How closely does our view of our own performance match what colleagues and patients see? Introducing his SMACC talk, Simon Carley reflects on impostor feelings, the limits of self-assessment and why honest feedback and reflection matter for becoming better clinicians and educators.
When does confidence in the emergency department become overconfidence? Prompted by personal feedback, this reflection explores diagnostic uncertainty, missed opportunities to learn from patient outcomes and practical ways to seek advice, follow up decisions and invite honest feedback from colleagues.
Robert Lloyd reflects on three months working in South Africa and the effect of acute stress on his clinical performance. He describes how repeated practice, mental rehearsal, preparation, self-talk and breathing helped him cope, then considers how simulation might prepare others for pressure.
Can clinicians be both assertive and respectful? Natalie May challenges the gendered labels applied to women in emergency medicine, explores the harm of polarised assumptions and argues for mutual respect and a shared commitment to patient care when colleagues disagree.
Why does a diagnosis seem to appear everywhere just after we learn about it? This exploration of the Baader–Meinhof phenomenon connects selective attention and confirmation bias with history-taking and investigation, asking clinicians to test alternative explanations and seek another perspective when needed.
How can emergency clinicians protect their sleep around night shifts? This 2015 discussion explores the sleeping environment, preparation and recovery, breaks during a shift and the risks of travelling home tired, encouraging readers to reflect on how fatigue affects their health and performance.
Practical perspectives on trauma care and team leadership.
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