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Under-graduate training
If you decide as an under-graduate that Paediatric
nursing will be your career of choice there may
be an opportunity to do a special project or intercalated
degree in some aspect of Paediatrics. This will
not only develop your understanding of Paediatrics,
but also provide you with a chance to decide whether
this is really what you want to do.
Pre-registration House
Officer
A few regions now offer pre-registration rotations,
which include some time spent in Paediatrics.
This is an excellent opportunity to experience
Paediatrics before you make your choice. We hope
that more regions will offer this option in the
future.
General Professional Training
(Senior House Officer)
This is the time when you must decide which area
of medicine is your choice. If you are not certain
about paediatrics as a career it is a good idea
to do a 6-month general paediatric post, but if
you are fairly sure you can apply for a 2-year
paediatric rotation. These rotations usually offer
a mixture of experience, linking together posts
in general paediatrics with neonatal intensive
care, speciality and community paediatrics or
child psychiatry and are an ideal way of obtaining
your general professional training. If you decide
to put together your own package you should try
to include all of these things.
General professional training must be a minimum
of 2 years, but can include other allied disciplines
such as general practice, anaesthetics, or obstetrics.
At least one year must however be in paediatrics.
Examinations
During your year of professional training you
need to pass the MRCPCH, so that you can move
on to the next stage. This examination is in 2
parts: Part I consist of a multiple-choice paper
testing your knowledge in medical science and
paediatric disease. The second part us based on
clinical skills (history taking and examination)
and the ability to plan further management of
children's problems. This is an essential requirement
before you can apply for Specialist Registrar
posts.
The DCH is a paediatric examination suitable
for people who are planning a career in general
practice, or other specialities, which have a
large paediatric component. It is good practice
for taking MRCPCH but is not essential.
Higher Specialist Training
(Specialist Registrar)
This period of training is an integrated programme
lasting a minimum of 5 years and culminating in
the acquisition of a CCST. In order to start this
programme you need, first, to have passed your
MRCPCH, and secondly to be successful at a deanery
interview to gain a place on the training programme
and to acquire a National Training Number (NTN)
All rotations include:
- Two years core training in General paediatrics
- Neonatology
- Community paediatrics
This is part of your normally occurs in a DGH,
or a combination with a tertiary centre. During
this period you will need to start thinking about
your eventual career aim. This may be General
Paediatrics with a special interest in Integrated
hospital and Community Paediatric Specialist (Tertiary
centre)
E.g. Oncology
Neurology
Endocrinology
Neonatology
Academic Paediatrics
If your aim is general paediatrics you need to
gain a variety of experience in the different
specialities; to develop a special interest you
will need to spend at least a year in that speciality.
If you wish to train in a tertiary speciality
and/or academic paediatrics you need to plan time
out for research to obtain an MD or PhD. Your
training time will be extended to accommodate
this.
Experience of working overseas can be very valuable
for those training in paediatrics and the Royal
College has recently established a pioneering
link with VSO to encourage such links. This does
however need to be planned in advance, and approved
by your post -graduate dean in order to count
towards your training.
Flexible training is particularly important in
paediatrics where 60% of paediatric SHOs are female.
Many paediatricians have successfully combined
a career in paediatrics with maximum involvement
in parenthood. Part-time training and job sharing
is strongly supported in paediatrics.
During your HST training you will be regularly
assessed and provided your progress is satisfactory
you should be able to obtain a Certificate of
Completion of Specialist Training (CCST) in Paediatrics.
You may also seek accreditation in a paediatric
speciality though the RCPCH, although only Paediatric
Cardiology has a separate CCST. When you have
obtained your CCST you will go on the Specialist
Register and you will be able to apply for consultant
posts.
Conclusion
This article can only give you a brief outline
of the opportunities that are open to you if you
choose a career in Paediatrics. If you want to
find out more about it please get in touch with
your local district Paediatric tutor or Regional
Advisor, or write directly to:
Royal College of Paediatrics
and Child Health, 50 Hallam Street, London,
W1W 6DE E-mail: enquiries@rcpch.ac.uk
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