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Compassion Fatigue...AGAIN

Submitted by Sue Pivetta on Tue, 06/22/2010 - 15:52

I don't know about you but I am avoiding the news today.  I can't see one more pelican in a cardboard box looking up helplessly - covered with oil.  

In a recent training in NC I was going over the 'compassion fatigue' concept when a student said, "Finally a name to what I'm feeling!" 

CF is the opposite of not caring, it's having too much to care about.  In this profession in addition to the 'work' there are troubles of our co workers, our family and then up comes another disaster. 

Compassion is a very good thing, it means to have 'passion' for anothers situation, pain, loss.  The fatigue part comes along when we forget to have compassion for our own self too. 

We begin to become empty and forget that the world is 99.9% beautiful and good and we get lost and exhausted and DRAINED and withdraw.  At these times we must pull back and experience the things that FILL us up - children, animals, nature, hobbies, play, volunteering ...

So, I just signed up for the mountaineers and I'm very much looking forward to hiking in the beautiful mountains of the NW this summer.  In addition I'm back on the Dragon Boats - on amazing Puget Sound.  I think I'll play with children this weekend. You?  Write me a note, I love hearing from you all.

Hi

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 07/06/2010 - 18:23.
I just wanted to let you know that I was given copies of your 1992 copy of your training student manual, instructor manual and trainer guide. I know I am behind the times, but I am starting my training manual from scratch. My agency actually will receive our CALEA accreditation at the end of this month, and after going through that process, I realized that my training program was inadequate. I have used these books, even as old as they are as a template to my new training program. I wanted to stop by and say Hi and thank you. You are an inspiration to fresh instructors like myself. Stephanie Mercer Houston County 911

Thank you

Submitted by Sue Pivetta on Wed, 07/14/2010 - 08:33.

It's nice to hear we are achieving what we set out to do, support your amazing work!!  Consider us a resource and write or call anytime with questions, ideas, needs - talk to Donna or myself - we both have been there done that.

Good Call Bad Call

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 07/01/2010 - 06:37.
My comment is, I believe that the idea for the Good Call Bad Call training concept is a great one. However, my agency will not make any purchases due to the cost, $129 seems a little high for one DVD, and due to the lack of information on each DVD. I cant tell if we are paying $129 for one call or five or what. I would hope it would be more than one for the price. We would love to utilize the tool, but until either the price comes down or more information is supplied we will just have to wait.

Money Money Money

Submitted by Sue Pivetta on Wed, 07/14/2010 - 08:39.

Thanks for letting me know, I improved the description of Good Call Bad Call.  Yes, it is one call at a time - one very important call for learners to analyze.  The product isn't just a scripted call, it's a process for teaching learners to think critically about the work of emergency call taking.  I added the 'menu' so that you could see that the DVD is interactive.  There are many parts to this training tool - we don't believe just 'listening' to a 911 call teaches. 

Listening is not learning, telling is not teaching.  We hope to provoke thought that will expand understanding of what works, what doesn't work and why.  The questions and best practices are designed to give trainers a great tool (well many great tools) for their training. 

It's well worth the $129 - that is not even the cost of sending one person to a workshop that may or may not be worth the OT.  :) and you own it for years to come.