Dear Me- A Letter to my self by Darshana Bhattarcharjee
Dear Dr Bhattacharjee, ST2 Paediatrics…
Hi there! Looks like you’re 3 months into your tertiary neonatal SHO post (or “ST2” in new money, what with the whirlwind of MMC having just been and gone). I think you’re grateful you managed to get a training job, given that many of your friends and even your long-term boyfriend weren’t as fortunate to have gotten onto a training programme. However, you’re seriously tired and overworked with ridiculous shift patterns already, and to top it off you’re studying for your Part 2 MRCPCH written paper, which are making the days very dark indeed. You seem to be overwhelmed with guilt at not enjoying this “hallowed” training experience. Let me try and offer some glimpses into the future to reassure you that what you are doing is indeed worthwhile…
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Even though it feels hellish, this is one of the best neonatal jobs you will ever do in your career as a paediatrician. It will give you heaps of experience on rare neonatal surgical conditions, and teach you a load of tricky practical skills you will need as a registrar. Trust me, you won’t have to go through this baptism of fire again.
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You will massively appreciate the quieter jobs you have after this one; so much so that in your next post in community paediatrics (in the summer, no less), you will pass your clinical exam first time because you will know how to use your free time effectively. Score!
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You will never have to do 7 nights in a row again.
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Plus, after this job, the number of baby checks you do in one day will drop dramatically.
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That’s because you will go on to do a variety of different and interesting jobs within (and outside of) paediatrics because you were brave enough to speak up when you were really unhappy and struggling as a paediatrician, and didn’t just put it down to the busyness of the job. You KNOW what a busy job is.
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You don’t have to become a neonatologist…
So hang in there!
Love from,
Dr Bhattacharjee, ST8 (+2.5 years out) Paediatrics
Dr Darshana Bhattacharjee
