Starting FY1 has been one of the biggest transitions of my life — moving to a completely new location I’ve never been to before, being called Doctor everyday, and having difficult conversations with patients have really given me a reality check of the real responsibilities I have now.
Nothing quite prepares you for that jump.
My first month has been full of steep learning curves, busy wards, and more bleeps than I thought. But it’s also been one of the most rewarding months of my life so far.
Here are the five biggest lessons I’ve learned in my first month as a junior doctor.
Time Management Is Crucial
No matter how long the ward round runs or how chaotic the shift gets, the jobs pile up quickly.
I’ve learned that keeping a running task list, prioritising things that matter, and accepting that I won’t always get everything done helped me manage my time effectively and get jobs done safely.
An example of this was when I had to write two new prescriptions, review a patient’s blood test results and attend to a patient who I saw fall around 10 feet in front of me on the ward. This all happened within half a minute of each other, while I was the only doctor available on the ward. I quickly had to prioritise what I had to do based on the urgent/important matrix I memorised during my induction.
Based on this, I quickly assessed and treated the patient who fell first, reviewed the test results after and wrote the prescriptions last. Prioritising in this way saved me time, kept me focused and helped me do the jobs safely.
Asking for Help Is a Strength, Not a Weakness
As a student, I sometimes thought that asking too many questions would make me look unprepared. As a doctor, I’ve realised the opposite is true: nobody expects you to know everything, and recognising your limits is part of being safe.
The first time I got bleeped to see a seriously unwell patient, I did not know what investigations to do or what treatments to give. I initially was conflicted and concerned as I did not want to make the situation worse that it already was. So, I stabilised the patient as best as I could, asked the nurse to monitor them and called a senior immediately for a second opinion.
At first, I thought my senior would grill me for my lack of knowledge in managing this. Instead, they thanked me for calling, reassured me I did well and we caught something important before it became critical. After we agreed on a plan to manage this, I quickly acted on it and the patient got better.
I realised that knowing my limits and calling someone when I’m not sure was not only safer for the patient but respected among my peers. It’s ok to not know everything, and being aware of what I can and can’t do can make the biggest difference.
Communication with Your Team Makes or Breaks Your Day
I’ve learned that good communication is the glue that holds a team together. Clear notes, concise handovers, and keeping patients (and families) updated all make a massive difference. Poor communication, on the other hand, creates double work and missed details.
My best days were when the whole team is in sync — when jobs are delegated clearly, updates are shared, and everyone is on the same page. It makes the ward round smoother, the workload lighter, and the patients better cared for.
Small Habits Keep You Going
It sounds simple, but remembering to eat, drink water, and take five minutes to reset can change your entire shift. On days when I powered through without having a breather, I hit a wall early in the shift. On days when I made time for small breaks, I was sharper and calmer, even when things got hectic.
It’s easy to feel like you “don’t have time,” but those tiny acts of self-care are what keep you performing. Quick resets – a granola bar in your pocket, 2 minutes of fresh air or even a bathroom break to pause can give you the fuel you need to endure your shifts.
Experience Is The Greatest Teacher
The first week felt overwhelming — every task took me twice as long, every decision felt monumental. But by the end of the month, I realised how much I’d already grown. Documenting my findings became quicker, chasing investigations felt routine, and recognising unwell patients came more naturally.
Imposter syndrome is real, but so is progress. You might not notice it day by day, but when you look back at the end of the month, the difference is huge.
Final Thoughts
One month in, I’m starting to see that FY1 isn’t about being perfect — it’s about growing a little each day, leaning on your team, and remembering you’re human too. The pace is relentless, but so is the learning.
If this is just the first month, I can only imagine how much more there is to come in the year ahead.
Dr Anthony Annan 