The Evolving Nature of Duty

In healthcare, our commitment to service often defines us. It's the driving force behind late nights, extra projects, and the constant pursuit of knowledge to better serve our clients. This dedication is admirable, yet it's crucial to recognise when our sense of duty might be tipping into unsustainable territory. Today, we explore how four healthcare professionals have navigated this delicate balance, offering insights on maintaining our capacity to serve while honouring our own well-being.

Sara Fung: Redefining Service Beyond the Bedside

Sara Fung's journey from NICU nurse to entrepreneur and podcaster illustrates how our professional responsibility can take unexpected forms. Initially, Sara felt her duty was inextricably tied to direct patient care.

"I thought if I don't work at the bedside, people will think I'm less of a nurse," Sara shared, revealing how easily we can conflate our worth with a particular role.

As Sara faced burnout in a toxic work environment, she began to question whether her current position was the most effective way to fulfil her commitment to nursing. This self-reflection led her to create resources for other nurses and launch a podcast, amplifying healthcare voices in a new way.

Sara's story reminds us that there are many ways to honour our professional responsibility. By expanding her definition of service, Sara found a sustainable path that aligned with her evolving skills and interests while still making a significant impact on the nursing profession. Her experience prompts us to consider how our current responsibilities align with our core values and whether there might be alternative ways to fulfil our professional duty that could be more sustainable in the long term.

Hannah Lowe: Balancing Growth, Responsibility, and Personal Wellbeing

Hannah Lowe's career trajectory - from dietitian to nurse practitioner to startup director - illustrates the complex interplay between professional growth, a strong sense of responsibility, and the need for personal balance.

"I wasn't challenged," Hannah admitted about her early career, highlighting how stagnation can sometimes feel at odds with our commitment to providing the best possible care. This drive for growth and excellence initially led Hannah to pursue increasingly demanding roles, each pushing her to expand her skills and knowledge.

However, Hannah's journey also reveals how a strong sense of responsibility and desire for growth can sometimes be taken for granted by workplaces. As she excelled in her roles, she found herself taking on more and more, often at the expense of her personal time and wellbeing.

It wasn't until Hannah became a mother that she was forced to reassess her priorities. "Becoming a parent changed everything," she shared. "I realized I needed to focus on my health and wellbeing too, not just my career."

This pivotal moment led Hannah to seek a balance between her professional responsibilities and personal life. She began to view her own wellbeing as an essential part of her ability to serve others effectively. This shift in perspective allowed her to set boundaries at work and prioritize self-care, ultimately enhancing her capacity to contribute meaningfully in her professional role.

Amy Story: When Personal Shifts Redefine Professional Capacity

Amy Story's journey illustrates how life changes can prompt a profound reassessment of our professional responsibilities and capacity to serve. Initially, Amy's sense of duty was closely tied to her career ambitions in healthcare administration.

"I used to think I wanted to be the CEO of the hospital one day. I wanted to get my MBA, I wanted to do all these things," Amy shared, reflecting on her early career goals. This drive was fueled by a strong sense of responsibility to make a significant impact in healthcare.

However, becoming a mother shifted Amy's perspective dramatically. "When I had my kids, everything changed," she admitted. This pivotal moment forced Amy to confront the challenging reality that her previous level of professional commitment was no longer sustainable.

For someone with a deep-seated sense of duty, this realisation was far from easy. Amy grappled with feelings of loss and guilt as she contemplated scaling back her professional involvement. The fear of disappointing others or being perceived as less committed to her career weighed heavily on her.

Yet, Amy's strong values of service and responsibility ultimately guided her towards a more holistic approach to fulfilling her various commitments. She began to see that being present for her family was as crucial as her professional obligations. This shift required Amy to redefine her concept of service and impact.

"I'm trying to create space to be that Mom I don't get paid to do," Amy explained, highlighting the often invisible but vital work of caregiving. This perspective allowed her to honour her sense of responsibility in both her personal and professional spheres.

Amy's story challenges us to recognise that our capacity to serve can change over time, and that's okay. It reminds us that pulling back professionally doesn't necessarily mean we're less committed or impactful. Instead, it can be a responsible choice that allows us to serve sustainably across all areas of our lives.

Christopher Deussing: Evolving Professional Impact Alongside Personal Growth

Christopher Deussing's journey from social worker to private practice owner demonstrates how our sense of duty in healthcare can evolve alongside personal and professional growth.

As a social worker, Christopher fulfilled his professional responsibilities while continuously seeking ways to enhance his impact. "I've always valued learning," he shared, reflecting on his ongoing pursuit of knowledge in his field.

Christopher's transition to private practice allowed him to explore different therapeutic methods to serve his patients better. This shift wasn't about abandoning his professional duties but rather about finding new ways to fulfil them that aligned with his developing skills and interests.

Becoming a father added another dimension to Christopher's perspective on his work. "Becoming a father changed everything," he reflected. "It shifted my priorities and made me realize the importance of balance in life." This personal change influenced how he approached his practice, encouraging him to find ways to honour both his commitment to patients and his role as a parent.

Christopher's experience with keratoconus, a rare eye disease, further highlighted the importance of self-care alongside professional duties. His journey prompts us to consider how our sense of duty in healthcare can adapt over time and how we can maintain our commitment to service while also ensuring we're taking care of ourselves and our families.

Navigating the Nuances of Duty in Healthcare

As these stories illustrate, maintaining a healthy relationship with our sense of professional responsibility is an ongoing process. Here are some key considerations to help you navigate this:

1. Recognise the many faces of duty: Our obligation to healthcare extends beyond direct patient care. Teaching, innovating, supporting other professionals, and even prioritising our own growth and well-being are all valid expressions of our commitment to the field.

2. Embrace the Evolution of Your Role: Your sense of professional responsibility may change over time, and that's okay. Be open to redefining your contribution to healthcare as your skills, interests, and life circumstances evolve.

3. Balance is an ongoing negotiation: The push and pull between personal and professional obligations is constant. It's okay to reassess and adjust as needed, understanding that perfect balance is rarely achievable but always worth striving for.

4. Seek Support and Delegate: Remember that asking for help or delegating tasks is not a sign of weakness, but rather a form of strategic resource management that can enhance overall care delivery.

5. Prioritise Sustainable Service: While it's admirable to go above and beyond, consider the long-term sustainability of your approach. Maintaining your capacity to serve often requires setting boundaries and practising self-care.

6. Balance Expectations with Well-being: It's natural to want to meet others' expectations, but be mindful of when this desire might be compromising your own well-being. Remember that setting healthy boundaries often enhances your long-term impact.

7. Challenge Constraining Patterns: If you find yourself rationalizing self-sacrificing behaviours, pause to consider whether there might be more sustainable ways to fulfil your sense of duty.

8. Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself as you navigate these complex dynamics. Remember that taking care of yourself is not selfish - it's an essential part of maintaining your ability to care for others.

As healthcare professionals, our sense of duty is a powerful force that drives us to make a difference in the lives of our patients and communities. However, it's crucial to ensure that this commitment to service remains a source of fulfillment rather than a path to burnout.

By regularly reflecting on our sense of professional responsibility, expanding our definition of service, and finding sustainable ways to honour our commitments, we can create careers that are both impactful and personally rewarding. There's no one-size-fits-all approach to fulfilling our sense of duty in healthcare. Your path may look different from your colleagues', and that's not only okay - it's valuable.

As you move forward, consider how your understanding of your professional responsibility has evolved over time. Reflect on whether there are areas where you might be confusing obligation with genuine responsibility. Consider what steps you could take to align your actions more closely with your core values and sense of purpose.

By staying connected to the fundamental reasons you chose a career in healthcare while remaining open to new ways of fulfilling your professional responsibility, you can continue to make a meaningful impact while also nurturing your own well-being.

For the full, unabridged stories of Sara, Hannah, Amy, and Christopher, visit Career Cliniq’s Newsletter website