doctors shift pattern

Out of interest (this will probably also vary between hospitals) but how far in advance do you get your rota, and how long is it set out for (i.e. do you get one every week, or are you given a month's worth at a time etc)?

Thanks

Out of interest (this will probably also vary between hospitals) but how far in advance do you get your rota, and how long is it set out for (i.e. do you get one every week, or are you given a month's worth at a time etc)?

Thank you for your response; unsocialable hours, weekends and nights actually aren't a problem for me, as long as I get breaks, I wouldn't mind working those sorts of shifts as a junior doctor. Its just if I was to have a family in the future, having odd hours and weekends could be a problem.
Obviously, I haven't a clue which field I'd go into, as getting into medicine is the first bit, but dermatology and elderly care, and anesthetics are of my interest however I tend to find my ignorance in something is what attracts me to new things so that'll probably change

hey could you please pm with same info too!
Also, how would you say your life style is? is your wife a doctor too? is the lifestyle manageable with kid/s?

My lifestyle now is relaxed. I get to see my family a lot, go out, see friends and have time at home. Medical school was just study, study, study all the time, but I found medical school harder than my foundation programme.

I became a dad at the age of 23, so it coincided with FY1. Looking back, it was probably better that I had all the 'busy life' all at the same time and I'll admit it was hard, but I have to thank my family and friends for helping me with childcare etc...

I became a dad for the second time a year later at 24, so FY2 was the same as FY1, but with added pressure at work.

My missus was a band 5 nurse at the time and her ward manager was fab and very understanding with our situation, so we were able to adjust her shift pattern to make sure that when I was working, she was either off or working nights if I was on days for example.

My missus is a doctor now. She originally applied to medicine, wasn't successful and did nursing instead. She's just finished her FY2.

I'd say you could manage studying and kids together as long as you've got the option of help when you need it. I was/am very lucky to have the support I had/have.

I have a bit more freedom now and I like to get all my hours into 3.5/4 days so I can have a good bit of family time.

A lot of female doctors have to balance work and a family, you won't be the only one, by a long long way. As others have said, effectively, you have to find a way of doing it. You won't be relieved of night and evening duties because you have children. Remember that most junior doctors are in their mid to late twenties and so a significant number will have young children. There are options for doing 'flexible training' - where you job share with someone and work part time (but hence it takes a lot longer to reach the end of postgraduate training) - but even with flexible training you would have to do nights and weekends. Other options are basically an understanding family / husband, or babysitters / childminders etc. Perfectly possible.

Oh, and perfectly normal that you have no idea which corner of medicine you want to specialise in - you won't know until at least towards the end of med school, a lot of people still change their minds even during their foundation years.