Kindness, Curiosity and Comfortable Shoes

Send us a Text Message.A compilation episode of the last 5 episodes:2:17 IkigaiA Japanese concept of finding fulfilment or purpose in life.As simply as possible it represents the intersection of four ingredients in life:What you love,What the world needs,What you can be paid for, andWhat you are good at.If your working life can be covered by all those areas that is ikigai.The best diagram I found to describe this is at betterup.com:https://www.betterup.com/blog/what-is-ikigaiAnd the best description of the philosophy of ikigai is at Positive Psychology:https://positivepsychology.com/ikigai/11:16 ErrorWe are human and as such we are all prone to errors. In this episode I tell the story of a medical error I made and explore what happened.As well as trying to reduce error as individuals we need to understand that they will happen and understand what we can learn from them, both for ourselves, and also for our colleagues and the systems we work in.A lighter look at an error in the Oscars ceremony in 2017, which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KeOxeuiZjs is covered in the podcast: Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/cautionary-tales-with-tim-harford/id1484511465?i=1000603311578Imagine making an error live in front of 33 million people ...What systems do you work with or have in place for yourself to reduce error in your work?This is the story of an error I made over 20 years ago; I have altered some details about the case to anonymise the patient involved. The error and complaint were fully investigated at the time by my employing hospital.22:37 LeadershipAll workers in healthcare are leaders in some form, from small projects with one team member to large scale managerial teams via spontaneous clinical teams that need to be lead in the moment.Be kind to others, they will be kind to you in return and you will be a better person by being kind.Awareness of Maslow's hierarchy of needs is helpful: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needsCuriosity is always helpful to understand your team better, and you can also be curious about yourself and the decisions you make.Understanding Johari's window explores why sharing with your team and being curious about them will help your leadership: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johari_window35:56 AssessmentThis is not a comprehensive guide on how to pass exams, however, some thoughts on simple presentation techniques to come across more professional and how to interact with an examiner and a patient while being assessed.For specific in depth information on clinical exam techniques, skills and knowledge I can thoroughly recommend Geeky Medics: https://geekymedics.com/47:25 RefocusIt's time for JMACeducation to refocus, and the podcast is going to be paused for a while.When did you last refocus your workload?How do you meet the challenge of more goals being added to your work?Some thoughtsSupport the Show.Thanks for listening,James@JMACeducation

Send us a Text Message.It's time for JMACeducation to refocus, and the podcast is going to be paused for a while.When did you last refocus your workload?How do you meet the challenge of more goals being added to your work?Some thoughts about how to manage it in this episode.Support the Show.Thanks for listening,James@JMACeducation

Send us a Text Message.AssessmentIt's exam season in the UK, as well as lots of people requesting work-place based assessments for their portfolios.This is not a comprehensive guide on how to pass exams, however, some thoughts on simple presentation techniques to come across more professional and how to interact with an examiner and a patient while being assessed.For specific in depth information on clinical exam techniques, skills and knowledge I can thoroughly recommend Geeky Medics: https://geekymedics.com/Support the Show.Thanks for listening,James@JMACeducation

Send us a Text Message.LeadershipAll workers in healthcare are leaders in some form, from small projects with one team member to large scale managerial teams via spontaneous clinical teams that need to be lead in the moment.This podcast focuses on Kindness, Curiosity and Comfortable shoes and how they apply to leadership.Be kind to others, they will be kind to you in return and you will be a better person by being kind.Awareness of Maslow's hierarchy of needs is helpful: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needsCuriosity is always helpful to understand your team better, and you can also be curious about yourself and the decisions you make.Understanding Johari's window explores why sharing with your team and being curious about them will help your leadership: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johari_windowSupport the Show.Thanks for listening,James@JMACeducation

Send us a Text Message.ErrorDefinition: The state of being wrong in judgementWe are human and as such we are all prone to errors. In this episode I tell the story of a medical error I made and explore what happened.As well as trying to reduce error as individuals we need to understand that they will happen and understand what we can learn from them, both for ourselves, and also for our colleagues and the systems we work in.A lighter look at an error in the Oscars ceremony in 2017, which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KeOxeuiZjs is covered in the podcast: Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/cautionary-tales-with-tim-harford/id1484511465?i=1000603311578Imagine making an error live in front of 33 million people ...What systems do you work with or have in place for yourself to reduce error in your work?This is the story of an error I made over 20 years ago; I have altered some details about the case to anonymise the patient involved. The error and complaint were fully investigated at the time by my employing hospital.Support the Show.Thanks for listening,James@JMACeducation

Send us a Text Message.IkigaiA Japanese concept of finding fulfilment or purpose in life.As simply as possible it represents the intersection of four ingredients in life:What you love,What the world needs,What you can be paid for, andWhat you are good at.If your working life can be covered by all those areas that is ikigai.The best diagram I found to describe this is at betterup.com:https://www.betterup.com/blog/what-is-ikigai And the best description of the philosophy of ikigai is at Positive Psychology:https://positivepsychology.com/ikigai/This website also has other pages looking at quotes, books and exercises to find your ikigai - well worth a look if this is of interest to you.Support the Show.Thanks for listening,James@JMACeducation

Send us a Text Message.Compilation Episode 3This is a bonus longer episode; a compilation of episodes 17-23 of the podcast so you can listen to them back-to-back.2:12 Episode 17 - ResolutionIn early January, how many people have made a resolution, and how many people have not kept it a week later??This episode covers resolutions or work objectives and how to use SMART to help clarify your thoughts about them and increase the chance of you sticking to your resolutions.SMART - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-boundUseful summary wiki article:http://wiki.doing-projects.org/index.php/SMART_Goals_(Specific,_Measurable,_Attainable,_Relevant,_Time-bound)10:30 Episode 18 - LifeSometimes life gets in the way of things you want to do, so this is not a normal episode.12:53 Episode 19 - DebriefDebriefs can be hot, cold or personal and I cover all three types in this podcast.Underlying this, it's important to think about people's emotions, describing an aspect of an incident in detail, analysing it to improve by applying lessons learned and summarising learning points.A useful article from Life in the Fast Lane:https://litfl.com/clinical-debriefing/27:58 Episode 20 - DeathIt's going to happen to all of us at some point.As healthcare workers we need to be comfortable thinking about, talking about and managing dying patients and their death.For clinicians I would also highly recommend the Resus Room podcast on End of Life care, featuring a discussion with Ed Presswood, a palliative care consultant:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-resus-room/id1090433226?i=100062834623636:45 Episode 21 - Compassion Why do we sometimes lose compassion in our journey in healthcare?If you want to delve into the evidence behind the need for more compassion in healthcare I can thoroughly recommend:Compassionomics: The revolutionary scientific evidence that caring makes a difference. Studer Group 2019. Trzeciak and Mazzarelli or find out more on www.compassionomics.comWhat are you going to spend 40 seconds doing to show your compassion today?47:44 Episode 22 - TargetsAre they an object to be shot at or the means to achieve progress against a priority?Healthcare work is full of targets - what do they mean to you and your work?55:19 Episode 23 - LeaveWhy is it important to take time away from work? It should be self-evident but many of us, especially in healthcare do not prioritise this important part of working life - not being at work!Forbes magazine article 'Why taking vacation time could save your life?':https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecastrillon/2021/05/23/why-taking-vacation-time-could-save-your-life/?sh=3150ed7224deSupport the Show.Thanks for listening,James@JMACeducation

Send us a Text Message.LeaveWhy is it important to take time away from work? It should be self-evident but many of us, especially in healthcare do not prioritise this important part of working life - not being at work!Survey of health workers in England and Wales, 'Looking after health and social care workers in 2021':https://www.randstad.co.uk/market-insights/emerging-workforce-trends/looking-after-health-social-care-workers-2021/Forbes magazine article 'Why taking vacation time could save your life?':https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecastrillon/2021/05/23/why-taking-vacation-time-could-save-your-life/?sh=3150ed7224deSupport the Show.Thanks for listening,James@JMACeducation

Send us a Text Message.TargetsAre they an object to be shot at or the means to achieve progress against a priority?Healthcare work is full of targets - what do they mean to you and your work?Support the Show.Thanks for listening,James@JMACeducation

Send us a Text Message.CompassionMost people enter work in healthcare because they have a strong sense of compassion – that emotional response to someone’s pain or suffering and wanting to help them. Why do we sometimes lose compassion in our journey in healthcare?The Professional Quality of Life Scale can be found at https://socialwork.buffalo.edu/content/dam/socialwork/home/self-care-kit/compassion-satisfaction-and-fatigue-stamm-2009.pdf It is worth having a look at this and thinking about your responses to these questions looking at compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue.A helpful podcast that explains compassion in more detail is the Somerset Emotional Wellbeing podcast episode on compassion.https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-somerset-emotional-wellbeing-podcast/id1515287594?i=1000642771873 Finally if you want to delve into the evidence behind the need for more compassion in healthcare I can thoroughly recommend:Compassionomics: The revolutionary scientific evidence that caring makes a difference. Studer Group 2019. Trzeciak and Mazzarelli or find out more on www.compassionomics.comWhat are you going to spend 40 seconds doing to show your compassion today?Support the Show.Thanks for listening,James@JMACeducation

Send us a Text Message.DeathIt's going to happen to all of us at some point.As healthcare workers we need to be comfortable thinking about, talking about and managing dying patients and their death.A key useful phrase to think of is "Sick enough to die" to help acknowledge a potential outcome of a patient. I first heard this from Kathryn Mannix, a palliative care consultant in the UK who has written a fascinating book "With the end in mind".For clinicians I would also highly recommend the Resus Room podcast on End of Life care, featuring a discussion with Ed Presswood, a palliative care consultant:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-resus-room/id1090433226?i=1000628346236Support the Show.Thanks for listening,James@JMACeducation

Send us a Text Message.DebriefMy definition is to question someone or a group in detail about the work they have done and think about the rationale behind the work and what we can learn. The dictionary definition is questioning someone (typically a soldier or spy) about a completed mission.Debriefs can be hot, cold or personal and I cover all three types in this podcast.iSWIPE is a useful tool:i - IntroductionsS - SummaryW - What went wellI - ImprovementsP - Points to take awayE - Equipment issuesUnderlying this, it's important to think about people's emotions, describing an aspect of an incident in detail, analysing it to improve by applying lessons learned and summarising learning points.A useful article from Life in the Fast Lane:https://litfl.com/clinical-debriefing/And an interesting article about the benefits of expressive writing:Baikie KA, Wilhelm K. Emotional and physical health benefits of expressive writing. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment. Cambridge University Press; 2005;11(5):338–46Support the Show.Thanks for listening,James@JMACeducation

Send us a Text Message.LifeSometimes life gets in the way of things you want to do, so this is not a normal episode.Please get in touch to help support the podcast and get involved.Social Media: @JMACeducationEmail: hellokccpodcast@gmail.comSupport the show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jmaceducationSupport the Show.Thanks for listening,James@JMACeducation

Send us a Text Message.ResolutionDefinition - A firm decision to do or to not do somethingIn early January, how many people have made a resolution, and how many people have not kept it a week later??This episode covers resolutions or work objectives and how to use SMART to help clarify your thoughts about them and increase the chance of you sticking to your resolutions.SMART - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-boundFirst described in 1981:Doran, G.T. (1981) There's a SMART Way to Write Management's Goals and Objectives. Journal of Management Review, 70, 35-36.Useful summary wiki article:http://wiki.doing-projects.org/index.php/SMART_Goals_(Specific,_Measurable,_Attainable,_Relevant,_Time-bound)And for interest, a slam poet on resolutions:https://www.tiktok.com/@harrybakerpoet/video/7319465175092890913 Support the Show.Thanks for listening,James@JMACeducation

Send us a Text Message.Compilation Episode 3This is a bonus longer episode; a compilation of episodes 11-16 of the podcast so you can listen to them back-to-back.3:06 Episode 11 - ConnectionWe are all bound by the connection of treating patients and working in healthcare. Why do we forget that at times? And how can we improve that connection.9:50 Episode 12 - MindfulnessIs mindfulness still a dirty word in your mind in healthcare?This episode explores what I feel it means in real life and I look at practical mindfulness techniques that you can undertake anywhere at anytime in healthcare - however busy or distracted you might be.20:27 Episode 13 - ReflectionReflection is defined as serious thought or consideration. How often do you give episodes of work 'serious thought or consideration'?Reflection can be used positively to enhance your work and improve your learning. In this episode I talk about how reflection can easily be added to your thoughts about work beyond being a forced written piece for your appraisal.31:56 Episode 14 - EducationTwo definitions of education: "The process of receiving or giving instruction" or "An enlightening experience". Some thoughts on that definition and what I feel are the key components to bear in mind as an educator: Engagement, Understanding and Remembering.PS A slip of the tongue at 12:11 when I refer to Maslach's Hierachy of Needs ... I was conflating Maslach's Burnout Inventory (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslach_Burnout_Inventory)and Maslow's Hierachy of Needs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs).43:19 Episode 15 - CharityThis episode originally aired just before Christmas and that time of year always makes me think of charity and how lucky and privileged I am to have the life I have, and how so many people rely on charities for the basics of human life of warmth, food and education.In this episode I explore the benefits to healthcare workers of working with, raising money for or donating to charities; reflecting a bit on my time with the Calendar Lads of Northumbria.51:02 Episode 16 - ChristmasAs healthcare professionals we know we are going to be working at some point over the Christmas and New Year period.In this episode I reflect back on what Christmas has meant to me working clinically over the years.I leave you with a link to a funny Christmas song which does contain some offensive lyrics, but I think it sums up nicely how to conduct yourself in this festive time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmoG4JY_T58Support the Show.Thanks for listening,James@JMACeducation

Send us a Text Message.Compilation Episode 2This is a bonus longer episode; a compilation of the episodes 4-10 of the podcast so you can listen to them back-to-back.1:54 Episode 4 - SleepWe all need it and never get enough of it. This episode focuses on those intrusive thoughts about work as you are trying to get to sleep.Easy to read articles about getting better sleep:https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-wellbeing-tips/self-help-cbt-techniques/#articleshttps://www.headspace.com/sleep/how-to-sleep-better14:57 Episode 5 - ChangeIn this episode I talk about change in healthcare and why I think it is important to embrace it, and hopefully make it easier to cope with.Research showing why we should get involved in changes in healthcare from Nilsen et al in BMC Health Services Research in 2020: https://rdcu.be/dmvgDArticle from Forbes magazine about how to cope with change in the workplace by Caroline Castrillon published in Feb 2020: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecastrillon/2020/02/26/how-to-cope-with-change-in-the-workplace/24:43 Episode 6 - ComplaintsAs healthcare staff we will always have to respond and react to complaints in some form.An example of a healthcare complaints analysis tool from the London School of Economics, published in BMJ Quality and Safety Journal in 2015: https://healthcarecomplaintsanalysis.com/And an article about how to handle complaints from Practice Builders in 2019: https://www.practicebuilders.com/blog/8-ways-to-handle-patient-complaints-and-defuse-their-frustrations/39:06 Episode 7 - JoyJoy is a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. Should we ever feel this in healthcare?The Institute for Healthcare Improvement has this web page with lots of thoughts on joy at work.https://www.ihi.org/Topics/Joy-In-Work/Pages/default.aspx49:34 Episode 8 - FeedbackConstructive feedback will help us work better in healthcare and help us understand our blindspot. It's good to be curious about feedback and what others think to help us grow. If you are giving feedback to others, do this with kindness.57:36 Episode 9 - LegacyWhat is your legacy at work?A great article about role-modelling in connection to fostering children but very relevant to healthcare by Marilyn Price-Mitchell:https://www.rootsofaction.com/role-model/#1:07:31 Episode 10 - NightsAnd more specifically night shifts.Most workers in healthcare will work shifts through the night at some point. In this episode I go through a few helpful points and tips to help you survive a night shift.A nice summary of top tips from the Association of Anaesthetists:https://anaesthetists.org/Home/Wellbeing-support/Fatigue/Tips-for-night-shiftsSupport the Show.Thanks for listening,James@JMACeducation

Send us a Text Message.Episode 16 - ChristmasAs healthcare professionals we know we are going to be working at some point over the Christmas and New Year period.In this episode I reflect back on what Christmas has meant to me working clinically over the years.I leave you with a link to a funny Christmas song which does contain some offensive lyrics, but I think it sums up nicely how to conduct yourself in this festive time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmoG4JY_T58Season's greetings etcSupport the Show.Thanks for listening,James@JMACeducation

Send us a Text Message.Episode 15 - CharityThis time of year always makes me think of charity and how lucky and privileged I am to have the life I have, and how so many people rely on charities for the basics of human life of warmth, food and education.In this episode I explore the benefits to healthcare workers of working with, raising money for or donating to charities; reflecting a bit on my time with the Calendar Lads of Northumbria.What are you going to do for your favourite charities this Christmas time?Support the Show.Thanks for listening,James@JMACeducation

Send us a Text Message.Episode 14 - EducationTwo definitions of education: "The process of receiving or giving instruction" or "An enlightening experience". Some thoughts on that definition and what I feel are the key components to bear in mind as an educator: Engagement, Understanding and Remembering.This episode is a couple of days late as I was at the Developing Excellence in Medical Educators Conference: https://www.demec.org.uk/and the rest of the podcast is some thoughts inspired by this conference focussing on how we can improve ourselves as educators.PS A slip of the tongue at 12:11 when I refer to Maslach's Hierachy of Needs ... I was conflating Maslach's Burnout Inventory (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslach_Burnout_Inventory)and Maslow's Hierachy of Needs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs).Support the Show.Thanks for listening,James@JMACeducation

Send us a Text Message.Episode 13 - ReflectionReflection is defined as serious thought or consideration. How often do you give episodes of work 'serious thought or consideration'?Reflection can be used positively to enhance your work and improve your learning. In this episode I talk about how reflection can easily be added to your thoughts about work beyond being a forced written piece for your appraisal.Kolb's learning cycle, a useful summary from Structural Learning:https://www.structural-learning.com/post/kolbs-learning-cycleGibb's Reflective Cycle, a nice summary from the University of Edinburgh:https://www.ed.ac.uk/reflection/reflectors-toolkit/reflecting-on-experience/gibbs-reflective-cycleThe simple framework for reflective practice of 'What?', 'So what?' and 'Now what?' was originally described by Professor Rolfe et al:Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D., Jasper, M. (2001) Critical reflection in nursing and thehelping professions: a user’s guide. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacmillanSupport the Show.Thanks for listening,James@JMACeducation