During the pandemic, healthcare workers were frequently hailed as heroes, and this framing, while well-intentioned, did not prove helpful in my experience as a clinician, nor did it seem to benefit others in the field. This label, I believe, stemmed from a place of genuine gratitude from managers and hospitals, with no intention of stigmatization or disempowerment.
However, in practice, being called a hero seemed to be tied to the concept of resilience. When you're constantly labeled as a hero and your workplace is adorned with signs celebrating your heroism, although I appreciate the sentiment, it can unintentionally foster an environment where additional burdens are piled onto healthcare professionals. The workload continues to mount, and there may be a lack of personal responsibility or acknowledgment of the tremendous strain we were enduring.
Vickie Leff is a palliative social worker.
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