The importance of being organized
When a doctor plans to come to the UK, (s)he is overwhelmed with a list of things to do.
1. Documents for visas for PLAB 2
2. Documents for GMC registration
3. Certificates to be shown during interviews
We then need a "to do list" of things to sort out in here when we
1. Accept our jobs- list of questions to ask HR
2. Apply for our work visas
When we come to the UK we need another to do list for things to sort out before we start working.
It does not end here - actually the piles of documents has just started. You need a to do list for:
1. Documents and certificates for any CPD points you collect during your job.
2. Portfolio stuff - e portfolio or paper based portfolios
3. Making a timetable for post graduate exams
4. Deciding which specialty to go for and what is required to get into a training post.
5. Making a time table for interviews, meeting deadlines for applications, etc.
Similarly, I have made a handover for my ward patients which I keep and update on the ward computer. I have informed all of my team members where it is kept and they also use it regularly. This provides a good handover to a group of doctors who may not know the patients at all when I am not on the ward that day.
Also make your own rota template so that you know at a glance when you are free and also mention if you have any training days on it. Have a look at my rotas here:
My first job in the UK
http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2015/11/my-first-job-in-uk.html
My second job in UK as a core medical trainee http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/my-second-job-in-uk-core-medical.html
Also set reminders for yourself like when your cars MOT and tax are due, when your passport is expiring, etc. Making a chronological list on Evernote with tick boxes is very helpful in this regard.
Everyone has their own way of doing things. But if you are organized from the very first day, you will learn how helpful it is and then try to organize everything and come up with innovative ideas (which can also be used as quality improvement projects when you work in the NHS by using these skills). Keep hard copies (in plastic wallets) as well scanned copies (in your computer) of each document.
1. Documents for visas for PLAB 2
2. Documents for GMC registration
3. Certificates to be shown during interviews
We then need a "to do list" of things to sort out in here when we
1. Accept our jobs- list of questions to ask HR
2. Apply for our work visas
When we come to the UK we need another to do list for things to sort out before we start working.
It does not end here - actually the piles of documents has just started. You need a to do list for:
1. Documents and certificates for any CPD points you collect during your job.
2. Portfolio stuff - e portfolio or paper based portfolios
3. Making a timetable for post graduate exams
4. Deciding which specialty to go for and what is required to get into a training post.
5. Making a time table for interviews, meeting deadlines for applications, etc.
6. Making sure you keep your documents for ILR purposes.
The list of documents is mentioned in this group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/IMGs.in.the.UK/
The list of documents is mentioned in this group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/IMGs.in.the.UK/
In this document:
https://www.facebook.com/notes/international-medical-graduates-imgs-in-the-uk/documents-required-for-ilr/1613050845394617/
There are other documents as well which an international medical graduate needs.
If you start counting all of the aforementioned documents, they easily go into thousands. Here is where a bit of organizational skills come into play.
From day 1, get A4 sized wallets and label them. Here are a few examples:
1. Documents from my first trust (2017)
2. Documents from my first trust (2018)
3. Car documents
4. Accommodation documents
And so on. If you have files for everything in the form of A4 plastic wallets, you will know where all your documents are. Also scan each document and keep it in your computer. It makes things easy when your new trust wants you to email them scanned copies of your originals.
Keep a to do list - on your phone and also in the form of a white board in your house.
I use Evernote (https://evernote.com) - which I find very helpful.
There are other documents as well which an international medical graduate needs.
If you start counting all of the aforementioned documents, they easily go into thousands. Here is where a bit of organizational skills come into play.
From day 1, get A4 sized wallets and label them. Here are a few examples:
1. Documents from my first trust (2017)
2. Documents from my first trust (2018)
3. Car documents
4. Accommodation documents
And so on. If you have files for everything in the form of A4 plastic wallets, you will know where all your documents are. Also scan each document and keep it in your computer. It makes things easy when your new trust wants you to email them scanned copies of your originals.
Keep a to do list - on your phone and also in the form of a white board in your house.
I use Evernote (https://evernote.com) - which I find very helpful.
I use it for grocery lists (I have a list of generic groceries we buy every time and tick whatever is finished in the house - This saves time in the grocery store and I do not miss anything avoiding repeating multiple visits)
The advantage of Evernote is that it is synced with the internet so you can open it on any computer anywhere.
You should also get a white board which you can put on your fridge and make a to do list there for the week, something similar to this -
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnetic-Whiteboard-Flexible-Notice-Board/dp/B0127IZK3O/
Organizational skills are not limited to your personal life but also to your work. It is very difficult to know each and every detail about patients and hence a detailed handover sheet is essential- especially when you are on call.
So I use a handover sheet similar to this which can help:
I have this saved in my work email and I print out a few sheets before I start my on calls. This helps me know the relevant details which I can then handover to the next on call shift.
The advantage of Evernote is that it is synced with the internet so you can open it on any computer anywhere.
You should also get a white board which you can put on your fridge and make a to do list there for the week, something similar to this -
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnetic-Whiteboard-Flexible-Notice-Board/dp/B0127IZK3O/
Organizational skills are not limited to your personal life but also to your work. It is very difficult to know each and every detail about patients and hence a detailed handover sheet is essential- especially when you are on call.
So I use a handover sheet similar to this which can help:
NAME/ HOSP NUMBER / LOCATION
|
Diagnosis
|
Co- morbidities
|
Outstanding investigations
|
There are other examples of handover sheets available here:
https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/guidelines-policy/acute-care-toolkit-1-handover
https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/guidelines-policy/acute-care-toolkit-1-handover
Similarly, I have made a handover for my ward patients which I keep and update on the ward computer. I have informed all of my team members where it is kept and they also use it regularly. This provides a good handover to a group of doctors who may not know the patients at all when I am not on the ward that day.
Also make your own rota template so that you know at a glance when you are free and also mention if you have any training days on it. Have a look at my rotas here:
My first job in the UK
http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2015/11/my-first-job-in-uk.html
My second job in UK as a core medical trainee http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/my-second-job-in-uk-core-medical.html
Also set reminders for yourself like when your cars MOT and tax are due, when your passport is expiring, etc. Making a chronological list on Evernote with tick boxes is very helpful in this regard.
Everyone has their own way of doing things. But if you are organized from the very first day, you will learn how helpful it is and then try to organize everything and come up with innovative ideas (which can also be used as quality improvement projects when you work in the NHS by using these skills). Keep hard copies (in plastic wallets) as well scanned copies (in your computer) of each document.
Living and working in the UK is all about documentation and providing that documentation when required. I hope this blog helps :)
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