I packed my suitcase and flew to Porto, Portugal to do clinical practice in local hospital São João which is one of the biggest hospitals in Portugal. I was excited but also very nervous about moving to a whole new country and diving into an unknown lifestyle.
I have been in the hospital for a month and a half now and it has been very instructive. The place where I am working is a neurology unit for adults. I have seen many different conditions and interesting ways to look for a cure. I have also seen how to beat the sickness and regain lost ability to function normally.
People here speak mostly Portuguese, but some can also speak English. I took one course of Portuguese before the exchange so I cannot quite communicate with it yet. It has been challenging to work with patients that I do not have a mutual language with, in order to solve the problems. Fortunately there is always someone who can help me when I am having difficulties with the language.
Nurses at the hospital get to make a lot of decisions themselves which differs from Finland. I think that in Finland working as a nurse is more strict and decisions cannot be made without a doctor’s permission. As a student they give me more responsibility and freedom to work by myself than in Finland. So it is very different from what I am used to.
When I have free time, I am exploring the city and enjoying the new culture. I have tried many traditional foods and drinks. I have also been to different kinds of events that are for exchange students around the world.
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