The work at the Department of Chemotherapy is a challenge, but also a responsibility for every employee. You need to possess a positive energy, but also a great commitment and expertise, not only in the work, but also in the relation towards patients who are facing the most difficult diagnosis. Irena says this is the place where she belongs and is proud of the ability to help and to make a better day for the patients.

Smiling and positive, this is how the patients briefly describe the nurse Irena Jovanovska from the day hospital for chemotherapy at the “Acibadem Sistina” Hospital. She is part of the Department of Chemotherapy since its inception, where she cares for the most severely ill with a great affection and a commitment. The patients adore her for the accessibility and positive energy she communicates to them at each meeting. While interviewing her, she was welcomed with a big embrace by the famous writer Isidora Bjelica, who did not spare the words for, as she says, my “blue angel”.

“Nurse Irena is incredibly professional. So far my hand has never turn blue when she administer the therapy. He always knows to behave psychologically with every patient. She is my blue angel”.

Although she says about herself that has never thought to work with oncologic patients, today she would not change this profession for anything else. Every moment with them fulfils her while their smile is the greatest reward for her.

What is most important in working with the oncologic patients?

The most important is the first contact nurse-patient. These patients are one of the most difficult since they have or face a real life problem. For that reason it is very important how to approach them psychologically. When starting a therapy they are scared what to expect during the treatment. We are trying to alleviate the whole process and to encourage them, to give them the greatest support. We are always bright, smiling and in good mood, even when we do not feel like laughing. When it comes to a relation towards the patient, all private problems must be left behind, at the entrance of the hospital. Besides professionalism, our job is to make their day better, since these patients spend most of their treatment at our department. It is interesting that even when their treatment ends, the communication continues. Sometimes in order to share their plight, to get advice, or share some good news with us. We become part of their lives, part of their family.

How do you face their stories?

These are people who are struggling with one of the most severe diseases of today, and you can not be untouched by someone’s destiny regarding that we have patients of any age. But I always try to be calm, to understand them, listen to them and try for a moment to get their attention away from the disease. We talk on various topics, and every forced smile and little happiness in their eyes certainly is a great reward for me, above all as a man and as a nurse.

What gives you a motive in the overall work?

A satisfied and grateful patient is our greatest motive for work. When the patients come after a completed cycle of therapy, with good results and happy, they are eager to share with you the news that they have succeeded, that the disease has receded, and that feeling has no price. They hug us, rejoice with us, and those are moments for which this profession is worth of. You know that these friendships are sincere because oncological patients are the most honest patients, they will simply accept you or not.

How important is the teamwork?

In this domain of medicine, the teamwork is the most important, starting with doctors, nurses, paramedics and technologists, because we all together try to relieve the treatment process in every possible way. Often we know how to make them small surprises. We are all in constant communication and we are available 24 hours, sometimes for a problem, sometimes just to talk.