How can healthcare professionals maintain their professionalism in high-stress situations?

1 Recognize the signs of stress

Stress can affect you physically, mentally, and emotionally, and it can impair your judgment, communication, and decision-making. Some common signs of stress are headaches, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, anger, depression, and insomnia. If you notice any of these symptoms, don't ignore them or try to push through them. Instead, acknowledge that you are stressed and seek help if needed. You can also use self-care strategies such as breathing exercises, meditation, physical activity, or hobbies to relieve stress and restore your balance.

2 Communicate effectively

Communication is essential for professionalism in healthcare, as it helps you build rapport, trust, and respect with your patients, colleagues, and supervisors. However, stress can interfere with your communication skills and make you more prone to misunderstandings, conflicts, and errors. To communicate effectively in high-stress situations, you need to be clear, concise, and respectful. You also need to listen actively, empathize, and give feedback. Avoid using jargon, sarcasm, or criticism that can offend or confuse others. If you encounter a communication problem, apologize, clarify, and resolve it as soon as possible.

3 Manage your emotions

Emotions are natural and human, and they can help you connect with your patients and colleagues. However, some emotions, such as anger, frustration, fear, or sadness, can be overwhelming and inappropriate in certain situations. As a healthcare professional, you need to manage your emotions and express them in a constructive and respectful way. You can do that by identifying your triggers, taking a break, venting to a trusted person, or seeking professional support. You also need to respect the emotions of others and avoid judging, blaming, or dismissing them.

4 Follow the code of ethics

The code of ethics is a set of principles and values that guide your conduct and behavior as a healthcare professional. It helps you protect the rights, dignity, and safety of your patients and colleagues, and it also helps you maintain your integrity and reputation. To follow the code of ethics in high-stress situations, you need to be aware of the ethical standards and expectations of your profession and your organization. You also need to be honest, accountable, and respectful of the laws and regulations that apply to your practice. If you face an ethical dilemma or conflict, seek guidance from your supervisor, mentor, or ethics committee.

5 Seek feedback and improvement

Feedback is a valuable tool for learning and improvement, as it helps you identify your strengths and weaknesses, and it also helps you measure your performance and progress. However, stress can make you defensive, resistant, or dismissive of feedback, which can affect your professionalism and growth. To seek feedback and improvement in high-stress situations, you need to be open-minded, humble, and curious. You also need to ask for feedback regularly, accept it gracefully, and act on it accordingly. You can also use self-reflection, peer review, or mentoring to enhance your skills and knowledge.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?