Future Surgeon’s Post

I was recently asked what advice I would give to medical students about work-life balance. In my contribution to Doctor's Magazine, I advised students to allocate time for their interests outside of medicine. "Allocating this time for your hobby helps safeguard your interests outside of medicine, enhancing your medical journey by making it more pleasurable and reducing inevitable stress." Find more great tips from Dev Batra, MD, Elisha Peterson MD MEd FAAP FASA, Sam Fuller and others in the article below. https://lnkd.in/eDdMi5Wu

🔔Warning: Boiling Frog Syndrome Alert!" That's the claxon sounding in your medical journey, blaring louder than ever within our NHS. 🚑 No, it's not about diagnosing a new exotic disease 🌍; it's about spotting a lethal 'infection' right in your workplace. 👩⚕️👨⚕️ Here's the deal, whether you're an International Medical Graduate, a Resident Doctor, or a promising Trainee: Balancing clinical challenges is just the tip of the iceberg. Lurking below the waterline are imposing ice masses of team dynamics issues threatening to upend your professional balance. 🌊 Ignoring them? Not an option. Addressing them early is the antidote to a simmering toxic workplace.💼 Look out for the red flags 🚩. A shift in dynamics, uneven workload, rota clashes, and palpable tension on the ward. The role of an astute observer is essential here, for it enables early recognition, which is always the key to swift, effective action. 🗝️ Engage in candid conversation. It's a lifeline. The first step could be yours. Emphasise empathy, not criticism. Proactivity is the guard against swirling into chaos and the foundation of team spirit.🗣️👏 Conflicts are an inevitable part of the journey, coming in various guises: - Spiralling "last-minute rota changes 🔄. - Undercurrents of uneven theatre allocations 🎭. - Unequal learning opportunities 📚. - Uneven workload division 💪. - Study and annual leave disputes 📆. - covering for sick leave The art of difficult conversations is irreplaceable, especially as you climb up the hierarchy. Reflect, confront biases, set clear objectives, pick the right environment, and ensure the option to revisit the conversation remains open. 🏞️ Before you walk into the battleground of tough talks, please ask for counsel from your mentor. These navigators will guide you through the maze of team dynamics. 🗺️ Yes, IMGs, trainees, and resident doctors, your journey to becoming future healthcare leaders starts here, with conflict resolution and efficient communication at its core. 🎯 Trainers and Consultants, wake up! The water in your pan has been warming up for years. You might not have noticed the boiling point. Ask a newcomer #HealthyWorkplace #TeamDynamics #NHS # Resident doctors # IMGs # medical students https://lnkd.in/ewrDe7J8

Discover key insights on addressing burnout and enhancing wellness in residency training. Dive into strategies for a healthier, more balanced medical career! 🌟📚 Read: https://lnkd.in/eqDExJpY

How Do You Balance High-Pressure Medical Roles with Personal Life? Hello LinkedIn colleagues, As a medical professional who has navigated the demanding roles from clinical care at Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to spearheading the #PhysicianAssociate Studies programme at University of Bradford, I’ve often wondered: How can we best balance the rigorous demands of our professional lives with our personal well-being? 🔬 **Integrating Diverse Roles:** My experiences in #clinicalpractice, #medicaleducation, and #research have underscored the importance of finding effective strategies to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Each role brings its unique #challenges and #insights on how to sustain productivity without compromising personal time. 🛠 **Effective Strategies I’ve Employed:** 1. **Prioritization and Time Management**: Recognizing which tasks need immediate attention and which can be scheduled later helps manage the day efficiently. 2. **Leverage Technology for Efficiency**: Using tools for data analysis and communication streamlines work processes, freeing up more time for personal pursuits. 3. **Creating Boundaries**: It’s crucial to set clear boundaries between work and home life, especially when roles overlap in environments like academia and clinical settings. 4. **Community Engagement**: My role in developing the Physician Associate programme taught me the value of building supportive #networks that encourage both professional growth and personal resilience. 🌟 These strategies have not only enhanced my professional performance but have also significantly improved my quality of life outside work. 💬 **Now, I turn to you, my network**: How do you manage the demands of your professional and personal lives, especially in high-stakes environments like #healthcare? What #strategies or #insights have you found most beneficial? Please share your #thoughts and #experiences in the comments below. Let’s #learn from each other and build a #community of well-balanced professionals! And don't forget to check out my latest video on #tiktok at @drsucet. #WorkLifeBalance #HealthcareEducation #MedicalResearch #PhysicianAssociate #UniversityOfBradford #ProfessionalWellbeing

💥NEW PUBLICATION💥🚑 Concerned about healthcare workers leaving their jobs? Read the new Project METEOR study published in Qualitative Health Research. The paper looks into evidence-based strategies that address the challenges driving doctors and nurses to quit. METEOR findings emphasise personal and professional support, continuing education, financial incentives, and changes in legislative frameworks. Through interviews with medical staff across Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, and Poland, we've identified key factors that can enhance job satisfaction and reduce the chance of healthcare professionals quitting. Anke Boone (KU Leuven), Olivia Lavreysen (KU Leuven), Neeltje de Vries (Spaarne Gasthuis), Peter de Winter (Spaarne Gasthuis), Walter Mazzucco (Università degli Studi di Palermo), Domenica Matranga  (Università degli Studi di Palermo), Laura Maniscalco (Università degli Studi di Palermo), silvana miceli (Università degli Studi di Palermo), Alessandra Savatteri (Università degli Studi di Palermo), Małgorzata Kowalska (Medical University of Silesia), Szymon Szemik (Medical University of Silesia), Barański Kamil (Medical University of Silesia), Lode Godderis Godderis (KU Leuven) Explore how targeted actions can make a difference in retaining Europe’s healthcare workers 👇 🖇 https://lnkd.in/dxueu4wV #Healthcare #MedicalStaff #NurseRetention #DoctorRetention #HealthcareRetention #WorkforceSupport #MedicalProfessionals #JobSatisfaction

Really thought provoking day at Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA)'s annual #wellbeing conference yesterday! Some key takeaways for me from discussions around #neurodiversity: - line managers are really key when it comes to supporting neurodiverse colleagues, so we need to make sure they are properly equipped - a lot of people are finding it hard to get a diagnosis, but it's the prolonged nature of the difficulties rather than the diagnosis itself which matter in terms of case law - while it is not for an employer to make or suggest a diagnosis, if a colleague is showing neurodiverse traits which are adversely impacting them at work, we can have a broad conversation around what work looks like for them when they are enjoying it and performing at their best - in terms of overall wellbeing, it's how we feel about work and not just at work

As many IMGs gear up for the upcoming Match cycle, balancing electives and observerships in the U.S. healthcare system can be challenging. Beyond making the most out of these opportunities, it's crucial to maintain proper etiquette. Here are some key points to remember: 1. Always arrive on time for rounds, meetings, and procedures. Punctuality demonstrates respect for others' time and a professional attitude. 2. When you encounter a problem, try to figure out a solution independently before asking for help. This demonstrates your ability to research, analyze, and tackle challenges on your own. 3. Respect communication hierarchies. If an attending asks a resident a question, resist the urge to answer unless specifically asked. Respecting the chain of command is crucial. Avoid interrupting and ensure you understand instructions and information given. 4. Come prepared with necessary materials, such as a notepad, pen. You should always carry a pen at least. 5. Be patient when seeking opportunities. Request to assist in procedures at an appropriate time. Avoid being pushy or desperate; patience and timing are key. 6. Respect personal boundaries. Avoid disturbing attendings when they are busy or on the phone, unless it's an emergency. Respecting their time is essential. 7. Always double-check your emails, messages, and assignments before submission. Ensure they are written professionally and politely, as you never know who might read them. Assume your communications could be forwarded to anyone in the department, and write with that audience in mind. This approach ensures you always communicate with the highest level of care and professionalism. 8. When asked a question, understand it fully before responding. If unsure, it's okay to say, "I don't know this right now, but I can check and get back to you." 9. Never speak ill of team members. Fostering a positive and collaborative environment is essential for success. Embracing these etiquettes will enhance your learning experience and leave a positive impression on your mentors and colleagues. Professional behavior is key to building a successful career in the healthcare system. Another thing: organize tasks based on urgency and importance. Make a box of tasks and divide it into “urgent and important”, “urgent and not important”, “not urgent and important”, and “not urgent and not important”. Place the tasks strategically in these boxes.  This helps in managing responsibilities effectively in a fast-paced environment. Feel free to share your experiences or any additional tips you might have!

Motivational Interviewing for Continuous Improvement and Patient Safety A recent lightbulb moment for me came through a request from Wendy Copeland-Blair, from Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, an Advancing Quality Alliance (Aqua) Member. Wendy was asking whether Aqua could support the upskilling of the Trust’s #QualityImprovement (QI) Team with #motivationalinterviewing (#MI) techniques. She had viewed a great You Tube Video from Dr Mike Evans at the IHI (Institute for Healthcare Improvement) who talked about how hard it is to get people to change even simple behaviours to drive improvement. He also talked about innovation fatigue and no matter how well-intentioned improvement programmes may be, people are overloaded and often overwhelmed with requests for improvements in practice.   Mike described something that we all recognise – not everyone is ready for change and that #ambivalence about change is normal. To help people with this, requires careful listening and questioning approaches that MI supports.   We know that there is a National #NHS drive around #continousimprovement via #NHSImpact. We know all about aim statements, A3s, driver diagrams and process maps – but here is the real challenge – how do we help people to get involved in #improvement alongside everything else that is going on? And how do we help them find time for improvement when juggling the pressures they are under? – How do we help #QI facilitators and improvement leads handle the number of times they hear ‘I haven’t got enough staff’, ‘ We've done this before’, ‘ we're too busy’, ‘ this is just another fad’ when engaging with clinicians and teams? Maybe #MI is the answer?   So, Wendy and I co-designed a #MI for #QI Programme for Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust #improvementteam. The aim being to test whether these skills would be useful to help them develop a #QI dance rather than a #QI wrestle; by being the Guide on the Side rather than the Sage on the Stage, because as we all know ‘Telling People What to do Doesn’t Work’!   When Wendy and I caught up after the session, she told me that her lightbulb moment around this #appreciative approach was about managing ambivalence, and a real recognition of #change talk, particularly when on the surface it sounded like sustain talk or resistance. Wendy reflected that through her #QIcoaching approach, intentionally thinking about #MI tools and techniques helped her hone in and focus on this aspect of the conversation and not be distracted by the background noise. In doing so, it helped teams to find their own motivation for change. Advancing Quality Alliance (Aqua) Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust #MotivationalInterviewing #ContinuousImprovement #QualityImprovement

🔹 The Pivotal Role of Discipline in Balancing Life as a Medical Resident 🔹 🩺 In the whirlwind of long shifts, relentless learning, and the commitment to save lives, discipline emerges not just as a choice but a necessity for us, medical residents. Today, I want to share how embracing discipline is the key to maintaining our sanity and passion in this demanding yet rewarding journey. 🌟 Balancing Act: Work, Self-Care, and Growth 1. Structured Routine, Unwavering Focus: Discipline for us isn't merely about adhering to hospital schedules; it's about creating a structured life approach. It means being punctual, prepared, and proactive. With lives at stake, our focus cannot waver. This rigorous routine becomes our backbone, enabling us to tackle emergencies with a calm and composed mind. 2. Self-Care is a Priority, Not a Luxury: Often, we're so engrossed in caring for others that we forget ourselves. Discipline teaches us to allocate time for self-care. Be it a quick workout, a nutritious meal, or a brief meditation session, these acts of self-love are essential. They keep us physically fit and mentally agile, directly impacting our efficiency and empathy as doctors. 3. Continual Learning, Endless Curiosity: Medicine is an ever-evolving field. Staying disciplined in keeping up-to-date with the latest research and advancements is not just a professional requirement but a moral one. Our commitment to lifelong learning directly translates into better care for our patients. 🛑 Preventing Burnout: A Critical Aspect The reality of burnout in our profession is alarming. Long hours, emotional strain, and high stakes can take a toll. However, discipline provides a framework to manage these challenges. By setting boundaries, prioritizing tasks, and ensuring time for relaxation and personal growth, we can mitigate the risks of burnout. It's about finding that equilibrium where professional commitment and personal well-being coexist harmoniously. 🌈 The Takeaway Embracing discipline doesn't mean rigidity; it's about creating a sustainable rhythm in life. For us, medical residents, it's a powerful tool that enables us to juggle the demands of our profession while ensuring we don't lose ourselves in the process. Let's remember, to take care of others effectively, we must first take care of ourselves. #MedicalResidency #DisciplineInMedicine #SelfCare #LifelongLearning #PreventingBurnout #WorkLifeBalance

End of the day and scrolling through my work notes to summarise and reflect on what I’ve gone through with my patients and I reevaluate my role as a lifestyle educator in the AEP field from time to time. More often times than not we think we gotta come up with a “perfect” programme for patients that involves a lot of “cool and new” exercises but this post bypass heart patient put things into perspectives for me. This puts pressure on me to keep upskilling all the time but little did I know I have yet to perfect the basic skills of patient communication and lifestyle coaching at times. Decided to take it slow, sit down with the patient during the consult, take out a piece of paper and do some motivational questioning whilst listing down numbers 1-4 on what the patient knows they need to do and already are currently doing. Within 30 minutes we got a plan in place, and the gentlemen went home with a refreshed confidence that he will now need to do these 4 things as homework. Now it’s not much, but I think having that sort of side by side guidance to help facilitate the changes that people already have instilled in them, would go a long way in my treatment. It’s today that I realised once again, a simple and traditional piece of “paper and pen” can be an effective no-nonsense tool in treatment. Goals of patient: Follow up cardiac rehab ✅ Lung capacity training ✅ Walking capacity training ✅ Stretches to alleviate tightness in sternum and vessel retrieval sites ✅