Česky
How long have you been working at the Hořovice Hospital?
This June it will be 45 years. I started the day after graduation as a midwife. While working in the gynaecology and obstetrics department, I have been through all the departments that are offered within this department. I have worked in the outpatient and inpatient departments, the gynaecological operating theatre and the labour ward.
How do you feel about the hospital then and now?
It doesn't even compare in that time. Some of the nursing activities and procedures that were followed earlier are now outdated. The preparation of dressing material, sterilisation - boiling syringes and needles and other instruments, for example, but also the filing of medical records. There were no disposables for the work of nurses and the treatment of patients. At night there was one central orderly in the whole hospital and usually only one nurse in the inpatient wards.
The whole building was new after renovation, the rooms were equipped with sanitary facilities with new beds. We now perform surgery in five state-of-the-art operating theatres. Simply a lot has improved, including patient care, aids and equipment for quality nursing care. On the inpatient wards, we have administrative staff who have taken over a lot of the administrative work from the station nurses, so the station and head nurses have more time for patients. Each inpatient ward has its own orderlies and we are very happy to recruit more if there is interest. We want to focus more on the patient as well as the staff. Our facility has a wide range of benefits that are available to employees, such as a daycare for employees' children and a shuttle service. Prospectively, within two years, approximately 90 apartments will be built for medical and non-medical staff.
What do you consider to be the core of the head nurse's job? What would you recommend to your successor?
That he or she tries to be around the staff a lot, that he or she tries to get into the specifics of each department as much as possible, that he or she tries to listen to people and, even if he or she cannot solve or fulfil all the wishes, that he or she tries to create the best possible conditions for their work.
What does your role as Deputy Director of Nursing entail now?
Along with the newly appointed head nurse, Mgr. Jiří Pichlík and with the quality of care department in the hospital, to follow trends and legislation and implement it in documents and the work of non-medical health care professionals. Of course, given my extensive long-term experience, I am also ready to pass on the advice and experience gained to anyone who is interested.
What do you consider to be your greatest professional achievement?
I always consider every shift to be a success as well, when I can be there and help in a small way when things go well. I consider one of my achievements to be my work in the gynaecology and obstetrics department, where I have spent most of my professional life and which I will always remember fondly. But even now I am happy when all the departments in our hospital are working, when we open new departments. I am glad that I can still be present and contribute to this happening in the hospital.
Have you always wanted to work in healthcare?
It wasn't always like that, I originally wanted to be a hairdresser, but fate had it differently.
You have two sons and spend a lot of time with your grandchildren, would you like them to work in healthcare?
My sons don't work in healthcare. But with my grandchildren it's a little different, they often ask me about the hospital. Even though it's still early, I would love for them to become health professionals. Healthcare is a sure thing these days, as most of the population will need healthcare professionals at some point during their lives.
Do you bring your so-called work home (do you think about working at home or can you "close" the door)?
I try not to bring work home, but whether one wants to or not, sometimes work pops into one's head at home. In more challenging times, or if I have serious meetings ahead of me, it's impossible to avoid it.
How do you relax? What makes you happy?
I don't have much room to relax. Mostly I relax by enjoying the little things, I like to take pictures, especially of my grandchildren. Now in the winter, when the sun is low on the horizon and illuminates Točník Castle, I quickly run to take a picture of this moment. In the summer, the Long-toothed Flycatcher makes me happy when it flies to us to see the geraniums. I am happy when I buy a rose seedling that grows and blooms and still smells beautiful. I simply rejoice in the little things and am most content with my grandchildren and husband on vacation together.
