đź‘‹ Welcome to the job
From Dr Vishnu Menon, Senior Clinical Lead at Accurx - and a not-so-distant new doctor myself
Your first week as a resident doctor is a wild combination of responsibility, adrenaline, admin, and patient care. You won’t have all the answers (you’re not supposed to). But there are things that can make it easier. Here’s what I wish someone handed me on “Day One”:
- Speak early. Speak often.
Introduce yourself to the nurse in charge. Ask the pharmacist a question. Let your reg know what you’ve seen or done. The worst days happen when communication goes missing, not when knowledge does.
- Safety > Speed.
Even if your list is long, never rush at the expense of being safe. Double-check the drug chart. Escalate early. Use SBAR. Nobody minds slowness when it’s keeping someone well. Your colleagues will expect to get a few more referrals and escalations in the first month of changeover, it’s always better to escalate when you aren’t sure.
- Use the team.
Healthcare isn’t solo work. The HCA who’s seen hundreds of confused patients, the physio who knows who’s safe to discharge, they’re your eyes and ears. Ask, listen, thank them.
- You won’t finish the jobs list - and that’s fine.
Your job isn’t to complete everything. It’s to hand over well, manage risk, and protect your time and wellbeing too.
- You can’t care for others if you don’t care for yourself.
Eat. Hydrate. Take your break. Patients need you sharp, not shattered and it’s okay to ask for help.
- Back your corner
Yes, you’re new, but you’re still a doctor! You’ve worked hard to get where you are. While it’s important to learn, remember that you’re also still allowed and encouraged to advocate for your patients and make decisions you feel comfortable with.
- Remember to enjoy it!
There are unique privileges that come with being a doctor. You’ll get to experience making someone really sick much better with your treatment. You’ll have the chance to tell families and love ones that their relative is coming home. You’ll have some great catches and make some good calls. It’s easy to focus on the stuff that we would have done differently - but make a conscious effort to remember the good moments too.
📲 Apps & tools that genuinely make life easier
These aren’t just convenient - they’ll keep you safe, make you faster, and stop rework later down the line.
Accurx App (formerly Switch / Induction)
Your digital toolkit - already used by thousands of NHS doctors every day.
Hospital Directory: Find the bleep number, extension, or on-call service you need without hunting.
Secure Messaging: Need to update a GP after discharge? Or chase a patient’s bloods? Send messages directly from your phone - safely.
Accurx Scribe: When your bleep keeps going off and you’re running between patients without time to write up every review, have all your notes ready and waiting when you get some breathing room! A game-changer for on-calls, clinics, ward rounds, and community care. Dictate or transcribe in real-time, and generate clean summaries, notes, or letters. The future of clinical documentation is ambient and AI-assisted - this gets you ahead of the curve, today.
Download using the links for iOS and Android, or via the QRÂ codes below!
BNF App
Quick access to prescribing info, dosing, interactions, and renal adjustments.
Essential for TTOs, fluids, and when you’re not sure if that’s the right dose of gentamicin.
MDCalc
Reliable calculators for Wells, CHAâ‚‚DSâ‚‚-VASc, Rockall, HAS-BLED, CURB-65 and more.
No more guessing scores in front of your reg, just plug it in and go.
MicroGuide/Local equivalent for antimicrobials
Local trust antibiotic policies and clinical guidance, including escalation plans and COVID workflows.
Used daily for sepsis, cellulitis, or when choosing IV vs oral cover.
NHS Authenticator + Mail App
Mandatory for accessing hospital systems like EPR, ICE, results, and referral portals.
Without these, you’re locked out  - literally. Set them up before “Day One” if you can.
Calculator + Stopwatch App
You’ll use these more than you think - from fluid rates to paracetamol dose timing
Underrated essentials - don't delete them when clearing your home screen.
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đź’ One final thing
You’ve worked hard to get here. Now you’re part of a bigger system - one that works best when you ask, collaborate, and stay calm under pressure. Every F1 feels out of their depth at some point (even if they don’t show it). You’re not alone, and you’re not expected to be perfect.
So take breaks. Say thank you. Use the tools. Speak up. Be kind to yourself.
And if something feels clunky, inefficient, or just plain broken - don’t just accept it. That feeling is where better care begins. That’s why we built Accurx.
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