Things I wish I knew

THINGS I WISH I KNEW Advice from doctors to new doctors

Thank you to all the BMA members who took the time to contribute to this book.

We hope their words help you find inspiration and perspective throughout your careers.

Congratulations on graduating as a doctor!

You’ve successfully taken one of the biggest steps you will take in your medical career. The coming months will be a steep learning curve, but also exciting, interesting and rewarding.

As a new junior doctor, there is a lot to think about alongside the medicine. From understanding your first employment contract to exploring new workplaces, it can feel quite overwhelming, but the BMA are here to support you with everything you need in your working life.

We asked our membership what one piece of advice they would give to new foundation doctors. This book showcases that advice and welcomes you to the medical profession with open arms.

We wish you a long and successful career.

Sarah Hallett and Mike Kemp UK junior doctor committee co-chairs

As in every profession, there are craftsmen and artists in medicine too. Everybody can learn craftsmanship, but one can become an artist only if one has true interest in people, their life and affairs.

Aleksandra GP partner

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Buy a diary and use it – highlight important deadlines/dates/rota etc and ensure that you apply early and take the full allowance of your annual and study leave throughout the year.

Joy McFadzean Academic GPST4

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Remember the oxygen mask rule: look after yourself first. Book your annual leave early, make sure you get meal breaks and finish your shifts on time. When you’re not at work make time to rest and look after yourself and do things you enjoy.

Katherine Telford Consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Never hesitate to seek help or seek advice if needed. Your senior colleagues were all in the same position as you once.

Mohamed Mohamed Consultant surgeon

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

On the back of your ID badge write down the top phone numbers you need: the reg on call, radiology, labs etc – this will save you valuable time.

Rebecca Devine SpR public health medicine

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Remember you’re a team, listen to the experienced nurses – they have been doing the job for longer than you.

Pam Coipel GP partner

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Whatever you do, wake up half an hour earlier than you intend to and spend a few minutes planning your day ahead. It will help with your work-life balance more than you can imagine.

Sentil Consultant psychiatrist

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Examine your rota and book annual leave ASAP to maximise your breaks.

You will need it. Try to spread it out through each rotation.

Harmander Matharu FY2 doctor

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Ask for regular feedback from your superiors, like once a month. Ask them: How am I doing and what can I do to improve your opinion of me?

This way they will feel safe to give you honest feedback and you can grow your skills faster.

Veerle Van Tricht Consultant ophthalmology

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Be kind, be curious, and wear comfortable shoes.

James McFetrich Consultant in emergency medicine

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Remember you are a doctor in training. This means you aren’t the finished article and shouldn’t be expected to be. Therefore, escalate when you need to, ask questions, embrace teaching, listen to the nursing team’s advice and (most importantly) enjoy being a doctor, it is truly the best job in the world.

Liam Sanders FY2 doctor

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

I was told in my first FY1 post ‘remember you were a person before you were a doctor’ – they told me to take my breaks and not be pressurised into working through long days without taking care of myself. You will be a better, safer and happier doctor for it.

Alice Hamill Paediatric trainee

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

You are bringing fresh eyes to how care is delivered. Don’t hesitate to ask (politely) why something is done in a particular way if it seems to make no sense to you. It’s quite possible that you are right!

Professor at Swansea University School of Management.

Previous NHS Medical Director

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Take pride in your work – be the doctor you want to work with, the doctor you want to have on the ward the day before you’re on call.

Recognise habits of other doctors and steal the good ones.

Will Clay FY2 doctor

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

You may find the list of portfolio requirements overwhelming – the good news is you are entitled to 2 hours a week as self development time to help you get through it. Get it booked in early so that you never have to use your personal time to get your portfolio in order.

Dervla Ireland FY2 doctor

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Work to live, not live to work. Yes you will (hopefully) love your job but don’t let that be the thing that defines you. Work-life balance is vital to long term happiness at work.

Matthew Milsom Specialty doctor, anaesthetics

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Keep a diary of your first year – just one sentence per day.

Chris Tiley GP and GPSI in neurology

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Plan to work overseas for a while.

Even if you plan to work in the UK long-term, it will give you experience of different healthcare systems and open your eyes to career opportunities.

Richard Pearcy Consultant

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

There is no such thing as a silly question. Ask and feel awkward perhaps, but better to do that now and progress from it than to stop learning.

Molly Byham GP

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

To document everything that happens for each patient you manage is never a waste of time.

If anything goes wrong at any time, these notes will carry the explanation and will give you the opportunity to reflect, learn and sometimes support you in difficult situations.

Alia Osman Paediatric developmental consultant

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Meal prep for nights and take your breaks at 2am and 6am.

There’s not a lot that can’t wait for at least 10 minutes while you refuel.

Na’im Merchant IMT3

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Always be aware of what empties and fills your own personal battery – it needs to be an individual conscious effort to do.

Rhian EM consultant

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Remember that as a new FY1, nobody expects too much of you.

You will become much better at prioritising as the year goes on, and it will get easier.

Miriam Abraham FY2

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Be kind to yourself; remember that you’re on a steep learning curve and it’s normal to feel anxious and overwhelmed. Be compassionate both to your patients and to yourself and, when necessary, take the courageous step of asking for help.

Sonia Roy Consultant psychiatrist

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Aim to be the very best doctor you can be while keeping your eyes on the prize – the thing that makes it all worth it in the end for you.

Olatomiwa Olukoya Clinical development fellow

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Remember every interaction a patient has with you is probably one of the most important things that has ever happened to that person. Treat all patients as if they were one of your relatives.

Ros Lawson Retired consultant anaesthetist

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Take lots of advice when considering your career pathway – list pros and cons and don’t make a decision on a whim. Also don’t make a decision thinking that’s your career for 40 years – flexibility and change along the way is now quite common.

Visiting Senior Lecturer, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

When you hit the wards, your education is just starting. Be humble, listen and learn from everyone you encounter, whatever their role.

Be curious, keep asking questions and listen to the answers, be open.

Remember, first and foremost, your patients are people with interesting lives beyond the hospital or consulting room: discover the whole person, and you will know much better how you can treat them.

Rachel Lambert GP

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Always look calm and confident in a crisis. If you look calm and confident, it helps you feel it, and helps your patients and colleagues too!

LD Hordon Consultant rheumatologist

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Treat every patient with kindness, dignity and respect; you will see patients when they are at their most vulnerable and need you to understand that.

Del Lavelle GP principal

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Spend time on the wards shadowing newly qualified doctors so that when you start, you don’t feel like a rabbit in headlights like I did; and talk and listen to patients naturally, with interest and with compassion.

Julian K Marsden Recently retired GP

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Try to spend some time in a post that involves home visiting (real, not just virtual). It’s amazing what you learn about people by seeing them on their own ground.

Lesley Bacon Retired SRH consultant

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

Don’t make early career choices which you cannot change, but try to tailor your training to give you experience beyond a single specialty.

I enjoyed working in several areas, and was registered as both a GP and specialist (consultant).

Gerald Freshwater Retired occupational health consultant

THINGS I WISH I KNEW

When you feel stressed and overwhelmed, share it with your colleague or boss as soon as possible – don’t keep it in.

Shawarna Lasker GP

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THINGS I WISH I KNEW

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