“Care is changing by integrating technologies such as telemedicine, robotics and artificial intelligence,” added Professor Dr. Birgit Vosseler, Head of the Health Department, welcoming the guests.
Technologies support nurses in their daily lives – in diagnostics, patient monitoring, communication and documentation. “The nurse’s role in interpersonal support is even more important – especially in complex emotional and ethical situations.
The balance between empathy, professional care and technological support will be key to meeting the challenges of the future.”
“You chose the right profession”
Vosseler told the graduates that they “chose the right profession”: Nursing has an indispensable social relevance. There is demand for nursing solutions to global challenges – such as climate, migration, intergenerational issues or instability in areas of crisis, war and disaster. This increases the need for nursing expertise. The nursing profession develops with society. This means he is always up to date and has his finger on the pulse.
Today, nursing is “at a critical point. Technology, academia and specialization are changing the industry. The shortage of skilled workers, lack of understanding, high workloads, underfunding of the health care system and economic instability are still pressing problems,” says Birgit Bossele.
She encouraged the graduates to enhance their future skills: “As bachelor and master graduates, you can make yourself indispensable and irreplaceable as a thought leader and doer – by implementing innovations in nursing. Be a pioneer in the global world of nursing and healthcare. Boldly go your own way.” In their bachelor’s and master’s theses, the graduates demonstrated that they can think ahead and lead the way.
Sick children – stressed parents
Stem cell transplantation in children is the focus of Gaia Tramacere’s bachelor’s thesis. She examined the experience of parents at the time of the transplant. The children are in hospital for five to eight weeks. To avoid infection, they are in an isolation ward. The presence of parents is essential for affected children – to provide a sense of security and to alleviate fear.
During the acute phase of transplantation, parents are exposed to high levels of stress. You feel helpless and uncertain: How will the transplant go? Will the baby survive? At the same time, parents are faced with work-related changes. You face financial and organizational challenges.
As part of family-centred care, it is important to understand the needs of the parents. This allows the nursing team to provide targeted support to parents. For this purpose, Gaia Tramacere received practical recommendations. Every parent experiences the situation differently. So there can be no standardized solutions. The daily family-centered conversations are clearly a relief.
It is also important to exchange ideas with other affected families. Parents appreciate it when carers take time for them. Carers are a valuable resource for parents. They provide support and security. As a result, the parents have the least predictability in a time “between hope and despair”.
Strategies against the shortage of skilled workers
You often leave the nursing profession because of low job satisfaction. In the context of the shortage of skilled workers, job satisfaction is extremely important. Therefore, in her master’s thesis, Irene Fischbacher examined for the first time the job satisfaction of the nursing staff at Spitex organizations in the canton of St.Gallen. So far, no details about this have been available. Most studies of job satisfaction relate to acute care.
Irene Fischbacher conducted an online survey. Almost 360 carers from 34 Spitex organizations took part. The results show high satisfaction ratings – an average of 4.05 on a scale of 1 to 5. Spitex employees have a high level of control over their work activities. “Peer respect” is very important to them. It is very important to “not get fired”.
Improvements could be made mainly in terms of pay, opportunities for advancement, team work and respect from managers. Professional experience, level of employment and family work did not show any impact on job satisfaction.
The results provide important information. You can help develop strategies to tackle the shortage of skilled workers. Pay, career development and respect from managers are important areas of action.
Show what nursing science can achieve
The highlight of the celebration was the awarding of diplomas to the graduates. This was followed by two award ceremonies – by the Professional Association of Nursing Specialists (SBK) and by Dr. Hans Altstudent Foundation.
Cornelia Hartmann, President of the SBK St.Gallen-Thurgau-Appenzell section, and Tanja Gabathuler, joint managing director and responsible for the education of the SBK section, presented them with five bachelor theses and one master’s thesis. The works of Stefanie Böhi, Fiona Böhler, Sara Heini, Riana Stadelmann, Gaia Tramacere and Irene Fischbacher were honored. “Every day you all contribute to the further development of care. You shape the future – stay in your job!” – that’s the message from Hartmann and Gabathuler.
Irma Graf, President of the Board of Trustees of Dr. Hans Altstudent Foundation, honoring the work of Ursina Patt. The focus is on “palliative sedation” from the relatives’ perspective.
Janine Rick received a recognition award for her thesis on the topic “Communication with the nursing staff in the context of palliative care in neonatal wards: the parents’ experience”.
Through their research, the graduates demonstrated how innovative nursing science can be – for the benefit of patients and families. The OST congratulates all graduates.