Here are some thoughts from Dr Subashini Wickramathilake, winner of our recent blog-post competition:
You may have just left behind your childhood home, your inner circle of friends, the corner shop whose owner knows your first name or the adopted city that you’ve called home for the last five years of med school. You are becoming the shiniest new part of the intricate machinery that is the NHS. Just as you have to adapt to this new challenge, so does everyone else, who have spent the last few years or decades working at the hospital, have to adapt to you. You, a newly minted junior doctor, taking on the highest duty of all – responsible for the physical and mental health of fellow humans, who trust you with their life. Take a breath, congratulate yourself on getting into the program and learn to be comfortable with the uncomfortable.
You don’t need to know everything to become a reliable doctor. You do need to have a curiosity to learn and the courage to accept feedback. Feedback given in a busy ward with very ill patients and irate relatives may sting at times. Just breathe. Remind yourself to never take it personally, do not let the words of others undermine what you have achieved. Remember, a sailor that does not face rough seas will never learn to sail. Don’t underestimate how much you will learn from your most challenging night shift, even if you feel shattered by the end of that shift. However, please do reach out for help when you feel overwhelmed – this isn’t weakness. Looking out for your own mental, emotional and physical wellbeing is your most important priority in those two years, especially your first year. And don’t be afraid to speak up if you are treated unfairly. Whether it is your educational or clinical supervisor, a senior Registrar, the nurse in charge or the wellbeing team at your hospital, help is at hand. Everyone knows this is a strange new environment for you and most people are more understanding than you think. Don’t be afraid to ask when in doubt, just pick your moment well! A good tip is to first state what you already know, then ask what you don’t.
For your department orientation, you can expect anything from a detailed induction where you will have a clear idea on your job role and who to ask for help to a mere half hour introduction when the Registrar will ask you to complete discharge summaries as they run off to their morning commitments. Take a breath and focus on the task at hand. Remember that these departments were running efficiently before you showed up and they will continue to do so long after you have left. Learning in the NHS will come in bits and pieces, don’t expect the linear learning you experienced in med school. There won’t be daily lesson plans, flowcharts, a whiteboard or note taking. The ward rounds will not always be structured, your consultants will be pulled in many different directions, you may have to chase them for clear treatment plans. Discover your voice and use it wisely. Remember, every day, millions of people are being tended to at their most vulnerable, you are now a part of that. No role is too small, take pride even in the most mundane tasks. You will learn as you go. Don’t underestimate your ability to grow and adapt. Be kind to yourself and others, make time for people that uplift you and be positive – you’ve got this! Rome wasn’t built in a day, but they were laying bricks every day.
Dr Subashini Wickramathilake
