SELF-CARE RX FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

Wagner presents a tactical manual for improving the well-being of caregivers.

In his nonfiction debut, the author, a nurse, examines the personal experiences of all kinds of caregivers in the health field and details the institutional and behavioral models that all but guarantee they’re “perpetually on the cusp of burnout.” Wagner notes that the prevalent approach in the healthcare profession is oriented around putting out fires; in a description that will be immediately recognizable to healthcare providers, he paints a picture of professionals rushing from one emergency to the next. “Reactivity can lead to a cascade of negative outcomes,” he writes, “from medical errors to compromised patient care, and ultimately, to the dreaded burnout that plagues our profession.” As an alternative, the author proposes a number of proactive measures designed to anticipate these professional stressors and implement care strategies to defuse them. The strategies Wagner describes range from regular cold immersions (which he characterizes as both a physical and mental challenge promoting “learning to remain calm under duress”) to better financial planning to spending lots of time out in natural settings, which results in, among other things, “the reduction in the stress hormone, cortisol.” Wagner writes in clear, clean prose that’s inviting to read and no-nonsense in delivering the author’s conclusions, which have broader applications outside the healthcare world. In a tone that’s both professional and compassionate, Wagner offers guidance familiar from many of the self-help books he references, including advocating for better sleep habits, regular exercise, digital detoxing, prioritizing real-world face-to-face personal connections, and practicing gratitude and mindfulness. The healthcare industry would do well to heed the book’s call and implement these measures before rushing off to put out the next fire.

An appealingly thoughtful and comprehensive strategy for combatting burnout.