Before you head overseas we really try and stress how important it is to build a really good relationship with your supervisor – this week we asked the students if they had any tips on impressing the people who matter.

Ward Round

Joe, our programme manager in Ghana told us; “Building a good relationship or rapport with not just your supervisor but all the staff in there is the key to having a good placement. This almost everyone in the house knows and agrees to, but when it comes to the issue of how, students gave variety of tips on how to impress the people who matter.”

Ada who has her name all over the obs and gynae department said that although she finds it easy around new people, what seems to be working the miracle is “to smile at everyone and also learn my fante (local language) very well… imagine going to the department the first day and saying “me ma mo akye”(good morning to you). Then they go like hey! Obroni(White person) speaks Fante. Then they all want to ask you stuff in fante only to realise that you only know a little bit. Then they find you interesting to talk to and that is the beginning of building a good rapport with them.” But Ada does not underestimate the element of hard working and showing all the signs of seriousness as one of the most important keys to impress your supervisors and the entire team. This can be shown by ones attitude to work, punctuality and how keen one is to learn. May be as Ada has been doing; taking some night and afternoon shifts to compliment the mornings.

Jennifer, a medical student has up her sleeve one tip to impress the whole team. “You know Joe, I go there early to read the folders of new patients so that during ward rounds I can ask pre-meditated question which they consider brilliant”. Asking and answering questions makes it easier to facilitate communication upon which relationships are built. Samantha chipped in with the fact that open mindedness is needed to have a good relationship. Though some of the practices here are different and would not be embraced in the UK health system, students need to not express too much shock on their faces at the slightest difference and think they can’t associate themselves with this practice. “Just get involved and do it the way they do it and they are happy with you.”

Learning the language really helps

In Argentina, Lucy suggests being “friendly and smile. It is very important to look interested and enthusiastic when they are teaching you something. Always try to communicate in Spanish and laugh with them when you get it wrong!”

Louise just finished her placement, and both shifts’ supervisors were very impressed about her performance. “Being proactive and volunteering to work whenever you can as well as to do extra hours is a good way to impress supervisors. Making an effort to communicate in Spanish shows that you really care.  Also, bring pastries or a cake on your last day of work and they will absolutely love you!” says Louise.

The same advice was given in Nepal. Sunhil told us that “Impressing a supervisor or important person is always very important so a SMILE is a must!!!”  Our dentistry students in Manipal will smile throughout, crack a joke and make the supervisor crack a joke too. Besides, being punctual, responsible and pro-active is very important as well.  There might be times when you could be feeling left out but you just have to walk in make your presence felt. Also, not lagging behind during ward rounds (have to be seen right in front), respecting the way work is done here are and being friendly are few tips to get one going.

Over in Dar Es Salaam, Rebecca simply tells us to “Smile! Be friendly; if you are unsure of anything just ask! Ask loads of questions and be interested in what advice they have to give you.  Alice agreed “Always put yourself forward for things, if you sit and wait on the sidelines – you’ll be waiting for a long time. So be proactive, get involved and ask questions.” Danielle had some similar feedback; “Always put yourself forward and don’t criticize the way they perform their duties (there can be a huge cultural difference). Be hard working and everybody will love you. Stick to the department for at least 2 weeks as this is the only way you can feel settled in.

Via Via!

In Arusha it was much the same. “Be proactive and try to get involved and ask questions about anything you are interested in or unsure of. Try to use as much Swahili as possible, as it will help with patients and staff” said Mari. “Turn up on time (especially for paeds!) Try to speaking Kiswahili – a little goes a long way and try and pick up as much as you can when enjoy is speaking. Alexander and Campbell emphasisd the importance of learning some of the local language. Work the World provide free language lessons so you have no excuse not to greet patients in Kiswahili. They also had this tip “Invite people to via via and buy them a drink (Dr Lee loves via via!!) Know your stuff without being too arrogant / Mzungu / etc”

On a final note, Hayley told us that “the supervisors are really nice and easy going, but if you really want to impress them, a BNF or Oxford handbook would do it!”