If I leave a medical rotation after a month in order to take up a post in accident and emergency in January 2005, will it jeopardise my chances in that same region?
BMJ 2004; 329 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.329.7465.s92-a (Published 04 September 2004) Cite this as: BMJ 2004;329:s92
Abstract
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If you are considering a career in emergency medicine it is not necessary to work as a senior house officer (SHO) in accident and emergency (A&E) during the first couple of years of your training. Gaining experience in a number of specialties, such as medicine, anaesthetics, surgery, and paediatrics, is essential during your SHO years, and having this type of experience before you start work as an SHO in A&E will give you a lot more confidence and should make you stand out among your fellow SHOs. There is no rush to get the A&E SHO post. A large proportion of emergency medicine is acute general medicine and therefore a year or two on a medical rotation will prove to be a useful part of your training time. A medical job is also a requirement for your A&E exams.
With regard to jeopardising your chances, if you resign now, complete six months of the rotation, and leave in January 2005 it will give your employer time to recruit someone else to take your post. It is unlikely to have any long term consequences but it does not pay to give hassle to certain types of senior doctors early in your career.
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