Personal stories

Nurses and midwives of the WHO European Region share their stories

Helicopter paramedic nurse Jacqueline Zbären – providing emergency care in inhospitable terrain

“Most of my missions stand out in some way or another due to the nature of helicopter operations. They often entail emergencies either on a mountain or in inaccessible terrain, or otherwise involve serious patterned injuries or time-critical medical conditions,” explains Jacqueline Zbären, a helicopter paramedic nurse working in the Bernese Highlands in Switzerland.

Fanny Lopez, paediatric nurse supporting premature newborns and their parents

“I am always amazed to see the potential and will in newborns to grow and develop. As caregivers, we are there help them develop to their full potential. Our care and support are particularly important when they are born premature,” says Fanny Lopez, a paediatric nurse working in the intensive care unit of the neonatal unit in Centre Hospitalier Rives de Seine, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France.

Marko Obradovic: why new mothers need our support and why breastfeeding concerns us all

“The most rewarding and the most challenging aspect of my work is gaining a woman’s trust by being the trusted friend she needs me to be and guiding her in becoming a mother,” explains Marko Obradovic, a paediatric nurse from Serbia working in a baby-friendly hospital, a United Nations-led initiative dating back to 1991.

Prison nurse Deanna Mezen guarantees continuity of care for detainees

"My priority is to ensure continuity of care for our patients. This means meeting their health needs by ensuring they receive the care they need in a timely manner, and working alongside colleagues from different disciplines,” explains nurse Deanna Mezen, who works in Staffordshire, at one of the largest prisons in the United Kingdom.

Nurse Viorica Purice calls for solidarity in the fight against COVID-19

“I hope to return to my colleagues soon to continue the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” says senior nurse Viorica Purice, who works in the intensive care unit of the Municipal Clinical Hospital for Children No. 1 in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.

“Nurses are the heart of our health-care system”: Shoshy Goldberg, Government Chief Nursing Officer, Israel

“The challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic have given us the opportunity to focus on teamwork, to showcase the added value of nurses and their central role in patient treatment. Nurses are proving their reliability and that they can take on additional responsibilities."

Iliana Colonna: enabling positive birth experiences in the time of COVID-19

“At the beginning of the epidemic, our initial reaction was fear – fear of getting infected, of how our work may be affected and for the health of the pregnant women requiring our assistance. Our priority became tackling that fear by adhering to guidelines, including those from WHO, and putting a new structure in place that would allow us to continue the vital work we do,” explains Midwife Coordinator Iliana Colonna, from the Infermi Hospital in Rimini, Italy.

Chief Nurse of Anaesthesiology Department Maria Kapritsou – improving cancer patients’ experience

"I have learned that a relationship with a patient can be formed by simply making eye contact. I have seen many battles against cancer being fought and rejoiced at the greatest wins. I have also cried with my patients and comforted families who experienced a terrible loss."

Nadiya Labanda: coordinating nurses in Ukraine’s COVID-19 epicentre

“I have been the Chief Nurse of Chernivtsi Province since February 2020 and I coordinate the work of almost 7000 nurses,” says Nadiya Labanda.

Kateryna Balabanova advocates for the rights of nurses in Ukraine

“Even though nurses represent the largest health workforce in Ukraine, their voice is not always heard in decision-making processes on patient care and treatment,” says Kateryna Balabanova, Director of the Centre for Nursing Development.

Nurse anaesthetist Larysa Belykova faces the challenges of military conflict and COVID-19 in Ukraine

“Not everyone is cut out to be a nurse. This profession requires hard work, deep commitment to helping others and a strong sense of respect for both colleagues and patients. I hope our profession will receive the recognition it deserves someday.”

Ann-Marie Lawlee: Nursing homeless people in Ireland

Nurse Ann-Marie Lawlee mostly works with the many homeless people who come into Dublin’s St James’s Hospital. “They have all been affected in different psychological and physical ways. It’s important for us to build a rapport and make them feel comfortable within the hospital environment.” she says.

Silvia Mambelli: how the COVID crisis is uniting the Italian health workforce

“Despite 40 years of experience in various health-care roles, nothing could have truly prepared me for today’s COVID-19 emergency,” says Silvia Mambelli, director of nursing and technical services at the local health authority of the Emilia Romagna region in Italy.

Laura Lupi, COVID-19 nurse: together, we can beat this virus

“How we put on our protective equipment at the beginning of each shift, determines our fate,” says 24-year-old nurse, Laura Lupi, who works at a COVID-19 hospital in Teramo, in the Abruzzo region of Italy.

Helga Rósa Masdottir – emergency care nurse coordinator in Iceland

“One of the most challenging tasks is to ensure that positions during all shifts are manned and determine which patient needs immediate attention. Setting priorities and intervening in a timely manner is paramount if patients are to receive the right help at the right time from the right personnel.”

Katharina Lex – researching palliative care for people with Parkinson’s disease

“I do not give up easily – that is a useful quality to have in academic research, as the path can be rocky and strewn with setbacks,” says PhD student and nurse researcher Katharina Lex from the Institute of Nursing Science and Practice at the Paracelsus Medical University in Salzburg, Austria.

Midwives and doulas in Sweden helping reduce cultural and language barriers

“As a midwife you support women throughout their fertile years. I have worked in prenatal, postnatal and delivery care. I am currently part of the Doula och kulturtolk, or Doula and cultural interpreter, project, which was set up to improve the care experience and pregnancy outcomes for migrant women in Sweden,” says Maria Fogelström, a midwife working at the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden.

Franciska Németh: “I swapped stilettos for scrubs.”

“I have interviewed musicians and celebrities and done photoshoots for fashion magazines, but I have never felt as cool as I do nowadays when I put on my uniform and scrubs,” says Franciska Németh, who is currently in her third year of her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Semmelweis University in Hungary.

Smartphone app aids midwives in Kyrgyzstan

Dilara Safarova knows she can rely on the Safe Delivery application when faced with a complicated delivery. “The app provides evidence-based content, in line with WHO recommendations, on a range of topics, including active management of labour, postpartum haemorrhage and emergency first aid for newborns,” she explains.

Lauren Marie Grech – from student to fully fledged midwife

“The very first time I delivered a baby on my own, it felt so gratifying to sign the birth certificate myself, with my name and midwife licence number. At the birth of a friend’s firstborn I had assisted as a student, but a few months ago I delivered her second child as a fully fledged midwife and it felt wonderful,” says Lauren, a certified midwife working at Msida’s Mater Dei Hospital, Malta.

Katja Soininen – providing health care services in the digital age

“We nurses are always working to empower patients, and sometimes we tend to see ourselves as the main actors in people’s health. But really, patients themselves are the protagonists and digital health technologies can empower them in their self-care,” says 40-year old Katja Soininen, an electrophysiology nurse finishing up her Master’s degree in digital health at Kuopio University Hospital in Finland.

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

“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.

Small team of cancer nurses has a big impact on Scotland’s Western Isles

"That’s the uniqueness and real value of our service, that wherever the patient goes, we are able to see them in that environment, whether it be the hospital, in the patient’s own home, in a care home or in the hospice. This is the very satisfying part of our work. You really get to know the person, their circumstances, their family, what matters to them, what really makes them tick.”

Ruth Stubbs - Nurses administer most cervical cancer screening in England

“The screening programme is set up to be delivered by primary care in England, and although general practitioners can conduct cervical screening and do so on occasions, this is not the best use of a doctor’s time. There are not enough general practitioner doctors to conduct all the cervical screening tests and this would not be an efficient way to work,” said Ms Ruth Stubbs, Cervical Screening Programme Manager for Public Health England.

Renate de Bie – a Dutch midwife shares her experiences of safe and peaceful home births

“The underlying principle is to have a physiological approach to childbirth and not over-medicalize it. We guide women through pregnancy, birth and the post-partum period, and only turn to hospitals if we identify a medical complication.”

Nurse Ana Sajovic: delivering care in people’s homes

“I usually visit 7 to 10 patients a day. The curative visits are on the request of doctors, and I provide preventive care when I see the need. I may visit a newborn and find that the baby’s grandmother is present. I would then carry out a preventive health check on the grandmother.”

Virginia Stankevičiūtė: caring for thousands over 4 decades of midwifery

“In the last 2 decades, the health system and our work have fundamentally changed both the education process and health services delivery. You have to learn all the time, because your diploma means nothing without continuous education. It is necessary to update and improve your knowledge and ensure that this meets the requirements of patients and the health system.”

Jannie Sternberg – dementia care nurse and nurse coordinator, Denmark

A summer job at the end of her high-school education sparked Jannie Sternberg’s passion for nursing. “That summer, I met these nurses who seemed to know everything; they could handle any situation. I was planning to study psychology at university, but when I met these nurses, I wanted to become one. They were really inspiring,” she says.

Daragh Rodger: leading to support healthy ageing in Ireland

“I’ve always wanted to be a nurse, I never wanted to do anything else,” says Daragh Rodger. Her childhood dream became a reality when she qualified as a general nurse in 1989 through the apprenticeship model. But this was merely the starting point of a diverse 30-year career, which has included taking a leading role on groundbreaking initiatives related to healthy ageing in Ireland.

Eva Tegnander – educating midwives on ultrasound technology for more than 30 years

"I love the work that I do as an ultrasound midwife. I was fortunate to be at the right place at the right time in 1985, and offered to contribute to the use of ultrasound by midwives. I see it as important for the parents, for mothers and for the fetus. I like the setting and I enjoy connecting with the parents as they see their baby for the first time. I also like teaching, to enable other midwives to do quality work.”

Nurse Hania: training courses help nurses in Poland take on new and expanded roles in primary care

“Thanks to internal trainings, I am up to date on all medical recommendations. Working in a team is easier now – we have a clear understanding of the division of duties between nurses and doctors, and I feel that I am closer to the patient.”

Olga Pînteac: spreading the message that “clean hands save lives”

“I brought a commitment to hand hygiene with me when I become the chief nurse, only this time I wanted the whole institution to be as clean and sanitary as an operating room. I can say with confidence that, together with my team of nurses, I have succeeded in implementing one of the key elements of safe and quality health care: hand hygiene.”

Vera Tarkova: Bringing hypertension education and support to the community

“If I convince at least one person a day to follow a healthy lifestyle, I will not waste that day but will help somebody to save their health and possibly even their life.”

Elena Khasanova: ongoing training to ensure safe, quality patient care

“I believe in the strength of education. I am sure that the more we give to nursing students, the better-quality nurses we will get in some years when they come to our hospitals. My aim is to give students an understanding of modern nursing care and its core values, such as showing empathy towards the patient.”

Svetlana Gogoleva: connecting with cancer patients in distant locations

Svetlana Gogoleva, Chief Nurse at the Republican Oncology Dispensary in Yakutia Republic, Russian Federation, has played a leading role in introducing electronic consultations (e-consultations) to bring care closer to patients in distant locations.

Tikva, palliative care nurse in Israel

"I think that every nurse leader, especially one working with palliative care, needs to be very empathetic with patients and colleagues alike, very gentle in the way we offer help. We need be very good listeners, much more than talkers. We need to be very attentive to the dynamic of our communication with the patient."

Kenzhebike Koishibaevna Mazhitova, senior nurse in an outpatient clinic in Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan

"I especially enjoy my work because, first and foremost, I love it. “Nurse” and “compassion” mean the same thing. The first person any patient sees is a nurse, and her amiability, politeness and competence must draw the patient to her. She must show the patient that she feels his or her pain."

Munisa Sidykova, senior nurse in a health centre in Dushanbe, Tajikistan

"The challenges in my job are mostly financial. The greatest joy is when patients leave our hospital satisfied and in a good mood. Patients often say thank you; they like the quality of the services and the attitude of nurses. An individual approach to every patient makes a big difference."

Gay Lee, ward sister in a hospice in London, United Kingdom

"A peaceful death is a great achievement and something everyone should be entitled to. I used to be a midwife, and the two areas – palliative care and midwifery – have a lot of similarities in some ways. The idea is not to ‘cure’ someone, but to have a peaceful and simple birth or death, with dignity."

Gulbara Ashimova, midwife, Kemin Territorial Hospital, Kyrgyzstan

"This is my 35th year working as a midwife. During these 35 years I would estimate about 10,500 children were born with my help. Children who were born 20 years ago are now old enough to give birth themselves. Some parents approach me and tell me that a girl I delivered years before is now at the hospital giving birth to her own child. This is also interesting, in its own way."

Aziza Abduazimova, Nurse, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

“I am planning to develop training videos for medical professionals working in the most remote regions of the country to ensure no one is left behind.”

Snezhana’s story: bringing new lives into the world

"Thanks to the senior midwives who supervised me, the beginning of my professional development was not stressful, even though the work was challenging and exhausting at times."

Natalya Saulskaya: as a nurse, I worry for every baby who hasn’t been vaccinated

I decided to make a survey and to check what women know and think about vaccination. Forty women took part in this survey and it showed that all of them were aware of the reasons for vaccination, but 10 of them had no idea about the risks of refusing. They did not realize their responsibility in this and did not understand that the baby would be at risk with every contact with other children.”

Liubovi Chisevscaia: a lifetime of caring for patients

“I love my job. I have dedicated myself to caring for people – there is nothing more important than human health. The health needs of the population have changed in the last decades, and nurses have an important role to play in tackling health challenges, promoting health, preventing diseases, providing individual care to patients and ensuring the continuity of care."

Inés María Comino Sanz: A nurse researcher in Spain helps bring evidence into practice

“I am very fortunate to work with other nursing researchers here, and find it very fulfilling to see patients being able to do the same things that they did before surgery. It is a huge learning opportunity and also demonstrates to nurses and the larger society the difference that nursing research makes to people’s health.”

Eunice M.C. de Lima: Nursing in a remote island setting

Nursing on Flores Island in the Azores archipelago, 120 miles from the nearest hospital. “In this faraway western ‘corner’ of Europe, we have to go wherever we are needed and by any means necessary. We take a boat sometimes, but usually a commercial flight, in which we accompany patients to other islands and have to stay at least 2 days before returning home."

Agita Melbarde-Kelmere: Championing hand hygiene in Latvia

In just six months, Agita and her team showed how infection rates could be decreased by 50%. The work by Agita and her colleagues reinforces the findings that effective infection prevention control programmes lead to a more than 30% reduction in health care-acquired infection rates and active surveillance itself may contribute to a 25–57% reduction.