Authors
- Andreja Domitrović – PhD Student of Sociology, Croatian Catholic University, Zagreb, Croatia; Emergency Medical Service of Sisak-Moslavina County, Popovača Branch, Croatia
- Dalibor Ivanešić – PhD Student of Sociology, Croatian Catholic University, Zagreb, Croatia; General County Hospital Požega, Combined Emergency Hospital Admission, Požega, Croatia; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Department of Nursing and Palliative Medicine, Osijek, Croatia
- Marija Žagmešter* – Croatian Catholic University, Department of Sociology, Zagreb, Croatia
Article type:
Review
Abstract:
Within the healthcare system in the Republic of Croatia, nurses have historically been recognized as a significant factor in caring for the sick and frail through the care and nurture they provide, along with taking care of healthy individuals and groups by participating in preventive and public health programs as well as health education. As the tasks within their work domain changed, so did the role of the nurse. The issue of the nurse’s identity and the acceptance and acknowledgment of their importance in society is a question of great significance that Croatian society as a whole, and its political elites, have yet to answer, especially since there is an increasing number of nurses emigrating from the Republic of Croatia, not only for financial reasons but many other incentives as well. The increasing number of newspaper headlines on the shortage of nurses should be taken into consideration because they imply that issues such as providing better working conditions, ensuring a sufficient number of nurses relative to the number of patients, addressing the rising question of required competencies and the amount of work in accordance with salaries, and increasing educational opportunities must be solved urgently. These problems act as push factors for nurse migration and raise doubts about the vital question of the qualifications of the future workforce in this field. Nursing services will be much needed due to the increasing population of elderly and frail individuals, as well as acute and chronic patients. The same need for such services is also increasing in other countries where working conditions are better and nurses are recognized as independent professionals in their field of work, which acts as a pull factor for nurse migration. If society as a whole wants to retain nurses, it is crucial to address and resolve the complex problems occurring in the Republic of Croatia.
Keywords:
nurse, identity, professional iden- tity, roles, Croatian society