Surgical intern thrives in rural hospital

By Shannon Colee

May 1, 2024

Notes: Some days surgical intern Dr Courtney Bruce stays on the ward and makes sure that different tests and discharge papers are ready. Photo: Shannon Colee Photo by Shannon Colee

Typically, when surgical intern Dr Courtney Bruce arrives at the hospital, the sun has not risen.

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Although the early mornings might be unpopular with some, for Courtney, they are her preference.

“It can actually be really great getting to the hospital early in the morning. It really suits me. I’m just someone who likes getting up,” she said.

Visitor: Every day as a surgical intern Dr Courtney Bruce rounds on all the patients. Photo: Shannon Colee Photo by Shannon Colee

As a surgical intern, Courtney’s day starts right away. After changing into her scrubs, she makes her way around the ward.

“We all start rounding, seeing each patient, discussing their management plans, investigations, and things like that,” she said.

“When we finish that, which takes about an hour, we do what we call a paper round so everyone’s on the same page and the plans are clarified. If there are any particular updates we might’ve missed, we update the nursing team and any other allied health staff that need to be involved.”

Teamwork: Dr Oliver Ladlow, Kate Hartley, Dr Courtney Bruce and Anna Baylis have a meeting after rounds to discuss patient care. Photo: Shannon Colee Photo by Shannon Colee

When that is completed, sometimes she stays on the ward, completing paperwork, and other times she gets the chance to head into surgery — a chance that she relishes.

“It’s always great when I get to go into surgery. It’s really cool to be there, and it’s an experience I didn’t think I’d get to have,” she said.

“A lot of interns at other bigger hospitals only stay on the ward, and they don’t get the sort of hands-on experience I get here.”

If it’s not one of the surgery days for Courtney, then she gets to stay on the wards and follow up on the patients.

“You stay on the wards and do scripts for people going home, discharge summaries, which summarise their care as inpatients, and follow up any bloods (tests), x-rays or other imaging that we may have ordered during the morning round,” she said.

“We follow up once the patient has had it done, let the team know that the results have come back and then update the plan from there.”

Being a doctor wasn’t always on the cards for Courtney, but a perhaps too-soft heart for animals stopped an alternative career.

“I wanted to be a vet my whole life, but I got to about Grade 10, and my parents worried I was a bit too soft-hearted for animals. I used to watch all the vet shows on television and get very disheartened if they had to put a puppy down,” she said.

“I understand that human lives have to end eventually, but I really think animals should live forever.”

Clean: Scrubbing in properly is an important part of being on the surgical ward. Photo: Shannon Colee Photo by Shannon Colee

Echuca Regional Health has been an excellent place for Courtney, who has been able to explore her love of rural medicine here.

“I want to be a rural generalist, I think. I enjoy the lifestyle that comes with medicine here. The experiences you get to be a part of are much broader than what you would see in a city,” she said.

“The staff here are mostly rural generalists and they’re very passionate themselves, so they make it very exciting and very welcoming.

“They’re very supportive in helping guide you through that pathway, how to get on there, helping you get the experiences you might need to see or be a part of, so it’s been really supportive.”