Petya Naydenova, senior nurse at the Oncology Hospital "Prof. Ivan Chernozemski" - Sofia, with 41 years of experience
There is a serious shortage of health care professionals in Bulgaria. Between 17 000 and 29 000 nurses are missing! There is no region in the country where there are enough nurses, with more than 2,500 needed in Sofia alone and over 1,400 in Plovdiv. In addition to being few in number, they are also quite advanced in average age. This means that in the coming years, unless extremely serious measures are taken, the shortage will deepen.
***
How did you choose the nursing profession?
I knew in first grade that I was going to be a nurse. I had a lot of health problems as a child and I had decided that I was going to become a nurse one day to help people.
What are the three qualities a nurse must have to be good at their profession?
Above all, love for the person. If we do not love people, we cannot be useful to them. The other important thing is that the medical profession is a vocation - if you don't feel inside that you have a need to help people, there is no way to learn.
What are the biggest daily challenges you face professionally?
In the first place is physical and mental fatigue. Our profession involves working around the clock, working to a schedule, no weekends, no holidays. When you're not fully with your family, that's one of the biggest challenges because you're actually, to be a good professional, you're dedicated to the patient and very often the family suffers from that busyness. Apart from that, every patient is individual, both as a person and as a disease, and we have to find the right approach and the right word to each one in order to have fulfilled our duties in a quality way.
Should young cadres whose education has been cofounded by the state be bound by a commitment to work for a period in the country?
I graduated in 1982 and we had allocations then. It didn't have that problem in health care then. There was no shortage of nurses for that very reason because for 3 years we were required to work in specific hospitals, clinics or polyclinics. I am absolutely in favour of three years after graduation to work compulsorily to feed the health system with this kind of staff.
Why did you choose Bulgaria for your professional career and are you satisfied with this choice to date?
I am absolutely happy with this choice and if I had to apply again, I would choose this profession and the realization in Bulgaria, but in any case, with a shorter period of study. 4 years is a very long time to study, specialize and realize. In my opinion, more attention should be paid to practical classes. In the last year of study, it is compulsory for nurses to practice in the field.
Your advice to all those who are facing the choice whether to choose this noble profession?
I would strongly encourage them to choose the profession, but only if they feel the need and the sense of being called to it. And if possible, to stay in Bulgaria, because our nation needs us!
