CSTS | Department of Psychiatry | Uniformed Services University | 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799 | www.CSTSonline.org

Sustaining the Well-Being of Healthcare
Personnel during Infectious Disease
Outbreaks
time or are taking time to enjoy
The extreme stress and uncertainty
Taking care of yourself and encouraging
themselves when so many othersof global infectious disease outbreaks
are suffering. Recognize thatand often difficult nature of theothers to practice self-care sustains thetaking appropriate rest leads to
medical response require special
ability to care for those in need.
proper care of patients after yourattention to the needs of healthcare
break.
personnel. Taking care of yourself andencouraging others to practice self-care sustains the ability to ■ Connect with colleagues. Talk to your colleagues andreceive support from one another. Infectious outbreaks
care for those in need.
can isolate people in fear and anxiety. Tell your story andlisten to others’.
Challenges for Healthcare Personnel During Infectious■ Communicate constructively. Communicate withDisease Outbreaks
colleagues clearly and in an optimistic manner. Identify■ Surge in care demands. Many more people present for
mistakes or deficiencies in a constructive manner andcare, while increased healthcare personnel are sick or
correct them. Complement each other—compliments
caring for family.
can be powerful motivators and stress moderators. Share■ Ongoing risk of infection. Increased risk of contracting
your frustrations and your solutions. Problem solving
dreaded illness and passing it along to family, friends,
is a professional skill that often provides a feeling ofand others at work.
accomplishment even for small problems.
■ Equipment challenges. Equipment can be■ Contact family. Contact your loved ones, if possible.
uncomfortable, limit mobility and communication, andThey are an anchor of support outside the healthcare
be of uncertain benefit; shortages occur as a result ofsystem. Sharing and staying connected may help themincreased, and sometimes unnecessary, use.
better support you.
■ Providing support as well as medical care. Patient■
Respect differences. Some people need to talk while
distress can be increasingly difficult for healthcare
others need to be alone. Recognize and respect thesepersonnel to manage.
differences in yourself, your patients, and your colleagues.
■ Psychological stress in the outbreak settings. Helping■Stay updated. Rely on trusted sources of information.
those in need can be rewarding, but also difficult as
Participate in meetings to stay informed of the situation,
workers may experience fear, grief, frustration, guilt,plans, and events.
insomnia, and exhaustion.
■ Limit media exposure. Graphic imagery and worrisome
messages will increase your stress and may reduce yourStrategies for Sustaining Healthcare Personnel Welleffectiveness and overall wellbeing.
Being■ Self check-ins. Monitor yourself over time for any■ Meet basic needs. Be sure to eat, drink, and sleep
symptoms of depression or stress disorder: prolonged
regularly. Becoming biologically deprived puts you atsadness, difficulty sleeping, intrusive memories,
risk and may also compromise your ability to care forhopelessness. Talk to a peer, supervisor, or seek
patients.
professional help if needed.
■ Take breaks. Give yourself a rest from tending to■ Honor your service. Remind yourself that despite
patients. Whenever possible, allow yourself to doobstacles or frustrations, you are fulfilling a noble
something unrelated to work that you find comforting,calling—taking care of those most in need. Recognize
fun, or relaxing. Taking a walk, listening to music,
your colleagues—either formally or informally—for theirreading a book, or talking with a friend can help. Some
service.
people may feel guilty if they are not working full-