Alumni story: Malin wants to give good care to all patients
Malin works as a specialist nurse within the home care services in Kalmar. She studied the Specialist Nursing Programme with focus on Elderly Care, at a distance, and she thinks that her education provided her with in-depth knowledge that is useful to her in her work.
“I work as a specialist nurse within the home care services in Kalmar. Through my studies, I’ve gained a deeper knowledge about elderly people and become more confident in my assessments. The knowledge I acquired has given me a better insight into what is normal ageing and what can be treatable. The support to the assistant nurses improves when the nurse is confident in his/her role. As knowledge increases, the patient receives better care”.
Malin appreciates the variation that comes with the profession.
“What is exciting is that no two days are the same. A normal day involves home visit in independent living or visit to nursing or care home. Many need help with their medicines and it’s the nurse’s responsibility to make sure that the right medicine is given in the right way at the right time. At regular intervals, patients have medication reviews with the responsible doctor and it’s the nurse’s responsibility to prepare these and to take samples in accordance with prescription”.
In order to guarantee that patients receive safe care, Malin and her colleagues work in teams and use a quality register.
“Care in the final stages of life is part of a nurse’s work and this requires time and knowledge to make this period as good as possible for the patient and next of kin. We work with quality registers to give our patients the right care. The care of a patient is teamwork, which is very good from a quality perspective. Together as a team, with the patient and next of kin, we can do what is best for the individual”.
Malin studied the programme at a distance while working. She thinks that all nurses who work with elderly people should study the programme.
“I studied at a distance. We had some get-togethers at Linnaeus University, but most of the work was carried out online. This worked well and our teachers were committed. I’ve always worked to provide good care in the final stages of life and to make sure that there is good planning and preparation for these final stages. I think that all nurses who work with elderly people should study this programme.