“Pre-reg has truly been a year of intense learning”

I’m currently preparing for my final assessment, the objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs).  

It feels like everything I’ve learnt throughout my pre-registration year is building up to this moment. I’m focusing on refining my practical, communication, and history-taking skills with every patient I see, making sure these skills are as strong as they can be.  

At the same time, I’m also revisiting my Stage 1 and Stage 2 notes, focusing on the areas I found more tricky, to make sure there are no surprises on the day and that I feel as prepared as possible.  

Coming out of university with limited patient exposure, the learning curve felt steep at first, but with each patient interaction, my confidence grew

Over the past few months, getting signed off for both Stage 1 and Stage 2 have been huge milestones.

I feel incredibly grateful to the brilliant mentors who have supported and encouraged me along the way. My confidence has continued to grow as I encounter different types of pathology in practice, treating each case as an opportunity to learn and improve.  

Looking back, I wish I could tell myself at the start of my pre-reg placement that everything really does fall into place with time.  

Coming out of university with limited patient exposure, the learning curve felt steep at first, but with each patient interaction, my confidence grew. Pre-reg has truly been a year of intense learning, growth, and resilience, and I’m excited to take everything I’ve learnt forward into the next stage of my career.