Healthcare providers have an obligation to give the best care possible to their patients. They strive for perfection because they feel that anything less could result in a misdiagnosis, and could sometimes even be fatal for their patients. However, the need for perfection can cause an enormous amount of pressure and stress on the provider, which in the long run, can have a negative impact on the care that they provide.

We are human, which makes us imperfect. There will be times when we make a judgment call that can negatively impact our patients’ well-being. The more stress we put on ourselves to be perfect, the more likely we are to make a mistake. When we do make an error, or things don’t happen the way we want them to, we can embrace the experience as a learning opportunity. If we also recognize that things always happen exactly the way that they were meant to happen, we can lighten up on ourselves.

Recognize that we are perfectly imperfect. Practice mindfulness and be as compassionate toward yourself as you are to your patients. Read Facebook Status