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The response you get from patients goes a long way

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doctor in scrubs outside trust on first day
Dr Bilal Ali, Foundation Programme Day One

Dr Bilal Ali graduated from Liverpool School of Medicine last year alongside his brother Dr Mohammed Ali. He lets us know the most rewarding (and fun!) parts of being an FY1 doctor since he began the foundation programme back in August.

“I am on a regular North West foundation programme at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary. My track includes Geriatrics, Colorectal, General surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, GP and Intensive Care.

Thinking back to my first day, it’s easy to overthink this months before it comes around but it definitely isn’t as bad as you think it is going to be! You forget that you aren’t just thrown onto the ward on day one. Every trust has an induction period where you get to learn how the hospital works and how to use the IT systems.

You get to meet your fellow colleagues and shadow the current doctors on the ward you will take over from so they pass down everything you need to know. The consultants are also aware that you are new and help support you through things.

At our trust, we had a very good and thorough induction which made the whole transition so much easier! We had basically started taking up the FY1 role (with support) days before our actual start date, so the first day didn’t feel as scary as I would’ve originally thought.

But, it is definitely a day where you pinch yourself and say, 'Wow, I am a doctor now!'.

It’s very normal and okay to be a bit nervous but remember, you have worked hard and you should be proud of yourself because you deserve to be here!

Also don’t forget to take a selfie on your first day to send to your family. They have supported you from the beginning. So let them be proud of you on that day!

I really enjoy working with my fellow F1 colleagues. You get really close to them and it is actually fun when you’re bouncing around the ward doing jobs together.

It’s really satisfying when you figure and sort something out yourselves when you may have normally got senior help otherwise. Instead of being with your med school partner taking histories together, you are both managing a ward together! The people you work with really is one of the most enjoyable parts of the job (amongst many others!)

The feedback and response you get from patients and your colleagues goes a long way.

Whether it’s when a consultant or senior praises you for something you’ve done, or when a patient holds your hand and tells you that they appreciate everything you’ve done for them. Situations like these really do put a smile on your face.

These are the things that counteract the remaining bits of imposter syndrome you may experience. It gives you a boost to keep doing what you’re doing and helps keep your morale up. When you’re lucky, you can get reaffirming moments like these quite regularly and it just makes your whole experience so much more positive.

You will find that not all of your good endeavours will be recognised, and that’s okay. But when they do, it is a really satisfying part of the job!

I don’t feel like there are any specific prerequisite skills required before you start as most of the skills for FY1 you learn on the job. But, wellbeing and teamwork are key.

Work life balance is something you may have thought about at the beginning of medical school or throughout, and it applies here again. You’re going to have a new routine, a new rota with long shifts both day and night, and a new workload. This means looking after your wellbeing is very, very important. Try to establish a foundation early on with regards to your wellbeing which will be able to take you forward to help you deal with the highs and the lows.

Keep your existing hobbies or try new ones early, as these are good coping mechanisms for stress.

When it comes to working as a team, I think it is important to be flexible with different styles of working. Everyone works in different ways. It is important that you stay open and malleable to different styles. This will make you a pleasant colleague to work with and help avoid friction and conflict.

You really do learn so much on the job. Be sure that you are open to learning, smile, and be kind to everybody!

My biggest tips for this year’s upcoming FY1s is - enjoy your summer! Don’t worry about revising or reading things before you start. You’ll get time in your induction period if you want to do that. Rest up, relax, catch some sun, and go out and enjoy yourselves!

Celebrate your graduation, see your friends and family, and enjoy your best life before work life starts. You are almost at the finish line so make sure you don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Just enjoy your last few months of medical school!"

Great to catch up with you Bilal! Browse through more tales from our past graduates over on our Alumni Stories page (link).