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By the time you read this post I’ll be on a plane headed to Haiti until Saturday.
It’s my first time back to Haiti since the earthquake.
It feels like a century ago since I left the devastated country. It feels like yesterday since I left the ruined streets.
Today came suddenly. It’s been a hectic week of trying to fit in every little detail from the usual ER shifts, to teaching Bible study, to packing travel sized shampoos and remembering to take my stethescope.
By the time you read this post I’ll be in the excited phase of the trip since it will be too late to bring anything that I’ve already forgotten. But right now I’m still in the overwhelmed phase.
You may recognize the feeling where there’s too much to do and too little time.
Anyone know what I’m talking about?
When I first started my career in the ER, I used to feel overwhelmed. An ambulance call would come in and I’d panic. Would I know what to do? Would I secure the airway quickly enough? Would I remember the next step in the asystole pathway?
That was a long time ago.
I honestly don’t remember the last time I felt really overwhelmed in the ER. I’m thankful for that.
I’ve had some time despite the frenzy of this week to ask myself how this happened. How did I learn to take overwhelming news and handle it with the grace of a professional?
Allow me to share what I’ve come up with. I’m going to call it Secrets of an ER physician on handling stressful situations:
1. I Count to 10. It was drilled in my brain early in my training that there is never a reason for an ER doctor to rush. When doctors rush they make mistakes. When panic takes over the battle is lost. The key is in being quick without rushing. When nurses tell me about the kid seizing in room 3, or the ambulance bringing in the baby who is not breathing, the first thing I always do is stop myself and count to 10. Nobody ever died because of a 10 second delay. I find that that time helps me to stop and refocus. So take a deep breath and slow down!
2. I Prepare what I can. In any stressful situation there are things I can do and things I cannot. What I’ve learned over the years is that like any good girl scout, I need to be prepared and do the things I can do ahead of time. So when I hear about an ambulance on the way to the ER, I count to 10, then I make my way to the trauma bay where I start getting ready. I open the airway equipment and plug in the oxygen. I find the right pair of gloves. I assign various roles as needed. Are you doing what you can ahead of time to minimize your stress in the moment?
3. I Review what I know. I cannot tell you how critical this step is. Even before the kid is rolled in to the ER on the gurney, I’ve already run through the resuscitation pathways in my brain, and even looked up some facts I may need to remember. Listen, nothing helps the Christian more than preaching to yourself the things that you know: All things will work out for good, God is in control, You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. Do you know the things that you know? Maybe you need to remind yourself of some of those truths today!
4. I Pray. Yes, I do. After counting to 10 and getting my act together, I do what any smart Christian ER doctor does. I send 911 prayers to God. I ask him to bail me out where I need it, and I ask him to do miracles through my hands. I ask him for wisdom and success. I’m bold and I’m direct and I’m desperate in those prayers. Sometimes, I just say: “Lord”, and I know that he knows that I know: without Him I can do nothing.
Are you facing a stressful week? There’s no need to panic. Today’s stressful situations will be tomorrow’s victory stories.
I’m hoping to keep you posted on my trip to Haiti through live blogging (I’m on a kick now!). I’ll be participating in a medical conference for a group of Haitian doctors. It’s going to be fun. Pray for safety and eternal impact!
