Thread by @SarahNSimons

Been thinking a bit about what I’ve learnt in the two years since I qualified as a doctor & what (hopefully, helpful and honest) advice I’d give to brand new medics on the cusp of a career in the NHS - a thread #TipsForNewDocs

1. Being a doctor is the best job in the world. Some days it will feel like the worst, but 95% of the time it’s the best and most rewarding career. I adore the NHS. Be proud of yourself, you’ve worked damn hard to get here.

2. Remembering to say “thank you” on a busy ward at 2pm can earn you a cup of tea at 4am. A sincere “thank you” with eye contact might even get you a cup of tea *and* some magical NHS biscuits on your night shift (the holy grail is NHS toast). Nurses are all-seeing superheroes.

3. You won’t believe what you have to do with your hands. Some days I get home and look at my fingers and just think “man, the places you guys have been today”. Always keep a pair of gloves in your pocket on call & always grab some on your way into a crash call.

4. Working in the NHS teaches you what true love is. True love is the foster parents of babies born addicted to heroin, the spouses of fifty years negotiating the hurdles of early stage dementia together and the sisters who shave their heads to support each other through chemo.

5. Crying at work isn’t great, but it’s normal and ok. Our job is stressful & we care and we see more upsetting things than most of our peers. I’ve had a secret cry a few times - once when I cared for an unpleasant patient who openly identified as a Nazi, decorated in swastikas -

- and another time after a horrific night shift when I was so tired I knew I couldn’t drive home safely and I wanted to be at home so much I just burst into tears. Reading @DrMikeFarquhar’s sleep and night shift research was enlightening.

6. Insider info: you can hide at least a cereal bar, 2 satsumas & a freddo in your scrubs pocket with your bleep, list & phone – the BNF, MedCalc & @ResusCouncilUK apps are good. If you’re hardcore, you can fit a 12oz coffee cup in there too. I love my @KeepCup wholeheartedly.

7. Some people are sh*t & you’ll find yourself caught up in a safeguarding case & completely despair for humanity. Remember that for the small no. of perpetrators, there’s a vast army of amazing healthcare staff, emerg services, social workers, lawyers etc. Remember these people.

8. Sildenafil is the chemical name for Viagra. Clerking tip - if it’s prescribed it’s probably as Viagra rather than for pul aa hypertension. Just check before prescribing it as a regular hospital drug; insisting sildenafil’s taken on the 8am ward drug round can be a bit awkward.

9. Try not let your eportfolio become the bane of your life bc it will, easily. You don’t know well enough until you can teach it to someone else so find ways to make med student teaching fun (bake?). Ask for written feedback. Broach stupid questions politely. #FOAMEd is great.

10. You’ll dispense advice like “just because it says “fit for human consumption” doesn’t mean it can go in any orifice” & “I’m not sure competitive speed skating's the best sport to start just after your knee replacement”. Educate but respect that people make their own choices.

11. Natural death shouldn't be feared. Bereavement & grief are sad but dying’s a normal part of life - we need to talk about it. Lots of things are frustratingly out of our control in medicine but enabling a good death shouldn’t be one of them. Read @AtulGawande & @KathrynMannix.

12. Trust your gut instinct. It doesn’t kick in overnight but your “uh this is not good” feeling it gets pretty good after a few on-calls. Check obs, bloods & then call someone using SBAR. Call colleagues by name, not specialty (eg pls can you review this chest drain, Dr Jones?).

13. Therapy dog visit day is the greatest day of all.

14. Reading books about other drs’ experiences can seem somewhat unappealing after long days of *actually living it* but there are warm, fuzzy feelings of solidarity on those pages after a stint of nights, missed birthday parties & a monstrous laundry situation (CC @amateuradam).

15. If you're a female dr in scrubs, you will get called "nurse". My record is 6 times in a shift. It's annoying, but the best way to handle it is to politely smile & correct the misconception. Also, a big badge saying "DOCTOR" helps. Follow @medicalwomenuk & @feminemtweets.

16. Listening is the most important skill in your toolbox. Just as importantly, find someone to listen to you talk about Queer Eye because good conversations unrelated to work are vital. Cook friends unnecessarily ostentatious dinners, run far, find a way to process -@yougotthis.

17. I like the Grandpa test – if the patient was your Grandad, would you be happy with the care they’re getting? If not, why not? Food for thought. #TipsforNewDocs

18. Lastly, always be kind. You have to be kind to yourself to be kind to others. Very few people will remember the name of antibiotic they were on, but people will always remember kindness shown to them when they were poorly.

#TipsforNewDocs 😊

@drkathrynmannix, even!

- other smart/sassy/inspiring women doctors who are very much worth your twitter time are @choo_ek , @DrJenGunter, @_NMay, @sbattrawden @jkwillettmd @coffeeheadaches & @HannahPopsy - the medical sisterhood is strong. #TipsforNewDocs