A survey of 80 junior doctors and nurses was performed to compare the methods of teaching medical and nursing students in eight common practical procedures. Nurses were more likely to have received formal teaching and to be supervised when first performing a procedure. Some 42% percent of doctors felt inadequately trained to carry out a practical procedure safely when performing it alone for the first time compared with 7% of nurses. This study confirms that much of the training of doctors in practical procedures is still received on an informal basis, compared with that of nurses. It also reveals that many doctors view this training as insufficient.