Experiences from the frontline: a look at burnout in early career paramedics

Background: The demanding and exhausting workloads often experienced by paramedics are seen to contribute to increases in stress and emotional exhaustion – key symptoms of associated burnout. Paramedic experience of burnout is a significant factor, which impacts career satisfaction and intention to remain in the profession. Aims: This article qualitatively addresses the experiences of burnout in early graduate paramedics and the resultant impact on their lives. Methods: This paper reports on the qualitative phase of a mixed-methods study, forming an appreciation of the experiences of early career paramedics. Purposive sampling was used to select early career paramedics in Australia to participate in semi-structured interviews. Results: Thematic analysis from the semi-structured interviews identified four sub-themes: self-efficacy; being overwhelmed; experiencing disillusionment; and frustrations – culminating in a core theme of vulnerability to burnout. Conclusion: The stressors experienced by early career paramedics significantly contribute to their levels of burnout, decreasing the rate of retention. The results from this research suggest that burnout is developing early, contrary to previous research, which suggests that burnout is a phenomenon that develops several years into the profession.