– Among other things, I have learned what the thanksgiving evening is, and about what it was like to dance in the past. Hanna Berge (17) talks to residents on the veranda at Knutsaåsen care center in Stord. It is summer, but cold and wet. – I must have a little more clothes, says Kristi Aas, and Hanna runs in and picks up a jacket for her. Hanna Berge helps Bjørg Kaldråstøyl at the nursing home. Photo: Eli Bjelland / news Several will return The 17-year-old is one of 65 young people who have a summer job at the institutions for the elderly in Stord municipality in Vestland. They are drawn at random from almost 100 applicants. For the past three summers, Ung i helse has been a recruitment initiative. The hope is that the 16- and 17-year-olds will want to train to become nurses or healthcare workers. Nursing crisis 1 in 5 nurses quit after 10 years in the profession There is a shortage of 7,000 nurses today. The shortage of nurses in 2035 is estimated to be 28,000. (Source: Sykepleien) Figures from NAV show that there is a shortage of more than 4,600 nurses in this country. And it will get worse. Projections from Statistics Norway show that by 2035 there will be a shortage of 28,000 nurses. The vast majority of municipalities point out that it is most demanding to recruit a sufficient number of health personnel, nurses and health professionals, according to input to KS. Linnea Madeleine Jonsson arranges and makes it pleasant at the table. Photo: Eli Bjelland / news – A huge challenge According to KS, many municipalities have various measures to recruit. It can be a financial incentive or various measures and projects. – There are few or no applicants for the vacant positions. In some municipalities, it is also difficult to get hold of unskilled assistants, says Reidun Stavland, who is the county manager of the Norwegian Nurses’ Association in Vestland. She thinks the recruitment initiative at Stord is positive, but is worried that the young people will be frightened. – They may meet very sick elderly people who need help with everything, and employees who have so much to do that they barely have time to go to the bathroom. Reidun Stavland fears that young people who have summer jobs may be intimidated by everyday life in elderly care. Photo: Eli Bjelland / news Important resource At Stord, the measure has produced good results. – It has worked very well. Several come back as extra help and in regular summer jobs, says Lidveig Stubhaug, who is a ward nurse at Knutsaåsen. The young people are an additional resource in the departments. Among other things, they help in the kitchen and participate in activities with the residents. – We get good feedback from both residents and relatives. Picking flowers is part of the job that the young people do, so that the residents will thrive. Photo: Eli Bjelland / news Linnea Madeleine Jonsson (16) picks flowers to decorate the table for dinner. – The others continue with the patients. We can relieve the burden with tasks such as cleaning and decorating, she thinks. She will start health subjects at secondary school in the neighboring municipality of Fitjar in the autumn. – The summer job has made me want to work in health more, but I don’t quite know yet what I will end up with. I need to explore a bit more. The young people are not scared The ward nurses at Knutsaåsen are aware of the danger of scaring the young people. – It is clear that it can happen, but it is our job to make them safe, says Karen Irene Høyland. – A lot of negative things are said and written, and it does not help to recruit people. It’s sad, but at the same time there’s a lot of truth in it. The four young people at work say they are not scared after almost four weeks in summer work. – It is very busy for those who work here, but they brag about the work I do to help them, says Oda Kverne Sørensen (17). Susan Rea-Mathisen, Linnea Madeleine Jonsson, Hanna Berge and Oda Kverne Sørensen all have summer jobs in the health sector. Photo: Eli Bjelland / news
ttn-69
Stord municipality will solve the nursing shortage by luring young people to summer jobs – news Vestland
