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Advice for Trainees

Trainees looking at notes.

Training as a specialist can be challenging

We know that training as a specialist can be very challenging, and there is evidence to suggest that Trainees sometimes struggle in Basic Specialist Training.

The top stressors in Basic Specialist Training are known to be:

  • A heavy workload involving
    • Exams
    • Academic responsibilities 
    • Audit
    • Research
    • On-call
    • Balancing service provision with your training needs. For example, difficulty asking for time off
    • Maintaining a healthy work/life balance, maintaining relationships
    • Moving hospitals and home due to rotations
  • Financial difficulties
  • An uncertain future in the Irish healthcare system
  • Shortage of NCHDs in the hospital, and the impact on other NCHDs
  • Long working hours and lack of sleep

BST Survival Guide

Download

Download our BST survival guide (which contains tips from RCPI Trainees in their own words!) and remember – we are here to help

Look after your wellbeing with RCPI

As part of our Physician Wellbeing programme, we offer a range of courses and workshops, specially tailored for doctors, to help you manage stress and workplace challenges.

View Physician Wellbeing courses and workshops

Contact Us

RCPI Physician Wellbeing Programme

Tel: +353 1 863 9700

Through our Physician Wellbeing programme we are providing support, training and information to doctors at all stages of their careers.

Basic Specialist Training

Alex Nolan

Programme Coordinator, Institute of Medicine

Tel: +353 1 863 9653

Contact Alex for information about Higher Specialist Training in

  • Genito-Urinary Medicine
  • Rheumatology
  • Cardiology
Contact Alex for information about Basic Specialist Training in
  • General Internal Medicine (Galway Hub)
  • General Internal Medicine (Mayo/Sligo Hub)


Catherine Corcoran

Programme Coordinator, Obstetrics and Gynaecology training programmes

Tel: +3531 6698 830

Contact Catherine for information about Higher Specialist Training and Basic Specialist Training in:

  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology


Lauren Kerchner, BST

Coordinator, Histopathology Basic Specialist Training

Tel: +353 1 863 9640

Contact Lauren for information about Basic Specialist Training in Histopathology.


Louise Guyett

Programme Coordinator, Institute of Medicine

Tel: +353 1 863 9713

Contact Louise for information about Higher Specialist Training in

  • Respiratory Medicine
  Contact Louise for information about Basic Specialist Training in
  • General Internal Medicine (Mid-West Hub)


Sean O'Donnell

Programme Coordinator, Institute of Medicine

Contact Sean for information about Higher Specialist Training in

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurology
  • Clinical Pharmacology
Contact Sean for information about Basic Specialist Training in
  • General Internal Medicine (St James's/TUH Hub)
  • General Internal Medicine (St Vincent's Hub)