End of Shift Podcast: The Way of the Warrior. A Philosophy of Emergency Care

The warrior philosophy addresses doubts and fears EM caregivers experience day-to-day as they work on the front lines. Hosts Eric Angus and Joe Haegert discuss the five concepts of warriorship: observation, acceptance, focus, intention, and commitment.

They explore how this philosophy can help you mentally prepare for your shift, focusing on competence, confidence, courtesy, calm, and compassion. They also discuss how to close your shift, focusing on mental wellness (including the After Shift Martini Protocol).

They also touch on the profound fears, physical risk, and emotional impact front-line healthcare workers are experiencing in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additional reading

• Dan Millman - Way of the Peaceful Warrior, 1980
• Arno Ilgner - The Rock Warrior's Way, 2003

Additional listening

• EM Cases Ep 134 - Shift Preparation: Pre-gaming, with host Anton Helman and guest Rob Orman

End of Shift Hosts

Eric Angus
Eric Angus is an emergency physician and trauma team leader at Lions Gate Hospital. He is married with 15-year-old twins. His nonmedical interests include origami, meditation, mountain biking, skiing, rock climbing, just generally being outside, and drinking wine. He has a diploma in mountain medicine and volunteers for ski patrol and the North Shore Rescue team. He is an ATLS instructor. He dabbles in stoicism and Buddhist philosophies.

Joe Haegert
Joe Haegert practices emergency and trauma medicine at the Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, British Columbia. He is a talented teacher, engaging speaker, and devoted clinician. He lives in South Surrey with his wife Sandy and managed to raise three children without much incident. Known for his unflagging enthusiasm, Joe enjoys all aspects of the outdoors and recently has taken to turning wooden burls into all manner of bowls and tables.

Disclaimer
The discussion within the End of Shift podcast may be graphic, and some listeners may find the language and content disturbing. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the BC Emergency Medicine Network.