Doctor's Compass - HETI

advice from a JMO...the overtime nightmareImagine this:••two patients with chest pains••a young toxicology patient ripping apart the ward••an elderly man with low urine output after massive abdominal surgery••four cannulas••eight med charts to be re-written••and your dinner still sitting in the microwave!my advice••Prioritise! Some things can wait.••Find out as much information as possible.••Delegate the work — ask nursing staff to help with (for example)getting notes or doing an ECG.••Know your limits, and who and how to call for back-up.••Follow up on patients and get feedback.••Have a system for effective handover.••Speak out early if you feel unsupported by the registrar. Documentthe guidance offered by the registrar — or the lack of it!18 The Doctor’s Compass