Your first weeks on the wards

• Expect a rota with days, evenings, nights and weekends.
• Handover is a safety step: be clear and brief.
• Escalate early. Seniors would rather be called than surprised.
• Keep your e-portfolio up to date from week one.

Small habits that help

• Carry a notebook or approved tool for jobs.
• Introduce yourself to nurses, pharmacists and porters. Teams run on relationships.
• Eat, drink and take breaks. Safe doctors are rested doctors.
• Write clear notes with date, time, name and signature.

This page is general education, reviewed 27 October 2026. Rules, fees and dates change: always confirm with the official sources below. It is not medical, legal or immigration advice.