Hello from Croatia. I have been here since late of february and there is few more weeks to go. I started my practical training in March in Klinicki Bolnicki Centar Osiiek, which means the Main hospital in Osijek. Osijek is in the east side of Croatia which is called Slavonia. The first 4 weeks I was in abdominal surgery department and children surgery ward. And now I am having 6 weeks of maternity and paediatric training in the same hospital. My mentors are very nice and they are always asking me how I´m doing and is there something I want to see. The people here in general are very warm and friendly. First when I came to hospital I was very exited about everything because I could communicate with others only in english and there is huge language wall between me and others because they dont understand english. And sometimes it is difficult to communicate with patients or with other nurses but the nurses are very eager to show me everything, and patients of course are very chatty. I got to know also a lot about Croatian culture and not just nursing.
There is lots of differences working in hospitals in here tahn in Finland. Nurses are graduated from highschool and they have to work in 12 hour shifts. And nurses with diploma who are graduated from university works only 8 hours per weekday. The amount of the hours is still the same like we have in Finland. The wards are much bigger than we have but there is less staff so there is much work to do. The patients stays in hospitals much longer and they also have their own pajamas and shoes with them.
There isn’t so much computers and every thing has to still write down. The patients have document on their bed where stands the vital signs, diuresis, medication and diagnosis. Everything is bit old and used, but there is also much more creativity with hospital equipments. The hospital beds lays next to each other and there is no curtains between them. So there isn’t actually any privacy between patients.
Buildings are old and in hospital area there is many separate houses next to each other, so the hospital is actually multiple buildings sharing the same garden. And you can see that this part of Croatia didn´t survive trough the Yugoslavian war so easily. There is lot to repair. But still the city is amazing.
For slavonian people it’s very common to go after work to cafes near the river Drava. Which is joining the larger river Tonau only 15 km after Osijek. In the city you can see multiple cafe’s and also many tiny bakeries from where you can buy snack or lunch to go. in daytime there is many people in city and talking each other. In Osijek there is also the Old town which is must see. There is one nice slavonian restaurant which serves delicious slavonian dishes, pork and paprika in many ways.
There is long promenade both side of the River Drava and there is beautiful pedestrian bridge over it near the city center. Osijek is the bicycle friendliest city in Croatia and I know it is easy to cycle around here. The city is not too big and there is also nice places to visit. There’s the Zoo, outdoor pools (which is opened unfortunately after I return from here), basketball and football matches, the old town, and multiple parks. Osijek is also the greenest city in Croatia because in here is multiple beautiful parks where you can have picnic or just hang around.
I feel so proud to survive in here because this was the first time I ever went to abroad alone and after this I know I have so much friends from other countries. I can’t wait when I get back to Finland and see my family again.
Yours Alli
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