Worked Examples: Being Asked to Do Something Beyond Your Competence

Being asked to perform a task beyond your level of training or competence is one of the most critical SJT themes. These scenarios test a fundamental professional principle: knowing the limits of your competence and acting within them.

The GMC's Good Medical Practice is explicit: doctors (and medical students) must recognise and work within the limits of their competence. This lesson works through detailed scenarios where this principle is tested.

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The Core Principle

You must never attempt a clinical task you are not trained, competent, and supervised to perform — regardless of who asks you.

This applies even when:

• A senior asks you
• The ward is busy
• No one else is available
• You feel pressured
• You want to impress

The SJT rewards candidates who set clear boundaries while offering constructive alternatives.

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Why This Theme Matters