Returning to Training

Guidance for surgeons re-entering training after an absence

Returning to Training after Absence

Returning to surgical training after an absence from the clinical environment can be a daunting prospect, and planning ahead is the key to reducing stress and paving the way for a successful return to work.

Recognition that this can be a difficult time prompted the Academy of Royal Colleges (AoMRC) to compile its ‘Return to Practice Guidance’ 2017 Revision.  They reported that breaks of less than three months appeared "less likely to cause significant problems, but may still affect confidence and skills levels." In contrast, the report commented that "an absence of three months or more appears more likely to significantly affect skills and knowledge."

The AoMRC emphasises that while employers should be helping trainees to settle back into work safely after a break, it is the individual trainee’s professional duty to ensure they are safe to return to clinical practice. The individual trainee must ensure that they are up to date, competent and safe to return to practice. A useful way to identify and clarify issues arising from an absence is to arrange a meeting, before your return to work, with your Assigned Educational Supervisor (AES) and with your clinical supervisor. A useful source of information is the BMJ elearning module relating to returning to work after a career break.


Practical Advice

Below are some suggestions which trainee surgeons have found useful, both in their preparation for return to the workplace and as they have settled back into surgical practice.