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Karianne and Tom join us today to discuss healthcare worker burnout and its impact on cancer care delivery. We discuss the importance of taking breaks and time off to manage the challenges of working in oncology and its unique stressors. We examine the shortage of healthcare professionals in 2020 that was caused by pandemic working conditions and explore the symptoms of burnout, strategies, coping mechanisms to prevent it, the importance of seeking support and investing in self-care, and the desperate need for healthcare reform.
Karianne Arendt is a highly skilled professional specializing in Oncology for over half a decade, boasting more than a decade of overall nursing experience. Her educational background is comprehensive, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Stevens Point, followed by nursing at NWTC, and finally, achieving her Bachelors’s in Nursing from St. John’s. Fueled by a deep-seated desire to impact her patients’ lives significantly, Karianne’s nursing career employs her empathetic nature to cultivate unique patient relationships. She thrives on continual learning, staying on top of the dynamic cancer care landscape. On a personal note, Karianne is a loving mother of three sports enthusiasts who enjoy reading, exercising, and summer boating activities with friends and family.
Tom Bekkers, a distinguished psychotherapist, focuses on supporting patients and their families to navigate the demanding terrain of cancer-related challenges. He holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, complimented by a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work with a minor in Spanish from Marquette University. Tom’s mission is to empower people to build effective coping mechanisms, improving their life quality. His extensive services encompass psychotherapy for shifting health conditions, lifestyle adaptations, managing interpersonal relationships, and therapies for dealing with death, grief, and dying. Tom showcases his proficiency in managing grief as a co-author of The Widower’s Toolbox: Repairing Your Life After Losing Your Spouse. On a personal front, Tom is a devoted husband and father who finds joy in gardening, camping, sports, and church activities.
“We’re wired in a certain way to care for others in a way that others may not be able or willing to do.”
– Tom Bekkers
This week on Cancer Covered:
- Understanding what burnout is
- Why healthcare workers are often at risk of developing burnout
- Practicing mindfulness and self-awareness to recognize burnout and your emotional state
- The value of seeking help and support when necessary
- Establishing healthy boundaries
- How the pandemic impacted the challenges many healthcare professionals have faced since 2020
- Dealing with value conflicts and moral distress in the healthcare field
- Establishing a self-care routine
- Advocating for administrative reform and pushing for comprehensive healthcare reform
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