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Leadership characteristics to reduce staff attrition and absence related to burnout

MA Healthcare
Journal of Paramedic Practice
Authors:
Scott Paterson
Scott Paterson
Scott Paterson
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Abstract

Burnout among the paramedic profession is an increasing problem and not enough is being done to improve the current climate. It is for this reason that paramedics should individually contribute to the reduction of this issue by developing their own leadership characteristics, such as emotional intelligence, social intelligence, and stress and conflict management. Evidence suggests that these qualities and behaviours reduce the possibility of being subject to burnout symptomology. Implementing positive stress and conflict-management strategies will create a healthcare environment, which will be more enjoyable to work in. Emotional and social intelligence increase the resilience of prehospital clinicians who are subject to occupational challenges on a daily basis. Wider influences such as ambulance trusts, health services and governing bodies have implemented strategies to tackle this issue but clinicians can lead the change from the front line.
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Journal of Paramedic Practice • Continuing Professional Development 1
© 2024 MA Healthcare Ltd
Scott Paterson, Paramedic, Scottish Ambulance Service, Glasgow,
Scotland, UK.
Email for correspondence: scottpaterson6781@gmail.com
The idea that leadership is associated
exclusively with positions of authority is
outdated (Stanley, 2017). Leadership is an
ever-developing concept with modern models and
frameworks being developed around the world
(Ardichvili et al, 2016). Johnson et al (2018)
explained that leadership is a social construct that
has no exact denition.
In healthcare across the UK, the current focus of
leadership is on each individual employee, not just
authority gures, as there is a wealth of literature
now outlining the fundamental differences between
leadership and management (Stanley, 2017). While
appreciating that leadership is important within
organisational management, there are many
reasons that can be argued to emphasise why each
individual clinician should be demonstrating
leadership qualities (Bird, 2020). Examples include:
improved patient safety, interprofessional teamwork
and self-management.
The NHS Clinical Leadership Competency
Framework (CLCF) (NHS Leadership Academy,
2011) outlines clinicians’ responsibility to practise
leadership effectively (Daly et al, 2014). Specically,
paramedic leadership characteristics are centred
around the rst two domains of this framework,
which focus on personal qualities and working
with others. Nonetheless, the other domains are
also relevant to clinical practice (Daly et al, 2014).
This article will discuss leadership characteristics,
which are personal and professional qualities that
contribute to the delivery of high-quality patient
care, as well as leadership within paramedic
practice ( Johnson et al, 2018). These include but
are not limited to social and emotional intelligence,
management of stress, teamwork, mentoring,
management of conict, self-awareness and
professional integrity.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After completing this module, the paramedic will be able to:
l Understand and be able to display emotional inteligence
lUnderstand the prevelance of burnout within the paramedic profession
lDisplay leadership characteristics within the prehospital healthcare
setting
lUnderstand how to manage stress and conict functionally
If you would like to send feedback, please email
jpp@markallengroup.com
Leadership characteristics to reduce staff
attrition and absence related to burnout
Burnout among the paramedic profession is an increasing problem and not enough is being done to improve the current climate.
It is for this reason that paramedics should individually contribute to the reduction of this issue by developing their own leadership
characteristics, such as emotional intelligence, social intelligence, and stress and conict management. Evidence suggests that
these qualities and behaviours reduce the possibility of being subject to burnout symptomology. Implementing positive stress and
conict-management strategies will create a healthcare environment, which will be more enjoyable to work in. Emotional and
social intelligence increase the resilience of prehospital clinicians who are subject to occupational challenges on a daily basis.
Wider inuences such as ambulance trusts, health services and governing bodies have implemented strategies to tackle this
issue but clinicians can lead the change from the front line.
Paramedic Practice
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