Entry to the burns team: stressors, supports and coping strategies

Employment as a member of a multidisciplinary burns team presents the individual with an enticing professional and personal challenge. Patients sustaining major burns require intense physical and psychological rehabilitation over an extended period of time, often drawing upon the services of a sole therapist. Although more attention is being paid to professional issues of 'burn-out' and general care of the health professional, there has been little published with regard to actual stressors experienced by burn staff. An understanding of stressors faced, and current support systems utilized, by an occupational therapist in the first 12 months in a major burns unit, illustrates the unique demands placed upon junior staff. Following this review possible coping strategies for the individual and institution at large are discussed. It is suggested that continuing education, supervision by senior staff and better staff/patient ratios, may facilitate an easier transition into the burns team and render staff better able to cope with continuing stressors.