Journal entries from my rotation in emergency surgery.
Unravelling
I lose myself to medicine, burnout and hundred-hour weeks before rebuilding a life beyond hospital walls.
Transition
I look back on three chaotic months in emergency surgery and realise how completely I have grown from student into doctor.
Turbulence
Facing burnout, conflict and an unsafe workplace dynamic while learning boundaries, teamwork and when to seek senior support.
Trial By Fire
I survive my first on-call shift, facing bloods, cannulas, death and uncertainty while learning when to act and ask for help.
Head Start
I find my footing as an FY1, balancing ward rounds, pre-op chaos and theatre while growing into the doctor I want to be.
Emergency Surgery – First Day
On my first day as a doctor, I face surgical hierarchy, hospital chaos and the human moments that make the pressure worthwhile.