So you've passed all your exams. Finished the degree you started three years ago and are now ready to be let loose into the real world. What are your next steps?
This can be understandably daunting, given how safe and protective the university can be during your formal training years. However, when you're working either in private practice or the NHS who can you turn to when you're unsure about something or second-guess yourself because you're lacking in clinical experience?
At University, if you were unsure about something, you could easily ask your lecturer for reassurance or guidance and felt it was safe to do so. As a professional, asking for help seems to be met with some form of resistance (yes forums, I'm looking at you and I'm scowling) and/or disgust (still scowling)
Public forums can be a great resource or you could be ripped to shreds for asking a seemingly 'stupid' question. This can be tough, even more so if you're self-esteem is already low. However, we rarely consider the person on the other end of the screen and why would we? We are keyboard warriors and consideration for another human being that isn't paying us for treatment is for chickens! Or so I'm told.
What's your next step? Sure you can turn to those expensive medical textbooks you've collected over the years and you bloody should! Those tomes were not cheap, so it makes complete sense to refer to a textbook in times of uncertainty. It might even help build up your confidence.
But consider a third option: you can acquire a mentor...
But Ektaa, you ask, how does one acquire said mentor?
Great question, laptop screen! You can reach out to potential mentors on Linked In, or Facebook if you're not an avid LI user. Shame on you, LI is fabulous for networking and connecting with inspirational people, so get cracking!
There are some basic fundamental questions you need to ask yourself before you entrust someone to guide you while you build up clinical experience. The following are some general ones I've used myself and can safely say they've helped me dodge a few bullets.
1) How do you feel around that person? Sounds silly but, do you feel anxious, nervous or on edge around a person you're looking up to as a mentor? Dismissing your gut instincts as folly or 'just anxiety' will cost you in the long run. Trust your gut!
2) How are they in their approach to teaching you? Ask a 'silly' question and see how they respond. It's a bit mean, but it is useful when looking for a mentor, ideally, you're trying to find someone who will build you up. I've been guilty of this before, a first-year student asked for my help with understanding a topic and I became quite frustrated when they simply weren't getting it. I realised that I was the problem, not the student, and needed to change my teaching style. Lesson learned.
3) Do they take accountability? Can they apologise? It's always interesting to hear how someone talks about others. Can they recognise (reasonably) where they went wrong or how they contributed to a misunderstanding? Or are they constantly casting blame outwards? Or casting too much blame inwards? Either extreme can be unhealthy.
4) Ask yourself, how can this person challenge me and push me forward? As a mentee be prepared to be challenged and not to know all the answers. That's part of the process!
These are very simple yet profound questions you need to be asking yourself when looking for a mentor. In my experience, podiatrists or podiatric surgeons are eager to teach and mentor the next generation, in that we are very lucky as a profession. So pick a field you ideally see yourself specialising in and reach out to someone killing it in that field!
- Ektaa Vadgama
Do these tips encourage you to find a mentor?
Yes
No
Maybe
Comments