#TipsForNewDocs
Follow up a proportion of the patients you see on call - see what happened, see if you made the right call, get feedback if you can. This how you learn.

1/x
Dealing with uncertainty - simple tasks may give you pause. We're happy to help, but do try to use BNF, hospital guidelines, oxford handbook to see if you can find the answer before asking your senior.
#TipsForNewDocs
2/x
Dealing with uncertainty pt 2.
Sometimes you just don't know what is wrong with the patient. Take the basic alphabetical approach to assessment and then ask for help.
#TipsForNewDocs
3/x
Dealing with uncertainty pt 3.
You've got an ABG or an ECG to interpret but you don't feel that confident. Ask a senior, we're happy to help... But also get yourself some bedtime reading or e-learning to get your skills up
#TipsForNewDocs
4/x
Dealing with anxiety
Dealing with sick patients is scary, especially at first. You'll develop coping mechanisms with time, experience and through learning from role models. Talk to a senior if you're worried about a patient
5/x
#TipsForNewDocs
Cyclical negative ideation + physical symptoms + avoidance = Anxiety
as taught to me by @andrewbeee when I was a 3rd year student in 2010. Recognise these features within yourself. Avoidance in particular, is not a luxury you can affors as a doctor
#TipsForNewDocs
6/x
Some anxiety on starting work as an F1 is pretty normal. If it starts affecting your sleep and your life outside of work, you should get some help. Link to Trainee Support Service for Northern Deanery:
https://madeinheene.hee.nhs.uk/Trainee-Support-Service

7/x
Learn the names of everyone you'll encounter day to day. It's a basic measure of respect for another human being and makes for much easier working relationships.
#TipsForNewDocs
8/x
"I'm terrible at cannulas/ABGs/ECGs/hearing murmurs"
"I'm *just* an F1"
Don't apologise for being a novice. You're there to learn and train. Nobody expects you to be the finished article.
#TipsForNewDocs
9/x
As a doctor your rationale for any given action has to be more than "because Dr X told me to". Ask questions, seek clarification and do things for a good reason.
#TipsForNewDocs
10/x
Feedback to your colleagues, we all want to learn from our actions. As a rule, try to feed back compliments as often as criticisms.
#TipsForNewDocs
11/x
Don't prescribe a drug if you don't know what it is and why the patient is on it. Generally that means look it up and prescribe if appropriate to the situation.
#TipsForNewDocs
12/x
Thoroughness comes before efficiency. Focus on doing things well first and take pride in your work. Every clerking, every scan request, every referral you send will have your name on it - be sure that you're happy with what it's attached to.
#TipsForNewDocs
13/x
Start your written/verbal/online referrals with a clear question or request before you go into the background etc. You wouldn't start a clerking with PMH and it's largely the same for referrals.

And thats enough from me for now
#TipsForNewDocs
14/14
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