Top Tips for Foundation Doctors: A Post-FY2 Reflection

As I sit here, typing this article, I can’t help but look at the date – the last month of my foundation training as a resident doctor. It’s difficult to comprehend how 2 years have passed by. Not just because it’s gone quickly, but because at times I wondered if it would ever end. That’s the honest truth. Not to say it’s all been bad, but undoubtedly it’s been challenging. I’ve had my fair share of ups (like seeing patients leave ICU, successfully doing spinals) and downs (losing patients on a night shift and breaking the news to family.)

And this was to be expected. It’s a huge transition; to go from ‘medical student’ to ‘resident doctor on call.’ Yet still, nothing can quite prepare you for it; the long nights, busy shifts and chaotic ward rounds can be overwhelming. I can only describe foundation training as an adaptation period.

Now having come out the other end, I ask myself, how can I advise the next set of resident doctors?

So, after much contemplation, I present to you my top 3 tips for foundation training.

✨Be the colleague you want to work with

You’re an FY1, 3 months deep into a surgical rotation. Slowly, the cynicism and lack of sleep seep in and you become flat, disengaged. On ward rounds, you trail behind your consultant, frantically typing (or scribbling) and you begin to question your purpose; are you here to be a doctor or a glorified scribe, purely here for service provision?

It’s easy to fall into this mentality. I’ve been there.

When you first joined, you were bright, curious, and unspoiled. You would walk into work with enthusiasm and people respond in kind. Positivity is infectious. And a little goes a long way. Say hello to the cleaners, ask the nurses how their weekend was, and remind your colleagues to take their break. It makes the work environment a better place to be.

Even in the rotations that feel ‘bad,’ there is always something to learn. The attitude you bring to work shapes your experiences. Learning to drown out negativity helps you grow, not just survive.

It may sound so simple, but when you’re in the trenches, it can be difficult to remember.

🤪Ask ‘Silly’ Questions

I used to call myself a “silly little FY1” to my colleagues. A bit controversial, yes, but it served a purpose. It was my first rotation, and I felt out of my depth. It reminded my seniors to cut me some slack – to give me some extra support and guidance. And they get it, they were in your shoes once upon a time. You’re not expected to know everything. This helped me to build the confidence to ask ‘silly’ questions.

And what I discovered was shocking. Whilst I spent 30 minutes flapping over which type of insulin to give a patient, my seniors could help answer my question in 2 minutes. Now, I’m not saying don’t use any clinical knowledge. You have 5 years of medical training behind you, use it. But when doubt begins to creep in, ask for help. Be a safe medic, over trying to prove you know everything.

💡There is no such thing as a silly question

As a resident doctor, you work in a team, and the weight of patient safety should be shared amongst everyone. The responsibility is not solely on you. Look at guidelines, ask colleagues, and if all else fails, document everything. This is gospel.

☕Enjoy life beyond the hospital

In this job, you will see the highs and lows of people’s lives; it’s a privilege but it can be a lot to process. Add in the hectic rota and the risk of burnout is real. As cliche as it is, you need to look after yourself in order to look after your patients.

Create your support system. Speak to peers, bond over the trauma and laugh at the crazy situations you’ve found yourself in on the wards. Know that you’re not alone. Speak to friends and family, let them in and let them help you if you need it.

💡Remember, there is more to life than medicine. There is more to you than being a doctor.

Cultivate your interests outside of being a doctor and you may find you reap the rewards of it whilst working. Different experiences bring different skills, which can be transferable to being a medic, and of course it’s worth mentioning that a good work-life balance also helps to prevent burnout.

Take it from me, I went on multiple holidays during FY1 to avoid burnout (or at least that’s what I’ve been telling myself!) and it gave me (1) something to look forward to, and (2) also enriched my overall experience of being (and enjoying the salary of) an FY1 too.

Rest doesn’t always have to mean doing more. It’s easy to fill your days off with travel, plans, and productivity, but sometimes that can add to burnout rather than relieve it. Protect space to do nothing – to sleep, reset, and simply exist!

Lastly, be kind to yourself. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed at times. So take a moment, learn to recognise the signs of burnout, how to overcome them, and take it one day at a time.

Two years ago, I walked onto the ward feeling overwhelmed and unsure. Today, I’m still learning but I’m standing a little taller. And you will too.

Foundation training doesn’t just shape you as a doctor; it shapes you as a person. Be patient with yourself. You’re growing, even when you can’t see it. You’re doing better than you think.

📚Resources

And for when you need a little helping hand, here are some resources you can utilise:

Wellbeing:

BMA Counselling and peer support services -Speak to someone, 24/7.

Join the Doctors’ Mess in your hospital! Especially as a foundation doctor, it’s a great way to meet others in your year and more senior colleagues who can offer practical advice and support. Most messes also have a committee that runs socials, helping you build connections outside of work. As you progress, you can even get involved in the committee and help support future cohorts.

Career Development & Exploration

Study leave. All foundation doctors are entitled to study leave and a study budget. You can use this for courses, conferences, and extracurricular activities that support your professional development, with costs reimbursed by your deanery (subject to approval). To get started, speak to your Educational Supervisor or Foundation Programme Administrator, and apply through your trust’s study leave process.

Taster days. If you don’t get a rotation you enjoy in F1 or F2, you can arrange taster days to explore other specialties or even experience a different hospital or trust. Get started here.

On shift

Accurx App – A must-have. Keep contact numbers for colleagues across the hospital at your fingertips.

MDCalc App – Quickly calculate clinical scores (e.g. the Wells score) to support decision-making.

Foundation App – Essential for night shifts. Covers common presentations and guides you through management from a foundation doctor’s perspective.