How do I prepare to return to work?
All working Mums will admit to sitting at some point on the spectrum between ‘Desperate to return to work” and “Wish I could stay at home forever”. I found that I swung up and down this spectrum on an hour by hour basis!
Most of us will be somewhere in the middle but, one thing is certain, every Medical Professional will be nervous about returning to work after a long period of absence.
Clinical skills, working knowledge and reflex responses can become blunted during prolonged absence from work and returning Doctors often report a loss of confidence.
Whether this skill loss is actual or perceived, it can cause significant stress to the individual and affect patient care.
In a recent survey of trainees returning from Maternity leave in The Midlands, less than 50% felt prepared for their return to work. Although a structured ‘return to work’ programme would be ideal, the numbers of Professionals returning from maternity leave and other forms of extended leave mean that this would not be practical and service provision would suffer.
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges guidance advises assessment of the returning individuals needs through consideration of length of time off, reason for absence and grade of training. Aiming to identify individual needs and address learning objectives. This guidance also encourages the individual to take responsibility for their safe return to practice.
So how can we, as the individual returning to work, ensure we are ‘up to scratch’.
Find great childcare….Early!
In order to concentrate at work 100%, and enjoy it, you must be happy with who you leave your children with. Do your research early and visit lots of childminders and nurseries, ask everyone you know for their recommendations and act on them.
Keeping in touch days
These are a contractual requirement of NHS trusts and you can do up to 10 days over the course of your maternity leave. You will be paid for the hours worked and it doesn’t affect your maternity pay….This is a great way to wake up your brain, make yourself realise you CAN still do it and also let your colleagues & supervisors know where you may need a bit of extra practice/experience before being thrown back onto nights. It’s also an opportunity to get your little ones settled with their childcare eg. one day per week for the 10 weeks before starting back.
Talk to your educational superviser/appraisal colleague
This again allows everyone to discuss their concrens and make a plan to address them.
Return to work seminars
These do exist and are simple refresher courses run by various specialties
“Return to work” Simulation courses
Scenario based simulaton is becoming ever more popular in training and education and courses are now being developed focussing on simulation of clinical scenarios and interactive tutorials for those returning to work. Anaesthetist orientated courses can be found at www.gasagain.com
Courses
Refreshing life support courses such as ALS, APLS & ATLS during maternity leave is a great way to update your skills, demonstrate commitment and boost your confidence. Fees can still be claimed from your study budget and the study leave can be claimed as ‘Keeping in touch days’ so you shouldn’t be left out of pocket.
Teaching
Never a better way to get your head in the books and update your knowledge than by commiting to teach your junior colleagues. From teaching at your local university to offering your time to strung out juniors studying for postgraduate exams, you can usually make this fit around your own timetable/childcare arrangements and it can be really fulfilling and educational!
This article risks making ‘preparing to return to work’ sound busier than actually being at work but the aim is to give you a few ideas for little steps back into the world of medicine.
Your Deanery should help you by following AOMRC guidance and letting you start back in a Hospital and department you are familiar with and giving you a couple of weeks on “normal day shift” before going on call.
The key is to do what you enjoy at first and not take on too much. If you are a Surgical trainee and you hate clinic, don’t do clinic. Ask to do a KIT day in your favourite theatre, with your favourite Consultant. It’s completely voluntary so make the most of being able to be choosy and give yourself a gentle, enjoyable start.
Speak to comrades at work, especially those who have been through the guilt/joy of leaving the little ones in someone else’s charge. Listen to everyone who tells you that your children will be fine and before you know it, you will be back into the swing of things.
