NEWS

"Medical institutions should have a policy for attracting and retaining staff. The problem is not just the pay. A young person wants to see the prospects in front of him", said Prof. Galina Chaneva in a conversation with presenter Silvia Velikova in the program "Before Everyone" on BNR.

“Our students stay here. Going abroad and realizing yourself as a nurse is not easy at all. Qualified nurses with very good language training go there," added Prof. Galina Chaneva, deputy dean of the Faculty of Public Health at the Medical University in Sofia.

Prof. Chaneva from the Medical University in Sofia said that annually they accept about 150 students in the "Nursing" specialty, and the applicants are usually about 200. 

She noted that there is always interest in this profession. According to her, approximately two-thirds of the students are young and motivated people, and a smaller part are retraining. Unlike Bulgaria, in France they select 100 people out of 10,000 applicants. 

Prof. Chaneva believes that the problems are complex and are not due to pay alone. She emphasized the high level of training of Bulgarian nurses. According to her, medical institutions should develop their own strategies for attracting and retaining staff, instead of forcing graduates to stay in the country.

"A young man wants to see the prospects before him."

The preparation of our sisters is very good, said Prof. Chaneva categorically. She believes that there is no way to oblige students to stay in Bulgaria after graduation. The medical institutions themselves must have a policy for attracting and retaining staff, she was categorical.

“There has to be a balance – to look for the relationships and proportions between patients and nurses. You have to think about how many patients will be served and look for nurses on that basis. Hospitals have their own rules and policies," comments Prof. Chaneva.

Prof. Chaneva emphasized the extreme responsibility of people who chose this profession. Many nurses of retirement age continue to work because they have developed a professional mindset.

The profession that needs a heart

79-year-old nurse Mina Ivanova from Alfatar also took part in the discussion. She cited low pay as the reason for the staff shortage.

"Nursing is a noble profession. We do our best, but our pay is not at the required level," she believes. And he pointed out that when you work in several places, you cannot be full:

"No matter how hard we try, one has a limit."

In her opinion, enough young people graduate, but they prefer to practice outside Bulgaria.

Listen to the full interview >>HERE<<.