a load.”Obviously, though, some things are beyond one's control. Using the economy as an example, Rosch offers the following advice. “If you can't fight and you can't flee, you have to learn to flow.” The best way to avoid being laid off or demoted is to demonstrate your value to the company by performing your duties as competently and efficiently as possible, and to avoid confrontations with customers, co-workers, and superiors.”Medical technology managers can also take steps to promote less stressful work environments for themselves and their staffs. One key tip is to be forthcoming with information about layoffs or budget cuts to your staff, Rosch says. This will help overcome any anxieties.Managers and co-workers should also learn to control their emotions, and not over react to a certain situation. Give yourself a few minutes to cool off before calling a vendor or speaking with a co-worker, Rosch suggests. Managers should be alert to any change in an employee's behavior and their ability to work with customers, coworkers, or superiors, as well as unexplained change in health to detect early warning signs of stress.Making sure that your staff has the appropriate tools and resources in place to do their jobs is not only a vital responsibility for any manager, but an important way to reduce stress. Taking the time to learn about your employees can also reduce stress and heighten workplace morale. “Look at what their interests and key strengths are so you can place them in a situation to maximize their talents where they can be more successful,” Gieras says.