STP Support | STP with a long term health condition

Setting expectations

This post is my personal account of having a long term health condition, which was in the process of being diagnosed during my application to the Scientist Training Program (STP). Lots of the information in it will be relevant to many long term health conditions and disabilities, but it is not intended to cover all aspects of either. I do not consider my condition to be a disability, but others who have it do.

It also includes information on what the National School of Healthcare Scientists (NSHCS), your Trust, and you can do to support yourself if you have a long term health condition and are or are considering becoming a trainee on the STP.

I am really keen to empower people to take as much of an active role in their own health care as they can. What I hope is that this post will be reassuring, supportive and informative for those with long term health conditions and to those who want a bit more information. Everyone’s experience is unique.

STP Support | Navigating the STP as an Introvert

This post is the opinion and experience of the author

Before starting the STP, I was warned of the challenges that I would face: balancing university deadlines with workplace competencies and learning new clinical skills alongside settling into a new team of colleagues. But nothing could have prepared me for the challenges that I have been through, seemingly for having an introverted personality.

STP Support | Reflections of an STP Alumni & Member of the Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic (BAME) Student Trainee Network

The NSHCS has a duty to better support their students and address the additional challenges often faced by those from diverse backgrounds

This post is the opinion and experience of the author

I remember when I received the email saying I’d been accepted onto the STP – I nearly screamed right there in the middle of the train carriage. I thought I’d flopped the whole application after those dreaded arithmetic and logic tests…but I got through to interview stage…and I couldn’t believe I’d actually been offered only one of five positions for direct entry Neurophysiology in the country!

STP Support | A guide for dealing with STP training issues

Problems occur in every area of life and workplaces are no exception. In my career, I’ve had to deal with several different problems at work: from unrealistic expectations and demands from management; bullying; lack of (or poor!) project management; lack of delegation or being set unclear goals. Knowing how to deal with work-related problems effectively and professionally is an essential skill, which will improve job satisfaction, increase personal happiness and ultimately help you to become a more productive and effective employee.

I have developed a strategy for dealing with problems at work; these steps have been applicable to most of the problems I’ve faced at work and will hopefully help the reader to deal with their own problems effectively. I will start by breaking down the steps to take when facing a generic problem and close with an example describing how to deal with training plan issues.

STP Support | The Emotional Rollercoaster of the STP – A Survival Guide

Elation. That was the prevailing emotion that overwhelmed me on 22^nd May 2018 at 09:23. The email read: “We are pleased to offer you the following programme: Scientist Training Programme, Cardiac Science”.

STP Support | So, you want to talk about mental health on the STP?

Trigger warning // depression, suicide, suicidal thoughts

This post is the opinion and experience of the author

Truthfully, I never thought I’d get onto the Scientist Training Programme.

I believed it was for people who had PhDs, Masters, or loads of experience in the specialism. It was the stuff of legend, where only the most knowledgeable and pioneering young scientists of our generation would be granted a place. The competition ratios were terrifyingly high. The Student Room threads were filled with individuals applying for the third, fourth, fifth time.

STP Support | “Hey, how are you?”

How many times do you ask or get asked that a day? How many times do you answer honestly? Increasingly throughout my STP training I’d reply “yeah, fine thanks, are you?” when really I was far from it.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Steinberg (@steinbergdrawscartoons)

Accurate reflection of what was actually going on in my head!

STP Support | Keep Calm & Carry On

The email I received stating I had secured a place on the STP was a euphoric moment, throughout the summer I was so excited for September. I knew I wanted to be a clinical scientist; all through my academic studies I never felt I had found what I wanted to do (does anybody?!) but, when I read about the STP, it sounded perfect and I was so motivated to get there. It took me a few attempts to gain a place and so when I did, I really did value it.

STP Support | Navigating the STP with ADHD

Bioinformatics Trainee – Suzy

Mental illness affects all of us in some way, whether through personal experience or the experience of a loved one. Hopefully we all know by now that mental illness can affect anyone, and I like to think that in the past few years society has moved towards unravelling the shame and stigma that is attached to it. Don’t get me wrong though, we still have a long way to go.