Housemanship postings
Housemanship core skills (on-call, procedures, documentation)
Across all postings, housemanship builds core doctor skills: on-call work, common procedures, clear documentation, prescribing and teamwork. These habits carry straight into psychiatric practice.
Depth by stage, Pre-U → Consultant (details)
What is it?
Housemanship lasts two years and is the period in which a graduate becomes a safe, independent doctor. Beyond each specialty, there is a common core: working on-call, writing notes, prescribing, doing procedures and communicating with patients and staff.
Each posting has a logbook and competencies to be signed off. Assessments are continuous, and postings may be extended if the house officer is not yet ready. Successful completion leads to full registration with the Malaysian Medical Council.
House officers also learn to manage their own fatigue and stress during long shifts, a lesson that matters later in a demanding specialty such as psychiatry.
Why does a psychiatrist need it?
Psychiatrists prescribe medicines with serious side effects, write legal documents under the Mental Health Act, and work in multidisciplinary teams. Accurate records, safe prescribing and clear handovers learned in housemanship are the base of all this.
What level is expected at each stage?
Scale: 1. Aware → 2. Understands → 3. Applies → 4. Masters / Teaches. What the levels mean.
- Pre-UNot expected
- Pre-clinicalAwareAware of professional standards and basic clinical skills taught early in medical school.
- ClinicalUnderstandsPractises skills on placements and in OSCE stations.
- HousemanshipAppliesPerforms core skills routinely under supervision until competent.
- Medical officerMasters / TeachesPerforms them independently and teaches house officers.
- Psych traineeMasters / TeachesExpected to be fully competent and to supervise juniors.
- Specialist / consultantMasters / TeachesSets standards for documentation and safety in the service.
What are the key topics?
On-call work
- Handover at the start and end of shifts
- Prioritising tasks by urgency
- Recognising the deteriorating patient
- Escalating to medical officers and specialists
Procedures
- Venepuncture and cannulation
- Arterial blood gas sampling
- Urinary catheterisation
- ECG recording and basic interpretation
- Basic life support and resuscitation
Documentation and prescribing
- Clear, dated and signed clinical notes
- Drug charts, allergies and dose calculations
- Recognising drug interactions
- Death certification basics
- Referral and discharge letters
Professional practice
- Consent and confidentiality
- Working in multidisciplinary teams
- Dealing with complaints and mistakes openly
- Managing fatigue and seeking help
How is it learned and assessed?
- Logbooks and competency sign-offs in every posting
- Supervisor reports at the end of each posting
- Possible posting extensions if standards are not met
- Full MMC registration on satisfactory completion
Typical textbooks and resources
- Oxford Handbook for the Foundation Programme — Oxford University Press
- Malaysian Medical Council Code of Professional Conduct and Good Medical Practice guidance
- MOH housemanship guidelines
Titles are widely used examples; editions change. Use university libraries or legitimate purchases.
Common questions
What happens after housemanship?
After satisfactory completion, the doctor applies for full registration with the Malaysian Medical Council and works as a medical officer. Since 2016, many house officers and medical officers have been on contract appointments, and permanent posts are limited.
Can housemanship be extended?
Yes. If a house officer has not reached the expected standard in a posting, it can be extended. This is common and is meant to ensure safety.