Janos Baombe shares experience-based suggestions for preparing for night shifts, coping during them and recovering afterwards. The post covers sleep, food, caffeine, breaks, team interactions and getting home safely, while recognising that clinicians need to find an approach that fits their own circumstances.
Tips on how to prepare and survive your night shifts Read More
How can emergency and critical care teams support families facing tragedy at Christmas while caring for themselves? Liz Crowe explores acknowledging grief, responding to the contrast with celebrations at home and helping colleagues make the transition between work and family life, with an accompanying podcast.
Grief at Christmas. Liz Crowe at St.Emlyn’s Read More
A personal reflection on looking after yourself during a career in emergency medicine. Janos Baombe shares ideas about rest, relationships, emotions, interests outside work and asking for help, explicitly presenting them as lessons from experience rather than an evidence-based mental health treatment guide.
Tips on how to look after your OWN mental health Read More
Rich Carden uses Star Wars and Robert Cialdini’s principles of persuasion to explore everyday interactions in emergency medicine. The reflection connects reciprocity, consistency, social proof, liking, authority and scarcity with referrals, teamwork and diagnostic bias, encouraging awareness of psychological influences rather than manipulation of patients or colleagues.
Obi Wan’s Guide to Emergency Medicine. Rich Carden at St.Emlyn’s Read More
What are you actually trying to achieve in your career, and does your daily work move you towards it? This reflection applies Stephen Covey’s second habit to medicine, exploring personal and team mission statements, competing priorities and leadership guided by principles.
Stephen Covey and medical leadership part 2: Begin with the end in mind Read More
Inspired by a speech from Australian Army chief David Morrison, Iain Beardsell asks what it means to uphold shared values in the NHS. He reflects on everyday standards, humiliation of colleagues and the personal responsibility to challenge behaviour that undermines a supportive working culture.
Making a Difference – Do you walk past? Read More
The opening instalment of a medical leadership series draws on Stephen Covey’s advice to be proactive. It explores focusing effort on what we can influence, responding to difficult situations according to our values and taking responsibility for how we work with patients and colleagues.
Leadership pearls from Stephen Covey part 1: Be proactive Read More
Natalie May reflects on feeling like an impostor while speaking at SMACC Gold in 2014. Her account explores the pressure of teaching people whose opinions matter deeply, the support of the FOAM community and finding value in a contribution despite persistent self-doubt.
Who’s That Girl? Impostor Syndrome at #SMACCGold Read More
