Professionals in the medical Field: the necessary Involvement and Distance

I yesterday told you how busy we have been in the past weeks and months and how we are actually quite happy with it. As we have spent many hours in the hospital, I have had a few thoughts on all the people who work there – because you can hardly imagine a busier job than that of a doctor or nurse! My conclusion: they have to be really involved but keep their distance at the same time!

First of all, you really have to love your work for doing it properly. I believe this is especially true in the medical field. This is hands-on work. Nurses, doctors, even the assistants all have to be around people all the time but without the normal comfortable distance that you have in nearly every other field. Touch is required, looking closely at different body parts, listening properly while observing and watching attentively!

They have long shifts and spent the whole day fully in that environment, with emergencies, long surgeries, pre- and post-treatment, success stories and tragedies. There is no other way than being fully involved. At the same time, to stay sane and alive themselves, they need a certain distance.

Every person needs his or her own life as well. It is impossible to dedicate yourself 100% to the work you are doing for others. It can work, and work well, for quite a long time but at the end there will be a break-down if you don’t keep a certain time of your life for yourself!

Patients will come and go. Some are there for longer and you will develop more of a bond while others only show up one day and leave again. There will be stories that touch you – like I know Monika’s story has already touched many hearts in our hospital. You can be proud about the work you do to help, save and care for them.

Unfortunately there will be those for whom all help is too late. Then you are there to help those who are left behind.

Thinking of all this, I just want to make everyone aware once more how important this work is for all of us. A thank you to everyone working in the medical field. And a reminder, too: take care of your private life, of that small but necessary distance that you have to keep even while working with your full heart involved!