Author Archives: Vasudev Zaver

Dear Foundation Training.I hope this finds you well. You were a really tough cookie to contend with. There were times where I thought we were getting along swimmingly, both in harmony. I understood and enjoyed my role, in fact, I accepted my role and diligently performed my duties to the best of my ability. But,Continue reading “Dear Foundation Training: My Top Tips for Foundation Training”

Wondering how to pass the MRCS Part A exam? Here’s a complete breakdown of my study strategy, resources, and top tips for success. The part A of the Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons examination is one of the toughest out there. With an average pass rate reportedly as low as 40%, it’s noContinue reading “Passing the MRCS Part A: How on Earth Did I Do It? My Study Strategy”

Sometimes it’s difficult to be motivated for work. No matter how much I enjoy my job, there are some days where I’m just too exhausted to feel any impetus to wake up and go into hospital. More recently, I’ve been feeling like this a lot more frequently, having had what feels like a non-stop runContinue reading “How to Get Motivated for Work”

I thought I’d create a real-time log of one of my nightshifts, to document the process for anyone who was ever at all curious to see what an orthopaedic night shift can entail. These shifts can be variable, however, usually a Monday night is pandemonium due to people flooding through the A&E doors with battleContinue reading “A Real Time Walk Through an Orthopaedic Nightshift”

As usual, my journal entry is situated around a run of night shifts. This is for two reasons really; one is because night shifts/on-calls in general are both eventful and exhausting. The second is because I have a lot of them. So I can’t really remember a remarkable normal working day unless it’s in theatreContinue reading “The Monday After Nights”

Whilst meditating this morning, I heard an inspirational quote from Andy, the creator of Headspace, who narrates the daily meditation. During this philosophical prelude, he explained the power of embracing the now, such that your mind is free of contemplation of the past, or the future. For example, one could be sat on a packedContinue reading “How to Bulletproof Yourself at Work: Embracing the Environment”

I awoke one morning this week, looked out of the window, and saw that the world had suddenly turned green again. It was a sight to behold. After months of overcast days, long nights, bare trees and monotone landscapes, the outdoors had flung open the gates to the oasis we all know and love. AnContinue reading “Green Again”

It was the middle of the night on my final weekend of General Surgical night on calls (see my post on surgical on call for more info). So far, it had been busy with several new admissions in quick succession. However, there finally came a point where both the hospital and I breathed a welcomeContinue reading “How to Master the Orthopaedic Nightshift”

Over the past few weeks, emails have been sent out and the next wave of prospective Core Surgical Trainees have been offered the opportunity to interview for a place on the UK Core Surgical Training (CST) programme. Whilst the interview looms from the not-so-distant future, it is important to allow oneself a moment of quietContinue reading “My Top 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before My CST Interview”

On Sunday night I couldn’t sleep. Having finished weekday nights on Friday morning, my sleep cycle still had not returned to normal. I lay awake from about 0315, comfortably so, ready to go. It was an odd sensation as my partner slept next to me, her steady breathing signalling that she was in deep sleep;Continue reading “5am Run”