Show Notes:

We are continuing to re-share a "Blast from the Past" series that I did back in Season 1 of Behind the Line. It was one of my favourite series and I think really important content for those who may have missed it the first time. The series takes a look at Brené Brown's work in her book, Dare to Lead, and discusses applications to helping professions where it is absolutely IMPERATIVE that we improve leadership and systems, because they are hella broken. I hope you'll share this series with your sphere of influence and that together we can make it different...

I am so thankful to T.C. Randall for joining me today, sharing his experience as an ER Nurse of 14 years now off on medical leave due to work-related PTSD. Our conversation today focuses on the impacts of broken systems to the very real people working to offer services and make a difference to our communities…people exactly like you. We also work to talk about our perspectives around what needs to change and where we can collectively work to transform the system from the inside out. 

T.C. Also discusses these topics and more in his book, The View From The Wrong Side Of The Day: A Story About Nursing, PTSD And Other Shenanigans. You can snag a copy of his book here, or get it on your kindle here! Learn more about T.C. by checking out http://www.wrongsideoftheday.com/ and http://www.tcrandall.net/. 

Some of my favourite discussion points that emerged during this conversation (where I got RILED UP!) and connected to the practical ways we can work to transform broken systems from the inside out included:

1.      Cultural Level Change:

a.      Reducing stigma around workplace mental health and wellness (speaking, clarifying, normalizing and supporting that no one comes out unscathed).

b.      Increasing efforts toward prevention and early intervention including training staff in how to assess their status and know the next steps (or who to talk to in an effort to find out the next steps).

c.      Normalizing support seeking, and clarifying ways to seek support and processes to access the appropriate support readily.

2.      Management/Upper Level Change: 

a.      Changing the tendency toward reactive band-aid solutions, working instead to identify preventative strategies to reduce load and support the greatest investment which is into the wellness of the PEOPLE doing the WORK.

b.      Engaging collaboratively (ie. LISTENING MORE THAN TALKING) with staff to understand the pressure points and actively working together to find creative solutions that actually work to solve the problems rather than juggling them.

3.      Public Awareness Level Change:

a.      Supporting information for the public around reasonable expectations and the challenges facing the parts of the system they may interact with the most.

b.      Supporting information for the public around ways to support the system on a broader level as well as the front line staff most directly impacted.

4.      Structural Level Change:

a.      Making support accessible (with fewer hoops and WAY more clarity around how to navigate the process). This is both a workplace-level challenge as well as a community-access-to-services challenge.

b.      More effectively identifying and supporting the levels of the system that add pressure (I loved TC’s comment of the new ER being like a bigger funnel on the same sized hose – if we don’t support the capacity and efficiency of community health as well as in-patient care, making changes to the ER’s capacity does little to reduce wait times, etc. This problem exists in so many ways that are not specific to ER’s and healthcare!).

c.      Taking a stance of prevention and early-intervention in all levels of problem solving rather than being in a constant state of reactively putting out fires.

 
Episode Challenge:

If you haven’t yet, check out our free Beating the Breaking Point Indicators Checklist & Triage Guide to help you self-assess your experiences and exposure to burnout. Understanding where you stand is a huge step as we work to be our most effective selves and people, professionals and leaders. 

Take some time to consider some of the areas of change we identified in this episode (listed above) and how these fit within your workplace system dynamic. What are the most significant areas that you see needing change, and what are some ways you can start to make inroads? 

If you haven’t yet, check out the free Beating the Breaking Point Indicators Checklist & Triage Guide to help you self-assess your experiences and exposure to burnout. Use this tool as information as you get honest with yourself about the impacts you have experienced – and start considering telling the story of your resilience as someone who has invested in their own wellness by looking into our Beating the Breaking Point Training Program designed for First Responders and Front Line Workers. You can grab the free indicators checklist here, and learn more about the training program here.

As discussed in todays’ episode, check out T.C. Randall’s book, The View From The Wrong Side Of The Day: A Story About Nursing, PTSD And Other Shenanigans. You can snag a copy of his book here, or get it on your kindle here!

Connected to our series on daring leadership, I also continue to encourage you to grab Brené Brown’s book Dare to Lead. You may also enjoy some of her other books, including Rising Strong; Braving the Wilderness; and Daring Greatly. These are some of my favourite books for personal development and wellness. She has a couple of other books that are also excellent, but if you’re new to her work, these are the ones I would highly suggest starting with.

Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram, or email me at support@thrive-life.ca. I love hearing from you! Subscribe and share this podcast with those you know. I appreciate every like, rating and review – every single one helps this podcast to be seen by other First Responders & Front Line Workers out there. Help me on my mission to help others just like you to not only survive, but to thrive – both on the job and off.