'Waiting in the wings'; Lived experience at the threshold of clinical practice.

Participants in this study braced themselves for a trial by ordeal as they contemplated commencing clinical practice. The hidden curriculum shaped their understanding of what was expected of them as new doctors, and inspired dysfunctional strategies to meet expectations. Solutions to make the experience a more positive one lie in the approximation of the roles of senior medical student and newly qualified doctor, in explicitly addressing the hidden curriculum and generating cultural change. An emphasis on experience-based learning through contribution to patient care, guided reflection on the hidden curriculum and shifting cultural expectations through faculty development and strong local leadership can contribute to these objectives.