5 Tips for new doctors

Hello fellow medics,

Starting as a new doctor can be tricky. Despite great advances in medical education with shadowing junior doctors in clinical years, nothing is quite the same as being on that ward as a FY1.

Below are five tips to give you a general overview of ways to help you enjoy (yes enjoy) being a newly qualified doctor. This is advice I give to my students and to family members.

Speak up

Junior doctors get so worried about speaking up if they don’t understand something or mishear a terminology used by the consultant on the dreaded ward round. You need to remember two things 1. You are new 2. Your seniors forget what it is like to be new. So rather than have a mini panic attack in the nurses room as you didn't understand why you are asking for the MRI chest/abdomen/pelvis, actually say to your seniors “Please can you clarify why Mr Jones needs a CT?”.

Trust me, it is better to be a safe doctor who asks questions than one that doesn’t and makes a mistake.

Be organised

It is like being back in school (I mean this is a non patronising way). Pack all your pens, paper and essentials (in this case not a dictionary or pencil case BUT a stethoscope and BNF). Be prepared and look the part. I tend to advocate a clip board box (check it out on amazon). You do not want to be fumbling in front of your consultant looking for a pen or stethoscope.

Get the apps

This is the first thing I told my brother when he first started work. It can help your day to day tasks run smoothly. We are lucky that we live in an era where we can look things up and why not help this by having the best apps downloaded on your phone. My list will be short, and there are probably 100’s of apps, but these are my go to:

  1. BNF

  2. MDcalc

  3. RxGuidelines/Microguide (microbiology guidelines for your trust)

  4. Buku Medicine

  5. NHS Palliative Care Guidelines (NHS Scotland)

Make friends

Make friends with everyone, from the nurses to the porters. Be nice and respectful to everyone. You cannot work in a hospital without a team ethos. On those lonely medical shifts in the middle of the night, you would rather you had a comforting chat with a nurse or Porter than be known as the obnoxious new FY1.

Try to enjoy it

Lastly, many of us had different experiences of our first few months as a foundation doctor- some loved it and some loathed it. I would say, whatever your experience try to enjoy it. It is tough and there are lots to learn on the job (the biggest jump you may have in your life is going from a medical student to a FY1) but its through those horrid night shifts, moody consultants or that damn bleep that you look back and smile as you build resilience and friendships.

This is just a taster of some tips, I hope that they gave you some direction for those who will be starting work in August. The NHS is a wonderful organisation to work for, so be excited for the next adventure of your life.

Look after yourselves x