Book excerpt: Part of the Blackwell foundation programme collection The Hands-on Guide for Junior Doctors is a practical book forjunior doctors and medical students making the transition frommedical school to life on the wards. It contains new material toreflect the changes in PRHO training and the development offoundation programmes. This book tells you how to prepare for the actual daily rigoursof hospital life and is an essential guide for surviving your firstyear as a junior doctor. It covers the personal aspects of being a doctor, outlining therealities of ward life including paperwork, self-care and guidancesections on arranging your finances and organising the nextjob. It also provides the day-to-day reality of clinical life such asresponding to acute emergencies, common ward calls, drugprescribing and carrying out practical procedures.