• Question: Do you think it is wise to specialise early?

    Asked by Tash to Chris, Emma, Jonathan, Katharine, Shehla, Simon on 13 Jun 2017.
    • Photo: Jonathan Harte

      Jonathan Harte answered on 13 Jun 2017:


      Only if you know what you want to specialise in.
      Otherwise I think you can keep doing hospital posts for a while until you find the one that fits.
      but eventually you need to go for it.

    • Photo: Emma Rowe

      Emma Rowe answered on 13 Jun 2017:


      It really depends on if you’ve got a very clear idea of what you want to do. I specialised early as a Community Nurse so have always worked in Primary/Community Care rather than hospitals. I knew from 3 years of training in hospitals that it definitely wasn’t for me, but my 8 week Community nursing placement just clicked. I think you have to have that click or that passion to specialise otherwise you can end up in the wrong speciality which won’t be enjoyable for you. I really think enjoying your work makes you do a better job.

    • Photo: Katharine Bradbury

      Katharine Bradbury answered on 13 Jun 2017:


      No…I was lucky to be able to work in various medical specialities before deciding to train as a GP and my breadth of experience has helped make me a better doctor. Until you’ve worked in a particular speciality you don’t really know whether it’s the one for you.

      I’m in favour of doctors not specialising too early and at my practice we offer a chance for junior doctors to spend 4 months with us even if general practice is not their preferred career. All of them find it a useful experience and some of them decide to stay and specialise in general practice.

    • Photo: Christopher Symonds

      Christopher Symonds answered on 14 Jun 2017:


      I can not really answer this one.

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