Burned out by the pandemic, 3 in 10 health-care workers consider leaving the profession
After a year of trauma, doctors, nurses and other health workers are struggling to copeThe doctor’s bag now sits in his closet gathering dust. He lost his stethoscope somewhere in the house — a familiar weight that sat on his neck for two decades.
It’s been months since Justin Meschler, 48, practiced medicine. And he wonders if he ever will again.
He quit his job as an anesthesiologist during the pandemic last spring when fear began seeping into every part of his life. And what began as a few months off has now turned into something much longer.
“I feel guilty for leaving. I think about the others who stayed on. I think about the patients I could have helped. I feel like I abandoned them,” Meschler said. “But mostly, I feel relieved.”
A year into the pandemic, many others are joining Meschler at the door — an exodus fueled by burnout, trauma and disillusionment. According to a Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation poll, roughly 3 in 10 health-care workers have weighed leaving their profession. More than half are burned out. And about 6 in 10 say stress from the pandemic has harmed their mental health.
More: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/04/22/health-workers-covid-quit/
They CAN'T take it ANYMORE.
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I can't even imagine the trauma they have had to endure. I would not blame them for walking away.
But we need them desperately and we need to know what it will take to keep them on the job and whatever it takes, we need to support them. Many of them need time off, but they also need to be treated like human beings by their employers. It is time we show more compassion for those who risk their lives daily to take care of the rest of us.
And it make me angry that there are still people out there who won't get vaccinated or mask up, therefore exposing themselves unnecesarily and ending up in the hospital where they threaten the lives of your children and others. It's so irresponsible, these anti-vaxers, anti-maskers only think of themselves.
I wish you and your children good health and all the best! 
I'm in tears as I type this, it is a nightmare. I feel that I failed as a parent when they both came to me for my advice on entering the medical field years ago. They're compassionate, intelligent individuals and I gave my blessing. What a mistake that was.
They're not being supported by anyone anymore, they've all been forgotten. People used to send pizzas and food to the ED's or at least nice notes to the staff stating that they were supported and appreciated. Those days have been long gone for some time now.
My kids and their colleagues have been over-worked for the past year and a half. They work, come home, shower, go to bed to wake up early and do it all over again. They have no lives and are being forced to work longer hours. CEO's of hospitals don't care, no one does.
With the surge that will inevitably come, they know they'll be once again back to sleeping at the hospital and dealing with sick, dying and death.
I'm told the staff cry in the hospital when they see mask burning going on in different cities or malls, restaurants and all else packed in like sardines.
Now, with people like DeWine and DeathSantis going all in with dropping mask mandates and opening everything up, they wish they never became doctors, they hate their jobs, their lives and their deteriorated health and they're only young kids.
I'm told that hospital staff have said if people refuse vaccinations, they should have to sign away their right to healthcare if they catch Covid, already. Let them go home and die from the "hoax."
Oh, and Cedar Point is opening up tomorrow, YAY!! Masks not required, of course! (Not to mention all of the full beaches in FL)
Thank you for your kind post, I'm just a sick, worried and pissed off mother. My kids are my life and I'm watching their lives fall apart right in front of my eyes and there's nothing I can do.
You have my sincere condolences on the loss of your dear Brother. 
