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Diary of a Junior Doctor

If you're thinking about becoming a doctor, it's helpful to have an idea of what your day-to-day life would be like. One of our recent graduates gives a glimpse into his working week.
Find out more about our MB ChB programme

Dr Joseph Sinnott graduated from WMS in 2012 and is currently working at a large hospital in the West Midlands.
Dr Joseph Sinnott
Weekday 1:

On the Ward by 8:30am to prepare the consultant ward round. The morning is spent with the consultant and team seeing patients.

The afternoon is spent doing jobs from the ward round such as ordering x-rays, chasing or making referrals to other specialities, speaking to patients and their families about procedures and results and dealing with acute medical problems on your ward.

Leave hospital around 6.00pm; possibly fit in a gym session if not too tired.

Weekday 2:

Pretty much the same as Monday.

Speaking to patients and families can be difficult, especially when people are scared or angry. Communication is a big part of being a junior doctor. There are multiple tasks that need to be prioritised.

A morning or afternoon a week may be spent in a team meeting where you’ll be expected to present patient cases.

Weekend / Night on call:

These are often the most stressful. For instance you may be one of only two junior doctors covering all the medical wards in a district general hospital.

This is actually less scary than it sounds because there are seniors you can call if patients are very unwell. However, you are called from opposite ends of the hospital every five minutes and the patients, nurses and environment is unfamiliar. It gets very busy.

It’s important to know one’s limits and communication to seniors is vital.

Bad day:

Get to ward early but a patient has had a fall. Thankfully you see the patient and they are fine but it means you start the ward round 10 minutes late and completely disorganised.

Investigations you ordered have not been done. As with most junior doctors blame seems to be on you. During the afternoon you are taking blood, reviewing un-well patients and talking to irate relatives. Less urgent jobs keep getting pushed back. Nurses are hounding you to write discharge letters. The pathology lab calls to say that the blood you spent 30 minutes getting from a difficult patient who hates needles was clotted so you have to do it again.

Leave two and a half hours late. #Stressful.

Good day:

Get the ward early, welcomed by the rest of the multidisciplinary team. Praised on the ward round for the hard work you have put in, for your organisational prowess and for the minor diagnosis you made which was earlier missed.

At lunchtime there is an hour of teaching on a subject you find particularly interesting and you have a chance to catch up with friends a little. Spend the afternoon carrying out interesting investigations and implementing effective management plans.

Before going home, you’re thanked by one of your patients as they walk out of hospital after a complete recovery. #fewandfarbetween.