Community nurses in Romania – the eyes, ears and voice of people in need

Villagers call the community nurses their guardian angels.

“Our role is to support people in need, to help them control existing diseases and prevent others, and to refer them to the family doctor when necessary. We are working at the grassroots,” says Cristina, who works together with Ionela in the village of Cristești, Romania.

Cristina and Ionela know every street and house in the communities they serve. During regular visits to households, Cristina and Ionela perform check-ups and give health advice to all, including those with chronic diseases and vulnerable people, like individuals without health insurance or families from the Roma community.

People at different stages of their lives receive care from the community nurses.

An 86-year-old grandmother with diabetes walks with difficulty but insists on waiting at the gate to welcome the nurses. Cristina measures her blood pressure and blood sugar, and consults the treatment prescribed by the family doctor. In another house, an elderly man is dependent on the community nurses to help treat the varicose ulcers on his legs.

A mother of twins is expecting another baby and is glad to have a home visit. Ionela measures her blood pressure and abdominal circumference.

Recently, another baby was born weighing only 2.6 kg. Ionela and Cristina examine and weigh the baby, before telling the mother some good news – he has gained 1 kg. The community nurses also advise the mother on good breastfeeding practices and how to make her own diet healthier.

In another case, a woman had lost her eyesight following a trauma and lived without help for 7 years. Cristina took immediate action when she discovered the elderly woman’s living conditions and arranged a consultation with a specialist. “The cataract surgery brought back a world of colour,” the woman says.