Rebuilding your confidence when things go wrong

It can feel devastating when things go wrong at any stage of your career. Dr Laura Hulmes discusses her experience and how she began to rebuild her...

Also in Spring 2022

Feature

Achieving a healthy work-life balance

Amana Qayum, a fourth-year from Manchester, on the importance of rest, hobbies and a social life throughout medical school.

In focus

OSCEs - not just about picking up clinical signs

What’s missing from your OSCEs prep? Dr Laura White shares her secret to successfully completing the OSCEs.

Ethical issues

How to say sorry

Sorry really can be hard to say. Dr Catherine Wills considers what makes a genuine apology.

Feature

Five tips for first-year medical students

Your first year at medical school comes with newfound freedom – and the pressure to get it right. Third-year Ian Soh looks back at his time as a...

Read the issue in full

FY1 membership

Join the MDU for FY1 membership and half of your subscription will be donated to the Doctors' Support Network and Royal Medical Benevolent Fund.

How joining the MDU can help support your fellow doctors

Get ready for practice

Feature

You're not the only one anxious about starting FY1

In fact, research confirms this. Dr Clare van Hamel has researched the anxiety and preparedness of newly qualified doctors for several years. She shares her top tips to help prepare for practice.

Career

Ethical issues

What should I do if a patient refuses treatment that could save their life?

When a patient takes an overdose and refuses treatment, the attending FY1 doctor calls the MDU for advice.

Consent

Ethical issues

Am I self-medicating with alcohol?

One foundation doctor calls the MDU after fatigue almost leads them to make a dangerous mistake.

Health and wellbeing Career

Most viewed articles

Feature

Make the most of your shadowing placement

Getting ready for your first few days on the wards as a foundation doctor? Dr Ellie Mein offers her advice on what to look for, do and ask on your shadowing placement – so you can feel cool and confident on 1 August.

Career Communication

Student dilemma

A consent dilemma

Taking blood from a patient poses a consent issue for a medical student on placement. Dr Carol Chu discusses the scenario.

Consent

Feature

What is remediation?

You've been going through a tough period and have had concerns raised about you, leading to a university investigation. How can you prove you're taking the right steps to get back on track? Dr Christine Bradford looks at the process of remediation.

GMC

Social media for medical professionals

Student dilemma

Social media backlash – what should you do?

It’s important to consider the pros and cons when posting content online as a medical professional.

Communication

Student dilemma

Should you respond to fake news stories on social media?

Coronavirus conspiracy theories are on the rise on social media. Should medical students respond to them?

Coronavirus Communication Confidentiality

Ethical issues

Is it ok to share personal opinions on social media?

Social media is becoming more prevalent in the lives of medical professionals. Dr Sally Old shares tips on communicating online without falling foul of the rules.

Media Confidentiality

Spring 2022