Tatjana Mikic is a community nurse at the Primary Health Care Center Prnjavor. She considers her profession not only a job, but a vocation that requires love for people.

Tatjana admits that it was difficult at the very beginning of the pandemic: "We were not prepared for something like this and everything was developing so quickly. However, organizing ourselves well, we managed to respond to the needs of the patients, and yet to protect their and our health. "Extraordinary circumstances required reorganization of operations and adjustment to new protocols. Tatjana was taking shifts at the central quarantine of the Republika Srpska in Banja Luka and at the ward for respiratory infections within the PHCC, and also doing home visits. At the same time, this situation confirmed the importance of
good work organization and good collaboration among the colleagues but also of a kind word and mutual support.

The situation now is a bit better, given that there is no work at quarantines, and the patients are less frightened and more accustomed to the personal protective equipment of health professionals. They are already well informed about the mode of virus transmission, protection and symptoms, and are open during medical history taking. Yet, Tatjana adds that "both patients and healthcare professionals are still under great pressure, so it is very important that we still have understanding for each other." It is equally important that we all follow the preventive measures, which is not so difficult. "Everything ends eventually, so will this pandemic. It only takes a bit of discipline and patience", Tatjana says.

Tatjana is grateful to the health authorities and the PHCC management for providing the necessary personal protective equipment, instructions and support. "Nurses are a pillar of the health system and it is very important that we remain physically healthy, mentally stable and united in order to continue helping our patients," concludes Tatjana.