Emina Hamzic, is the Head Nurse at the Primary Health Care Center (PHCC) "Dr. Isak Samokovlija" in Gorazde. She graduated from a nursing high school in Gorazde. In 2021, she graduated from the Faculty of Health Studies in Sarajevo.
First work experience in the field of medicine... I have been working at "Dr. Isak Samokovlija" PHCC since 2006. I was 21 then. My mother was a nurse. Watching her do her job, wholeheartedly help people, especially during the war, made me wish to be a nurse one day. I think there is no better feeling than helping other people. Also, I have always liked working with children and I am also a mother of three. I am currently holding a position of Head Nurse at "Dr. Isak Samokovlija" PHCC in Gorazde.
Nurses in Bosnia and Herzegovina... I believe that if someone loves his/her job and does it from the heart, will not find it difficult to be a nurse. Also, our job is not easy and brings many temptations, but it is also a humane vocation that makes one feel the happiest when one sees a patient leave the infirmary satisfied. In comparison with EU countries, the biggest gap is among university graduated nurses, who, compared to their colleagues from EU countries, have a much harder time exercising their labor rights. Also, in our country, the work of health professionals is not equally valued in different geographical areas.
Shortcomings at the Institution you work at, what would you change? "Dr. Isak Samokovlija" PHCC is very well organized, but there is a noticeable lack of doctors that other towns in Bosnia and Herzegovina face as well. Also, it is necessary to continuously follow the global trends and provide accordingly the best medical equipment for our patients, those we care and exist for. Trainings and professional development are very important for nurses’ work performance. Thanks to the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and Fami Foundation, this segment has significantly improved in our Institution in recent years. Currently, five nurses from our Institution are undertaking training in community nursing organized by Fami Foundation and FMoH.
The pros and cons of the nursing profession... Helping people in need is certainly the most beautiful side of our profession that I would single out. However, treatments with unwanted outcomes represent the most difficult moments in a career for any health professional. Great sacrifice at work certainly marks this profession, but I believe that most of the nurses are aware of that at the very beginning of their careers. The biggest problems arise due to inadequate equipment and lack of trainings of healthcare staff. Also, I believe that the absence of Nurses Chamber at the level of the FBIH greatly complicates the position of nurses in BIH.
How important are the nurse-patient and nurse-doctor relationships? The role of the nurse certainly implies a link between the doctor and the patient. Correct communication of information, interpretation and implementation of therapy and treatment are key factors in treatment in primary health care. I can say that communication is a very important skill and the successful cooperation of all participants in the process, including patient, is based on it. Communication between patient and nurse is essential. In communication with a patient, nurse can get very useful information that will help create a picture of the patient's way of life, possible reasons for the cause of the problem. This information can help in further treatment, as well as in solving the patient's health problems.
About nurses’ migration from BIH... The migration of the workforce outside our country is also present in other professions, not only in healthcare. However, due to the high demand in the EU countries the largest outflow is exactly in healthcare. Unfortunately, it is not possible to completely prevent the outflow of nurses but by improving working conditions and general safety in this region, we can certainly significantly reduce the outflow.
Work and conditions during the coronavirus pandemic... The COVID pandemic is a period that every health professional will remember. This is the period when we encountered the unknown. During that period, we risked our lives and the lives of our family members for the benefit of the community. We worked up to 15 hours a day until the necessary nursing care was provided to all patients. Just like never before, the nursing profession proved to be very important in our society. During that period, I worked in the first open COVID clinic in the Bosnia-Podrinje Canton of Gorazde. After the acquired knowledge and experience in the COVID infirmary for adults, I continued my engagement in the newly opened children's COVID infirmary and stayed there until its closing.
The importance of additional training for health professional in BIH... I believe that it is very important to follow new trends in medicine and that our learning does not end with the end of formal education, but lasts throughout entire working life. That is why it is important to use every opportunity for additional education and professional development. Further learning makes future work easier, helps us gain more confidence and pass our new experiences to other colleagues.
The importance of Fami Foundation for health profession in BIH... The role and importance of Fami Foundation in improving the quality of health services is enormous. First of all, I refer to a large number of educations, material-technical means for PHCCs and provision of professional assistance in introducing new forms of health services. This year, I attended additional training in community nursing organized for nurses from Sarajevo Canton and Bosnia-Podrinje Canton of Gorazde. Numerous lectures and workshops greatly contributed to the quality of my future work.
A moment from your career that you will always remember... Working during coronavirus pandemic is something that will surely mark my working life. Back then, for the first time since I started working, I was in a situation to risk my health to help other people. All the nurses were concerned about their own health, but even so, our patients were not left without care. It is a period that will leave a mark in the lives of all of us, especially health professionals.
A message to future generations of nurses... First of all, one has to love this job. Young people who want to do this job should be prepared to make a lot of sacrifices. There are many beautiful but also difficult moments in this job, but if they like working with people, if they like helping people, then this is surely a vocation for them.
