Many physicians will have to work shifts where they’re on call. But many newly qualified doctors feel unprepared to take on this responsibility. So, we asked our community to share their tips to help new physicians prepare and thrive in their first shift on-call;

1. Come prepared
2. Keep it simple
3. Stay calm
4. Ask for help
5. Know your limits
6. Believe in yourself

1. Come prepared

As Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Making sure you are physically and mentally ready will put you in a strong starting position.

2. Keep it simple

Don’t overcomplicate things. Keep it simple and your confidence will grow over time.

3. Stay calm

High levels of stress, anxiety, frustration, and fear around on-call shifts in student doctors has been shown to negatively impact performance. Try to keep calm and take a step away if you start to feel overwhelmed.

4. Ask for help

Nobody knows it all. More senior and experienced colleagues are there to help you. One study showed that when students called their senior for support, it enabled them to step back and better identify the clinical presentation.

5. Respect your team

No one person knows or can do it all. Many of your colleagues will have substantial experience and wisdom that they can share. Respect them, listen to them, and you won’t go wrong.

6. Believe in yourself

Student doctors with very high levels of negative emotion and low levels of confidence found that this negatively impacted their performance. Try to keep a positive mindset. Believe that your years of training mean you are more than capable of succeeding.


Want to participate in the conversation? Read more tips to help survive an on-call shift and send in your own by clicking on “Read replies” below 👇

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