Deeper Insights into Avoiding Burnout as an ECMO Specialist
As a novice ECMO specialist with just over a year of experience, I've quickly discovered that our role is both incredibly challenging and immensely rewarding. We operate at the intersection of life and death, employing cutting-edge technology to give patients a fighting chance. This immense responsibility, inherent not only in ECMO but throughout healthcare, brings significant stress, varying in intensity, with the constant threat of burnout. Even the ELSO ECMO Specialist Training Manual addresses burnout by emphasizing the importance of continuously reviewing staff workload and available resources and mitigating stressors like noise, fatigue, distractions, stress, Inadequate lighting (unnecessarily turning down the lights during night shift), fear, and interruptions to ensure optimal staff performance and patient safety. Today, I'd like to share some personal strategies I'm developing to maintain balance and prevent burnout in this high-stakes field.
Embracing the Unconventional Path
My journey to becoming an ECMO specialist has been anything but typical. I started with a double major in computer science and journalism, which provided me with a unique blend of technical and communication skills. After working as a part-time computer programmer and venturing into journalism as a videographer and tape editor, I felt called to make a more direct impact on people’s lives. This led me back to school to study respiratory therapy.
After a 13-year detour in hospital redevelopment, I returned to bedside care and the fascinating world of ECMO. I’m incredibly fortunate to work at a phenomenal institute that trains ECMO specialists, and I am grateful they accepted me into their program. Initially, working alongside such brilliant colleagues was intimidating, but I’m starting to gain traction and, more importantly, learning to ask the right questions.
This diverse background has taught me a valuable lesson: keep learning, keep growing, and never be afraid to pivot. My unique mix of skills—from programming to storytelling to healthcare—has proven invaluable in this complex, technology-driven field of ECMO.
Strategies for Staying Balanced
Plan Regular Escapes: I’ve learned the importance of scheduling vacations every six months. These aren’t just breaks but essential reset buttons for our mental and physical well-being.
Diversify Your Role: Even as a novice, I'm seeking ways to explore different aspects of ECMO. This keeps the work fresh and engaging, preventing the monotony that can lead to burnout. Some ideas include moving from adult ECMO to pediatric ECMO, working in the simulation lab, taking on a role as a charge therapist, joining the team that picks up donor organs, participating in the ECPR team, writing or updating department guidelines, or helping teach basic ECMO classes or AHA classes.
Leverage Your Unique Background: I find ways to apply my computer science knowledge to our AI-driven healthcare landscape. This not only makes my work more interesting but also allows me to contribute uniquely to our team.
Embrace Mentorship - Both Ways: Seeking out mentors has been invaluable in navigating this new field, providing guidance and support. However, I’ve also found unexpected joy in sharing my knowledge with newcomers, especially when I can draw on my diverse experiences to offer a fresh perspective. While I am still a novice, I possess insights that someone brand new to ECMO may not have, which can be helpful to them. Personally, I learn new things that I can share, though sometimes my input isn’t always well-received due to my newness. I understand that, and like in any field, you have to prove yourself and convince others of your competence. I’ve discovered that people entering ECMO often have a deep understanding of other critical care aspects. By engaging in conversations with them, I learn valuable information and may be able to share a thing or two.
Maintaining a Healthy Environment: Creating a healthy work environment is essential for maintaining emotional well-being. It's important to be mindful of the influence of negativity in the workplace. I’ve learned that it’s better to seek out positive and supportive environments and relationships. At times, I found myself wanting to fit in, which led me to engage in negative behaviors like gossiping or complaining about colleagues or the organization. While these actions might provide temporary relief, they don't resolve the underlying issues. Instead, consider starting a journal or talking to a counselor to process your feelings constructively and avoid falling into the trap of negativity.
Help Others, Help Yourself: The intensity of work in ECMO and healthcare can fluctuate. During quieter periods, I use my time productively. Sometimes, this means catching up on work-related tasks or learning opportunities. Other times, I might take a walk around the unit and see if anyone needs a hand. It’s about balancing rest, personal development, and team support.

Expanding Interests
Pursuing Dual Careers: Many ECMO specialists in the USA work three 12-hour shifts a week, leaving ample time to explore additional careers or hobbies. I have been getting more involved with AI and computer science. This newsletter helps me learn more about ECMO, provides a creative outlet, and reduces the pressure from my primary job.
Startup Projects: With the additional time available, work on projects inside and outside your career field. I am working on a small business startup and enjoy writing this newsletter. This can offer a sense of accomplishment and a break from routine work.
Taking Classes, Degrees, or Certifications: Use your free time to take classes, pursue another degree, or earn certifications. This can keep you engaged and provide new skills to be applied in your current role or open new career opportunities.
Creating Projects: Initiate projects that align with your interests and professional goals. This could be within your field or something entirely different, giving you a creative outlet and additional satisfaction.
Embrace Stoic Principles: I’m adopting a Stoic philosophy to stay grounded. By focusing on what I can control and accepting what I can’t, I’m better equipped to handle the emotional rollercoaster of ECMO care.
Holistic Well-being: Preventing burnout isn’t just about work-life balance; it’s about spiritual, physical, and mental harmony. My Christian faith provides a foundation, but I’m also exploring other ways to nurture my overall well-being.
Engage Beyond Your Role: I’ve found getting involved in different aspects of the workplace enriching. For instance, I joined our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee. While I align more with Merit, Excellence, and Inclusion (MEI) principles, I’ve found that engaging with diverse perspectives on the committee has been enriching. It’s an opportunity to contribute and learn, helping create a more positive workplace for everyone and helping others outside of the workplace.

The Journey Continues
As I navigate this challenging yet rewarding career, I constantly learn and adapt. These strategies are my current toolkit, but I’m sure they’ll evolve as I gain more experience. The learning curve is steep, but I’m finding that my diverse background often allows me to approach problems from unique angles.
I’ve explored this topic further in two other articles: “Elevate Your ECMO Skills” and “Confessions of a New ECMO Specialist: 12 Rules to Keep Me Sane.” If you’re interested in diving deeper into skill development and maintaining sanity in this high-pressure field, I encourage you to check them out.
I’d love to hear from other healthcare professionals, especially those who’ve made career transitions: How do you leverage your unique backgrounds in your current roles? What strategies do you use to prevent burnout in high-stress medical fields? How do you engage with your workplace beyond your primary role?
Remember, taking care of ourselves is not selfish—it’s essential. Maintaining our well-being allows us to provide the best care for our patients.
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Note: This article reflects my learning journey in ECMO and is intended for educational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice or guidance. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals for clinical decisions and patient care.
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Acknowledgments:
I developed three custom GPTs, “AI ECMO Expert,” “ECMO Specialist Handover Practice,” and “Micro Definitions (MD-GPT),” for specialized research. These tools draw primarily from the ELSO Redbook (6th Edition), the ELSO Specialist Training Manual (4th Edition), various research papers, and articles. Additional research was supported by GPT-4o/o1, Claude 3.5 Sonnet/Opus, and Perplexity. Editing was performed with Grammarly. A.I. images and charts were created using Leonardo AI, DALL-E3 AI Image Generator, Microsoft Designer, and Adobe Express. Content for all articles sourced from Extracorporeal Life Support: The ELSO Red Book, 6th Edition, and ECMO Specialist Training Manual, 4th Edition.