Matijana Jurisic works as a registered nurse at the Primary Health Care Center Tomislavgrad and in parallel is pursuing her PhD studies at the Faculty of Health Studies at the University of Mostar. She currently works as a community nurse in the community nursing department at the Primary Health Care Center Tomislavgrad.
What would she change in the Primary Health Care Center Tomislavgrad... She conducted a survey within the institution she works at, in order to get better insight in user satisfaction with the services provided in the primary health care system. The data was collected using a questionnaire for patient satisfaction measurement. The goal of this survey was to improve the quality of services and medical treatments, humanistic approach, information availability and to reduce inequality. More than half of the surveyed participants are mostly or completely satisfied with the services, the institution, the doctors, the nurses and the premises where the service are provided. A certain number of patients expressed their dissatisfaction with the parking lot and access to the Primary Health Care Center. In that regard, the Primary Health Care Center already secured financial resources, public procurement procedure was completed and this extremely important project, not only for our institution but also for the municipality of Tomislavgrad, will soon be successfully implemented.
About the nurses’ position... Speaking of the nursing profession, she believes that it is not valued enough, regardless of education level or profile. In order to make a full use of the BIH nurse workforce potential and improve their position, it is necessary to invest in this profession and resolve the problems and challenges it faces. The public, the media and the environment know very little about nurses’ hard studies and responsible daily work, about the stress they experience providing numerous interventions that are often unpleasant, psychologically and physically demanding, and colored by patients’ pain, suffering and death.
About the outflow of health work force from Bosnia and Herzegovina... Matijana believes that, in order to retain the nurses in Bosnia and Herzegovina, stronger cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health should be established and better pay guaranteed. “It is necessary to adequately recognize our work. It is important that the employer understands the employees and to talk openly with the colleagues in order to prevent the burnout”.
About the problems of the health system... The health system is faced with numerous problems, hospital staff is overloaded, exhausted, invisible. The pay is not adequate; huge administrative burden is on us. The nurses’ union should advocate for better work conditions. I believe that it is necessary to conduct trainings on regular basis for nurses to increase their value and recognition, and to encourage them to pursue their professional titles and competencies. Nurses are trainers and managers in their institutions.
About the trainings for nurses... I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Fami Foundation and the Geneva University Hospitals - supported by the Swiss Government, which in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Health provided a valuable training for community nurses. I would also like to thank the Primary Health Care Center Tomislavgrad for selecting me to participate in this training. After this much needed training, we were able to recognize the improvement both on private and professional level in our communication skills. A collaboration with other people has improved, i.e. tension decreased and the feeling of spontaneity and empathy increased. Assertiveness is elevated and compromises are made. We practiced communication with the media. This was extremely well received; we felt how important communication is for everyday work, because in addition to empathy, one also needs the skill to express oneself. We need to continuously strengthen these skills. Experienced lecturers, professional, competent and affable approach to participants, as well as the two-way communication, concrete answers and practical advices are more than enough good reasons for further cooperation we look forward to.
Advice to future nurses... It is important for every healthcare worker to grow professionally and continuously learn throughout entire life. I love my vocation very much and in my opinion being a nurse is the most beautiful part of nursing. Humanity and altruism are deeply rooted in the health profession. Without humanistic and ethical principles it is not possible to build a complete, partnership between a nurse and a patient. Every day should be a gift and every morning should start with a smile. My family often asks me where do I get my energy from?! I gladly answer that as much as we help our patients, we also learn from them - interpersonal relationship and contact can be healing; a social support is important. Everyone around us can be our teacher and we can be everyone's teachers. Doing my job I have the opportunity to meet many good people. I learned something from everyone. Relationships with people who help us should be protected and nurtured. I believe in a saying - do good and you will feel good.
