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Junior Doctors: First Week Diaries

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Sarah Maycock Sarah Maycock | 16:24 UK time, Tuesday, 24 January 2012

It's been a long time coming, but finally Junior Doctors is back! And believe me, it's worth the wait.

Earlier this month, we introduced you to our new set of Junior Doctors. But what does it feel like to start your first week as a Junior Doctor? Those watchful eyes glaring over your shoulder, those suspicious patients eyeing you up... they're fresh out of medical school, but are they raring to go or wanting to turn and run away?

We take a glimpse at the diaries of Aki, Amieth, Andy and Milla to find out:

Aki says...

I'm enjoying being busy. Unfortunately everything I do seems to take three times longer because you don't know how to do it. My senior reassures me that he feels comfortable working with me though I don't want this to get to my head.

I've already made my first mistake when a doctor from an insurance company rang me up to ask about a patient. I got told off because I nearly gave patient information away. I won't be doing that again!

Over the next few weeks I'm really looking forward to getting stuck into my role as "Mess President." I'm the guy in charge of organising the social side of doctor life (and the coffee machine). I can't wait to get everyone together and enjoy their company outside the wards!

Aki's Big Break

Amieth says...

Amieth Yogarajah

Unlike some of the other Junior Doctors, on the first morning I didn't get to the hospital super early. I got lost in the building, making it through the doors with only 20 seconds to spare. Not a good start!

Within days of starting I was working on nights. Being quieter than the dayshift you get a chance to chat with your colleagues and get to know them. I've already had a year of hospital experience so this first week hasn't come as a massive shock.

I think my biggest challenge in A&E will be distinguishing between the 'worried well' and the genuinely unwell people. What's the best bit about my new job? The pay rise that comes with being a second year doctor!

Andy says...

Andy Steval

One of the best things about being a doctor rather than a student is feeling like you're useful for the first time. The worst part is being knackered from not getting enough sleep!

During my first week, I accidentally left my pager in the pocket of my scrubs whilst in theatre. Somebody bleeped me and it carried on beeping for half an hour but because I was in surgery, I couldn't switch if off. For half an hour all you could hear was a really loud beeping sound coming from my pocket. Fortunately the surgeon was pretty chilled out about it and didn't seem too bothered!

Right now I'm looking forward to our first end of month hospital party. It should be good to get the chance to go on a night out with all of the housemates. Talking about the house, Ben and I have bonded over our love of toiletries - strangely we both use the same hair gel, aftershave, and toothpaste. What can I say - we are both men of taste!

I'm still not used to the long hours. By the time I get home from work there's just enough time to eat and then it's time for bed. I'm relieved the first week is over - it feels like I've survived a milestone.

Milla says...

Milla Marinova

On the way to my first night shift I felt all kinds of emotions - I thought about how I might cope if a cardiac arrest call came in during my first five minutes on the job. Luckily it didn't. For the whole night I was running purely on adrenaline! It was so stressful - bleep after bleep after bleep after bleep...it was so loud that my patients would wake up.

At the end of the first shift all I could think was 'wow - what a night!' I think I saw between 40-50 patients and I felt such a surge of relief and pride that I'd coped with everything thrown at me. It's scary to think how much responsibility we actually have - a few clicks on a computer, and somebody will be given the drugs that you've prescribed.

One of the best parts of my job is getting to work with an incredible team. The responsibility that comes with looking after patients is great too and it's really rewarding when they ask you for advice.

Come back next week to read Ben, Lucy, Priya and Sameer's first week diaries.

Junior Doctors: Your Life in Their Hands starts on Tuesday 24th January at 9pm

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    Thought it was very interesting that Milla ran all the way through the hospital wearing the gloves she had been using treating the last patient she was with. Who is going to clean all the bacterial contamination off every surface she touched on the way to A & E? Is no-one learning anything about infection control? Or do they just pay no heed to it. CQC should be in this hospital tomorrow investigating. But they wouldn't know what to look for!

  • Comment number 2.

    Now we know why the NHS in England has the problems it has. It may have been some poetic licence for a programmme but the lack of demonstarting a procedure before getting a new doctor to perform it is unacceptable. I also struggle to believe that a hospital that size really has only one on call doctor overnight. The sooner this country defies inappropriate E.U. legislation and returns to reasonable 1 in 3 rota practices the safer it will be for all patients. I'm thankful I was a junior 35 years ago rather than now !

  • Comment number 3.

    Ha ha how funny r the above 2 comments!!!!!! Dr MRT, one can assume ur a real dr, who wud know that there is just not 1 on call dr in the whole off a hospital on a nite shift, and regards 2 the chest drain, these drs have got 2 learn, hands on experience is vital, thought u wud understand that 1. With regards 2 the first comment about infection control, for 1 l Neva noticed, & 2 if that was u on the crash trolley u wudn't know any different!!!!!!!

  • Comment number 4.

    Felt really sorry for Andy failing to get these cannulae in the patients' arms. Had he had senior support after his first two attempts I am sure his technique could have been improved, his confidence increased and his stress level reduced. From some of the shots it seems monitoring computer screens has taken over from the privilege and responsibility of mentoring juniors who are in need of and entitled to receive acquired experience. "Stick" with it Andy even if you have to teach yourself.

  • Comment number 5.

    Really enjoy watching this program, the first series as well as this one.. but can't get over 'Milla' being absolutely ridiculous with her pseudo-upper-class 'I'm-a-Chelsea-girl-ja' monologue and the way she presents herself? You can only hope for her future patients and colleagues that she stops that charade or she'll never ever be taken seriously or given sufficient respect/authority.. for a moment I thought she was an actress set up to increase the entertainment factor of the program? OH- MY- GOD!

  • Comment number 6.

    Lucy's manner with her patients was tremendous.

  • Comment number 7.

    This comment has been referred for further consideration. Explain.

  • Comment number 8.

    OOh Lucy, you showed the coolest head and the most professionalism in last nights programme. Of course I am your biggest fan for the way you looked after my Mother.
    Judy

  • Comment number 9.

    So glad to see there is a second series as I absolutely loved the first one and their way of showing no matter how much responsibilty your job involves and how high profile it may be, we're all just human and we all once started right at the bottom being just as insecure and unexperienced as a child starting school for the first time in their lives..

    Uni only provides you with the basics and it's only when you've actually left med school that you find out your journey's just started.
    All this can take months, often years, and as Harry Truman once said:
    THE ONLY THINGS WORTH LEARNING ARE THE THINGS YOU LEARN AFTER YOU KNOW IT ALL.. ..

    As for MILLA I thought it was rather entertaining as well and her comments/speech just made me smirk. I'm sure by now she'll have realised that this sort of attitude is not gonna impress anyone - rather the opposite - and she might struggle to earn the trust and respect her job requires.
    Not saying all female doctors should leave their feminality and extravagance by the hospital entrance but unless you wanna be mistaken for a nurse and patronized by your senior/male, you should really learn to embody sovereignty rather than acting like a posh spoiled brat whose sole focus and dedication rotates about fashion, glamour and burlesque.

    Medicine is the most competitive science (vocational field) of all and you learn quickly how important it is to "fit in" and thrive. I can only say "good luck" ;-)

  • Comment number 10.

    this program is awesome i have only seen 2 episodes of series 1 number 1 and 2 but am already an avid watcher i love you all

  • Comment number 11.

    I love this programme, but wonder why the nurses don't help them out a bit more for the benefit of the poor patients!
    Pryia needs to listen to her patient 'it was you she didn't want as you hurt her and failed not 'she was feeling unwell so I won't take it personally etc, tie your long flowing hair up, take your bracelets off, wash your hands and take your gloves off, stop wasting valuable NHS resources and listen and learn from the patient! appalling an SHO won't even help out an FY! and saying do it where you like not the patient- I thought patients were supposed to have choice!! Pryia trying to give and gain informed consent was also horrendous when she doesn't know herself what is going on and 'cut' even the patient talked about 'an incision', so much for her informed consent 'rest assurred whatever they do will be the best for you laproscopic or a cut!! you don't want to wake up and discover you'd like to know what to expect beforehand......or maybe Bollywood should await a new actress!!


    Also in paediatrics the nurse didn't utter a word of reassuration to the poor little boy, and where is the play specialist and distraction- appalling!

    Last week Andy trying to cannulate (or should I have said butcher) the patient he wasn't going have a chance getting those cannualae in at 90 degrees angles!

    Lucy is lovely and so kind to people and Ben seems very nice.

  • Comment number 12.

    Sorry I have to say that but the first series, especially the people/doctors in it, was/were so much better and more likeable, that's for sure.
    As a matter of fact nearly all of the (junior) doctors here seem below standard/average and having watched the first series themselves as well they just seem to enjoy being 'on telly'? Although they feel flattered I'm sure there are quite a few people who've got the same impression as me.
    I'm an FY2 myself and really wonder how some of them got through med school?? E.g. if Milla was one of my colleagues (or had been a fellow student) I'd be tempted to say "wake up girl" Watching her you can't help thinking she's gone into medicine cos it adds to the prestige she strives for;
    My gran's gonna go into 'Chelsea & West' for an operation next month (as she lives in Putney) and no offence but I can only hope none of those 'medics' is gonna be involved in her care;

  • Comment number 13.

    Clearly NURSELONDON is under the same mis-conception as the majority of her current colleagues - that she has a medical degree without actually getting to medical school. Basic proficiency in spelling would help i.e. assurred should be assured, laproscopic is laparoscopic and cannulalae is cannulae. If nurses went back to actually attending to patients rather than sitting round computer screens (and constantly grazing) playing at devising treatments and left the medicine to the qualified true professionals the NHS might just have a chance of delivering worthwhile healthcare.

  • Comment number 14.

    I'm a doctor and I cringe every time I see one of them take blood or cannulate without wearing gloves. Especially not wearing them at an arrest!

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