My advice to doctors who worry unnecessarily
Please note that this blog post does not intend to demoralize or offend anybody.
I have noticed a lot of doctors asking questions on forums despite everything mentioned clearly in the form of official guidelines and blogs. They are reassured by multiple people yet they are still not convinced. Quite often, I am messaged later on and give them further reassurance.
This is how the conversation usually starts:
I am really worried about my visa. I applied one week ago and have not heard back from them.
I have heard that doctors do not get jobs in the UK
I have heard that PLAB is very hard
I am worried I would be deported
I accepted a job one week ago but my certificate of sponsorship is not back. I am very worried.
This is my response:
Kindly do not worry. Please read these blogs in detail:
https://naseersjourney.com
http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.co.uk
https://naseersjourney.com/useful-links/
I have read these blogs and I am still worried.
I am still worried.
Kindly focus your time and energy on something more useful. Like studying for an exam, working on your CV, etc.
Now why is this important?
People who tend to get stressed by small things find it very difficult to settle in the UK. Working here is not a bed of roses and we all struggle initially as we do not know the system and we are out of our comfort zone (ie away from home).
All of us have different ways to cope - Those people who are bit confident understand these problems as they focus their attention on important things. Therefore they have a solution in their mind already.
They know that in order to settle in the NHS they need to make an effort and do a bit of research themselves. They read blogs and guidelines, search for information on Google and prepare themselves for what is to come. They know what to do and manage to settle well.
Here is an example. A confident international medical graduate would know that in order to settle well in the NHS, (s)he needs to go a bit early, be on friendly terms with nursing staff and colleagues, be outspoken and help everyone around him/her as mentioned in other posts in this blog and Facebook groups.
(S)he would settle well quicker and then focus on his/her career progression. Within 6 months, (s)he will be fully immersed in the system and be as good and confident as his/her UK graduate colleagues.
An anxiety prone international medical graduate would worry so much about what to do when (s)he comes to the UK (despite having access to guidelines on this blog, Facebook groups and Google) that (s)he will not be able to settle well. Here are some examples:
People do not talk to me.
I do not know what the terms used in the ward round mean
I do not understand how the system works.
I assure them that they should read my other posts on this blog to see what they need to do to settle in. They are so worried that are not able to absorb the information like a normal confident person would do - As a result they enter this vicious cycle in which they keep worrying, do not bother listening to or reading advice, prefer absorbing negative advice and negative comments on Facebook groups about how miserable other people are in the NHS and drown themselves into a constant state of anxiety and depression.
Eventually after a few months, they realize what they have been doing when some consultant or registrar sits down with them and explains everything to them again (which has been explained to them in these blogs, other guidelines and websites ). Some manage to pull themselves out of it and turn a new leaf- They work on themselves and focus on their career progression instead of that "person who did not smile when (s)he said Good morning"
Others tend to remain depressed and then make decisions which worsens their state even more. They become bitter and then start misguiding other people as well.
So what is the solution then?
It is very simple- Start working on yourself now. Stop worrying about unnecessary things and focus on your career progression.
This can be done at every stage.
I have noticed a lot of doctors asking questions on forums despite everything mentioned clearly in the form of official guidelines and blogs. They are reassured by multiple people yet they are still not convinced. Quite often, I am messaged later on and give them further reassurance.
This is how the conversation usually starts:
I am really worried about my visa. I applied one week ago and have not heard back from them.
I have heard that doctors do not get jobs in the UK
I have heard that PLAB is very hard
I am worried I would be deported
I accepted a job one week ago but my certificate of sponsorship is not back. I am very worried.
This is my response:
Kindly do not worry. Please read these blogs in detail:
https://naseersjourney.com
http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.co.uk
https://naseersjourney.com/useful-links/
I have read these blogs and I am still worried.
So I reassure them again which everyone has already done on their post on one of the Facebook groups.
I am still worried.
Kindly focus your time and energy on something more useful. Like studying for an exam, working on your CV, etc.
Now why is this important?
People who tend to get stressed by small things find it very difficult to settle in the UK. Working here is not a bed of roses and we all struggle initially as we do not know the system and we are out of our comfort zone (ie away from home).
All of us have different ways to cope - Those people who are bit confident understand these problems as they focus their attention on important things. Therefore they have a solution in their mind already.
They know that in order to settle in the NHS they need to make an effort and do a bit of research themselves. They read blogs and guidelines, search for information on Google and prepare themselves for what is to come. They know what to do and manage to settle well.
Here is an example. A confident international medical graduate would know that in order to settle well in the NHS, (s)he needs to go a bit early, be on friendly terms with nursing staff and colleagues, be outspoken and help everyone around him/her as mentioned in other posts in this blog and Facebook groups.
(S)he would settle well quicker and then focus on his/her career progression. Within 6 months, (s)he will be fully immersed in the system and be as good and confident as his/her UK graduate colleagues.
An anxiety prone international medical graduate would worry so much about what to do when (s)he comes to the UK (despite having access to guidelines on this blog, Facebook groups and Google) that (s)he will not be able to settle well. Here are some examples:
People do not talk to me.
I do not know what the terms used in the ward round mean
I do not understand how the system works.
I assure them that they should read my other posts on this blog to see what they need to do to settle in. They are so worried that are not able to absorb the information like a normal confident person would do - As a result they enter this vicious cycle in which they keep worrying, do not bother listening to or reading advice, prefer absorbing negative advice and negative comments on Facebook groups about how miserable other people are in the NHS and drown themselves into a constant state of anxiety and depression.
Eventually after a few months, they realize what they have been doing when some consultant or registrar sits down with them and explains everything to them again (which has been explained to them in these blogs, other guidelines and websites ). Some manage to pull themselves out of it and turn a new leaf- They work on themselves and focus on their career progression instead of that "person who did not smile when (s)he said Good morning"
Others tend to remain depressed and then make decisions which worsens their state even more. They become bitter and then start misguiding other people as well.
So what is the solution then?
It is very simple- Start working on yourself now. Stop worrying about unnecessary things and focus on your career progression.
This can be done at every stage.
Read the aforementioned blogs
Learn how to look for information:
https://naseersjourney.com/2017/07/05/how-to-find-information/
You will be amazed by how much information about the UK is online. Nowadays it is very expensive to provide face to face counselling to medical students and young doctors therefore all the information is online on official websites.
So follow this blog and other blogs mentioned above to learn about my colleagues and my experience and what our advice is, read official guidelines and then make your own plan.
Kindly do not worry about minor things like "how will I manage in the UK", "I have applied for my visa 24 hours ago- when will I get it, I am sure my visa will be rejected",etc.
So the bottom line is to start working on your anxiety prone personality from today. This does not change overnight. However with constant self-assurance you will be fine by the time you start work in the NHS and will be able to progress in your career smoothly.
Remember - this is easier said than done. But it is possible. If you overcome your anxieties, you will progress in your career quicker. You will enjoy life more as well. Rather than worrying about when your work visa will arrive, you can actually travel around in your home country and relax before starting your career - It will be a good break. Or you could start preparing for a post graduate exam. Or guide medical students and colleagues on the pathway of getting a job in the UK which will help so many people. You will start feeling good about this as well and then staying positive will become a habit which you can then spread.
Please note that this post does not intend to offend anyone. I just felt that this post was needed and some people might benefit from this and change their attitude towards life.
Learn how to look for information:
https://naseersjourney.com/2017/07/05/how-to-find-information/
You will be amazed by how much information about the UK is online. Nowadays it is very expensive to provide face to face counselling to medical students and young doctors therefore all the information is online on official websites.
So follow this blog and other blogs mentioned above to learn about my colleagues and my experience and what our advice is, read official guidelines and then make your own plan.
Kindly do not worry about minor things like "how will I manage in the UK", "I have applied for my visa 24 hours ago- when will I get it, I am sure my visa will be rejected",etc.
So the bottom line is to start working on your anxiety prone personality from today. This does not change overnight. However with constant self-assurance you will be fine by the time you start work in the NHS and will be able to progress in your career smoothly.
Remember - this is easier said than done. But it is possible. If you overcome your anxieties, you will progress in your career quicker. You will enjoy life more as well. Rather than worrying about when your work visa will arrive, you can actually travel around in your home country and relax before starting your career - It will be a good break. Or you could start preparing for a post graduate exam. Or guide medical students and colleagues on the pathway of getting a job in the UK which will help so many people. You will start feeling good about this as well and then staying positive will become a habit which you can then spread.
Please note that this post does not intend to offend anyone. I just felt that this post was needed and some people might benefit from this and change their attitude towards life.
PS: I was a worrywart myself. However with time and experience I learnt that it is not worth worrying about things which I cannot change. Now I am a different person.
So if I could do it, so can you.
So if I could do it, so can you.
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