Strictly confidential: Vera and the tensions in healthcare

Every work situation is different. Yet there are also many similarities. That is why we regularly take a closer look at a personal story. With a fake name and fictitious personal details. After all, the conversations that Buddy has are strictly confidential. Today we dive deeper into the life of Vera, a nurse in charge who is weighed down by an ever-increasing workload and all the tensions that this causes.

Meet Vera, Nurse Directing at a regional hospital

Vera soon knew that she wanted to work in healthcare. When she was little, she helped animals in need (a snail crossing a road, a bee drowning in her lemonade). Later people joined them. She has been working at a regional hospital for about fifteen years now. In the Internal Medicine department, with a focus on diabetes and the elderly. The last three years as a directing nurse.

She made her career step in the tail end of corona. Not only have the work changed since then, but also the working environment. Healthcare has been under pressure for some time, and it is only getting worse. Colleagues drop out or do something else. And vacancies remain unfilled. Vera’s diary is filled up every day. She coordinates the care for new acute admissions. Switches between nurses, doctors and other disciplines. Monitors the quality of care and patient safety. Thinks along about process improvements. Is a source of information for the team. Supervises younger colleagues. And helps with crisis management at peak times. She is a spider in the web, at home in all markets. And is therefore often ‘abused’ to fill in gaps in the schedule.

Caught between system pressure and wanting to do everything right

Moreover, due to the staff shortage, Vera increasingly feels forced to take on work that is not (or no longer) part of her job description. She wants to give her patients and her colleagues all the attention they deserve. And her already great sense of responsibility has only increased since she has more responsibility. And then she also has toddlers at home, one partner and three cats who would like it if Vera had the energy to play a game, go out to dinner or throw a ball of wool, respectively.

It would be possible to live with this increased workload, if the atmosphere was good at the workplace. And at first glance there seems to be little wrong with that atmosphere, but if you look a little closer, all kinds of things are bubbling. Older nurses increasingly ignore her and do not seem to recognize her authority. Physician assistants see her as practical help and not as a fully-fledged discussion partner. More and more, she has the idea that her emails are ignored, that she is not invited to some meetings and that the conversation comes to a halt when she walks into a room.

“It would still be possible to live with this increased workload, if the atmosphere was good in the workplace.”

The need for a sounding board

Vera, who always had a great talent for sleeping, lies awake more and more often, worrying about her work and life. Talking about this with her partner, she decides to call in the help of a coach. Especially when you are as busy as Vera, you have to take the time to reflect on a regular basis. The saw needs to be sharpened every now and then. When we get busier, we tend to work harder, but that doesn’t solve structural problems.

During the conversations with Buddy, Vera learns to look critically at herself and her environment. Her tendency to please everyone gets in the way. To prevent a burnout, she has to think more about herself. She doesn’t like having to make choices. Because if you choose something, you don’t choose something. She has to learn to deal with that discomfort. Accept that you can’t do everything. She also has to learn to make those choices very consciously. To do this, she would have to insert moments to discuss difficult choices with colleagues. Someone she trusts and who acts as a sounding board.

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