Other colleagues called Poison Control, worried that she maybe ingested a toxic alcohol. I was incensed: “What are you talking about? She has sepsis! Get the antibiotics! Get the fluids!” I was on a tear in the Emergency Department.

I spoke to the Poison Control colleague (likely a physician in training), and he recommended I make sure she didn’t have any toxic alcohol ingestion (like wood alcohol or antifreeze) given how acidic her blood was. I rolled my eyes. “She has sepsis. I am absolutely positive.” He replied politely and said, “That is our recommendation. You can do what you want.”

I ordered a CT scan of her abdomen, fully expecting to see multiple abscesses like they were before. I was shocked: her abdomen was completely clean. I couldn’t believe my eyes. And while I was totally convinced it would be negative, a little voice deep down inside me said, “Maybe just check for an antifreeze level…just in case.” So, I ordered one.

The ethylene glycol (i.e., antifreeze) level came back very high. It turns out that my patient tried to commit suicide by drinking antifreeze, and she had dangerously high acid levels as a result. I, therefore, came back into the hospital from home to put in a special tube so she can get emergency dialysis. She did well after that and was discharged to an inpatient psychiatry facility.

I frequently share this story to highlight my ICU Rule #6: “Your Ego Can Be Dangerous.”

We can never let our ego get in the way of patient care. We need to always keep a sense of humility when dealing with the patients for whom we care. In this case, the Poison Control trainee was absolutely right. My patient did not have sepsis, but indeed had ethylene glycol (antifreeze) toxicity. I was wrong, and he was right.

In other cases, the bedside nurse may make a suggestion that turns out to be right on; or, the medical student may do so. We cannot be full of our own self and ego to not take suggestions from everyone in the care team. Different clinicians bring different perspectives, and as leaders, we need to welcome those perspectives.

We are all on the same team with the same objective: to help heal our patients. If we ignore salient facts or suggestions because a nurse or tech or student or therapist suggested it, we are liable to place the patient in great danger. We have to resist this with every fiber of our being.

I shudder to think about what could have happened if I ignored that little voice inside me which said, “Dumb resident can’t tell me what to do!” and NOT ordered the antifreeze level. I shudder to think about what could have happened if I continued to feed my ego in this case. It is a lesson I have never forgotten, and I pray that I never, ever forget it in the future.

Along the same vein, I can’t tell you how many times I have said, “Call a Code!!!” while working in the ICU. When I say that, it means that a “CODE BLUE” needs to be called overhead in the hospital. When this is called, as many people who can respond come to where I am with my patient. It is a call for help.

Now, I have been practicing in the ICU for more than 16 years. I have been blessed with a lot of clinical experience. I am confident in the clinical abilities with which I have been blessed. But that does not mean that I am “too cool” to call for help, which is my ICU Rule #7: You Are Never “Too Cool” To Ask For Help.

Sometimes, I will call for help before even trying. For example, if I see that a patient needs to be placed on a ventilator and they have a challenging airway, I will call my Anesthesia colleagues from the very beginning. Yes, I have placed hundreds and hundreds of breathing tubes in the throats of patient. That doesn’t mean that I am the world expert at it. I want what’s best for my patient, and if that means have an Anesthesiologist rather than me place the airway, then so be it.

Now, does my ego get bruised a bit if my colleague easily does what I couldn’t do? Maybe. But, who cares about my ego? We are dealing with life and death in the ICU, and I am not going to stick a patient’s vein or artery multiple times – for example – so I can save face. If that was my family member, I would want the same for them.

Our egos can be dangerous. We are never too cool to ask for help. Yes, we have the experience. Yes, we are confident we can do the job right. But asking for help is not a sign of failure. We are all one team, and we have the same goal: healing our patient. And if that requires asking for help, then that is what we should do.

The post ICU Rules #6 and #7: Your Ego Can Be Dangerous appeared first on Medika Life.

What is motivating you to make this change?

Take a close look at and put deep thought into where your desire to make a career change is coming from. Are you unhappy in your position? Do you feel stagnant in your role? Are you looking for a challenge? Does it seem that there are no further opportunities for career advancement in your workplace? Do you yearn for a change in responsibilities, environment, industry, or area of focus?

What could be the benefits of this change?

Consider the possible financial gain that could come from a change. Could you receive a potential increase in income or benefits? What about workplace dynamics? Are you in a toxic environment and would changing companies have a positive effect on your mood, mental health, and overall coping, while recognizing there is no guarantee that things will go perfectly in a different setting? What possible opportunities for professional development, growth, and learning could a new position or career bring?

Carefully think about all of the positives that could come from taking this leap.

For what reasons would you stay in your job?

There is also the flip side about all of the reasons why you may want to stay in your job for now. This doesn’t necessarily mean forever – it could just be for some time longer until you feel more ready to make a shift.

For example, are there familial or parental reasons why you may need to stay in your role for now (e.g. job security, pension/benefits, proximity to your child’s school or your elderly parent who you are caring for, dealing with a separation or divorce, or managing your health issues or the health issues of your family)?

Are there logistical or practical reasons for remaining in your job? Some ideas may include access to transportation, recently moving into the area near your job, being close to retirement, and having concerns about making a change at this time from a financial and resource perspective).

Could there be personal reasons, such as the close bonds you have developed with your colleagues that make it hard to imagine leaving at this time, or your immense job satisfaction or pride and joy in the work that you do every day?

Weighing the benefits of making a change versus the reasons for remaining in your current job will be an important process for helping you figure out your next steps.

Where would you like to be in 5 or 10 years?

This is a common question that everyone probably hears often although it is an important one in this predicament of making career choices.

Sometimes we get stuck dealing with the present and we forget to think about how the decisions we make now can affect us in the short term and long term future. Try to expand beyond the current time and consider how the career changes you make – or don’t make – could impact your life down the road.

For example, do you want to go back to school to learn about a new subject area or explore more in-depth training or professional development in your field to increase your chances of finding a new job in the future? Do you envision being in a different industry or running your own business? What would you like your daily work life to look like? What are you passionate about and what could you see yourself doing and not getting tired of quickly?

If you are close to retirement, are you content with continuing your current role or would you like to try something different before you retire? If you are seeking change, could that new role possibly become a part-time job or a volunteer position post-retirement?

The choices you make will of course depend on your life stage, personal and professional goals, and interests and desire for change. Do what you think is best for your present and future self.

What will help you make a career decision?

What practices do you engage in that helps with reflection? Is it meditation, journaling, taking some quiet time to reflect in silence, talking out your thoughts and feelings with loved ones? Whatever it takes to help you make a decision, do that and see where it leads you.

If you do decide to make a career move or a job change, what’s your first step? Second step? Make a plan.

Before you make any changes, you need an action plan. A solid action plan will outline some of the initial steps you need to make now, a week from now, a month from now, and so on. Planning out these steps will help make your career or job transition as successful as it can be.

Consider such action plan ideas as: do you want to devote some time to updating your resume or getting someone you trust to review it and share constructive feedback? Is there a course you’ve been meaning to register for and are now committed to taking? Would it help to sign up for job alerts in your field or industry – or new fields or industries you are interested in breaking into – so that you get a sense of what is out there and what the expectations and requirements are? What skills would you like to brush up on or develop to get you that much closer to your goal?

How will you know that you are making progress in your career development? What will you observe in terms of certificates attained, interview requests, and job offers? How will you know that the job or career change is working well for you? How will you feel, what will you think, and what will you notice around you?

Your career path is fluid and ever-changing. It’s ok to stay where you are if you don’t want to make a change. Or, you can take that leap if you feel ready to jump in and if that’s what you want.

Reflect regularly, assess where you are at, weigh all the factors so you are making an informed decision, choose what’s best for you, and re-evaluate over time as you continue your journey down your career path.

The post Thinking About Making a Career Move or Job Change? appeared first on Medika Life.