Tips for a Baby Medic from a Medic Who Didn’t Always Get it Right
“Tips and tricks for young players”, or in this case “young medics”. Even if you are not a medic, I hope you can still add these words to your mental toolbox to help you throughout your career.
Tip 1: You are enough.
Nothing more, nothing less, you are enough. You don’t need to be the best at everything, and you won’t be, but you can be the best version of yourself. The only things you can control is to try your hardest every day, be kind to others, build your support network, always be open to learning new things and make mistakes and forgive yourself for them. This is not a competition, and you, just as you are, are enough (more on tackling Imposter Syndrome and Propelling Forward anyway).
Tip 2: Don’t be influenced by the masses.
It is so incredibly hard to fit in sometimes; you are always trying to prove yourself to a new Unit, a new CoC, a new group of peers. We support so many different activities that we rarely have the privilege of working with the same people twice. This often means that we bend over backwards to fit in, make friends and keep people happy. There is nothing wrong with working hard on professional relationships and making a good impression, just don’t let your moral compass become influenced by your wish to fit in. If it feels wrong in your heart, it’s probably wrong. Stand up, speak out and do the hard, right thing. You will sleep better at night and the people who are worth fitting in with, will respect you for it.
Tip 3: You are allowed to put yourself first.
Service and sacrifice. This is what we are taught as soldiers and even more so as clinicians. The mission comes before you, your mates come before you and the patient comes before you. This can be amazing and rewarding, until your cup is empty and you have nothing left to give. Don’t let yourself burnt out (more on this ‘The 9 Elements to Realistic Self-Care‘). Put yourself first sometimes. It is a true sign of professionalism and maturity to be able to put your hand up and say that you need something for yourself, whether that is leaving your computer to have lunch with friends, taking a Friday off to have a long weekend, saying no to a task because you haven’t seen your family in two months or going to therapy once a week. There will always be times when you are required to make sacrifices, so whenever you have the chance, put yourself first.
Tip 4: Be emotional.
Emotions and empathy are what make us human. We need both emotion and logic combined to make great decisions. Emotions can help us communicate with others in a more meaningful and compassionate way. There are times when it will be really important to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and try to feel what they are feeling. When a subordinate or a patient comes to you with something personal, they don’t always want to hear doctrine or policy, they want to hear you say “Wow, that sounds really, really hard. What can I do for you right now to support you?”
Tip 5: Stop and breathe.
Not everything done quicker, is done better. A sense of urgency and a strong work ethic are admirable traits, but sometimes if we pause, take a breath, gather all the information, look at the options and make an informed plan, the outcome will be worth the wait.
Finally, my last humble piece of advice is a gentle reminder that your friends and peers will be around longer than any CoC. They will be the ones who see you as you truly are and support you through your career. Don’t be that person who only shows up and works hard when you know the eyes of the rank are on you. Don’t be the person who throws their mates under the bus to get ahead. This is not me advising you to embark on a full scale mutiny. Keep your head down, work hard, look after your mates and look after your mental health, and you will be successful in more ways than just on your PAR.