Photo by Damo
Work-family Balance
Shift work is one of several adaptations that paramedics must tackle in their daily lives and careers. Along with the impacts on the individual outlined in previous posts, a person exists within a family unit e.g. a parent, partner, child, sibling, kinship and chosen family.
The literary review by Anderson (2019) identified two themes of how paramedic work impacted families. Emotional labour, how the emotional demand on a paramedic shapes their psychological health and Work-Family fit (WFF), the stress coming from balance between work and family commitments.
To maintain a socially outward expression of emotion paramedics suppress their own immediate feelings (Seery et al, 2008; Filsted, 2010). Unless managed this leads to a negative effect as emotions remain unprocessed and family members can feel this is being closed-off/unavailable and potentially leads to disproportional emotional responses to events (Regehr, 2005).
All members of a family will be impacted in some way by something that impacts an individual (Anderson, 2019)
Being WFF relies on compromise, support, and education. Rotating shifts have a direct effect on intimacy, rituals, routines, and social activity. By including subjects, with targeted learning outcomes, like ‘Paramedic health and wellbeing’ in pre-requisite education it provides a good base and set of tools to include in work practice.
I am fortunate that I have a great close relationship with my immediate family (parents and siblings) and a supportive husband, Jase (and his family). Compromise and supportive actions are something I experience all the time.
Once a week I make time to visit my dad in person and speak to him every other day. I am in regular contact with my brothers, mostly by phone, or at events (birthdays etc.). My younger sister suicided 16 years ago.
Damo & Jase
I make a conscious effort to take time out and we schedule fun things in for the coming months. Just things where we get to spend time together, away from the “daily grind”. Things where we turn our phones off, or make use of DND mode, turn up the music and enjoy the moment.