Milcah Kipkoech-Huhta
The best part of my job is the respect and teamwork that we have in our ward with fellow nurses and other employees.
What is your current job title, job description, and place of employment?
I work as a nurse in Keski-pohjanmaan Hyvinvointialue, in ward 9. Our ward takes care of internal medicine patients, lung disease patients and also infectious disease patients. When needed we also take care of patients that do not fall under the above categories for example surgical patents.
What has your career path been like? How did you end up in each of your roles?
My career path has been an interesting one. Before I came to Finland from Kenya, I had already studied a diploma in medical laboratory sciences and worked as a laboratory technologist doing dagnostic work as well as overseeing quality management systems. I changed my career to nursing when I moved to Finland.
My first paid job was in home care during my first summer in Finland while I was still studying nursing in June 2017.In June 2018 I was lucky to be accepted to a summer job in the health center in-patient wards as a summer replacement student nurse. My contract was continued after summer and I was able to work a few hours every week and full hours during the holidays in December, as well as the following summer holidays until my graduation in December 2019.
After graduation I continued as a full-time empoyee until May 2021 when there was a vacancy for a full-time permanent position at ward 9, which I applied for and got selected.
So I have been a full-time employee there since May 2021.
What is the best part of your current job?
The best part of my job is the respect and teamwork that we have in our ward with fellow nurses and other employees. However challenging the days may get, there is peace in knowing you are not alone, that you can get actual physical and emotional support when things do not appear to be going well. The help and support that we give each other to achieve our work goals as well as get through emotional difficulties that may arise at work while taking care of the clients is amazing.
Another best part of my job is that when you come to work, you never know what is waiting for you at work, work days are not similar, sometimes easier and at times challenging.
Another part is that, as employees, we are able to influence and plan our workshifts to an extent, which gives us a chance to balance our own free time activities with work.
Did you live in Finland already before starting your studies at Centria or did you move to Finland to study?
I moved to Finland to study and now work and live here.
How did you find moving to Finland and how have you liked it?
Moving to Finland was an exciting decision and journey, it was my first time on an international journey. I was leaving my family behind to a different country, new language, new studies, new career path, new culture and new environment/climate. I had never experienced snow or winter before coming to Finland. It was so exciting to see and feel the snow for the first time.
What advice would you give yourself if you were starting your studies now?
I would really focus more extra effort on learning the Finnish language because it is almost the most important aspect that will make working life easier. Professional skills and knowledge are acquired from studies and also on the job but, the language skills are tested right from the first day of beginning to work.
What has been the most valuable aspect of your studies from a professional perspective?
Learning from the practical training periods and simulations. Problem-based learning also taught me that you do not have to know everything all at once when it is not possible. Instead you need to know where and how to find information when you need it.
The group work assignments helped me improve my presentation skills. They also made me appreciate the contribution of others and provided new and different perspectives on how others solve problems.
Has anything in your career or professional life surprised you?
How much we use our personality and empathy during work and not just our professional technical skills. The emotions that accompany care giving work, sharing the emotions of the patients, “feeling their pain”, their frustration and even loss.
How do you remember your student days? Does anything in particular come to mind when you look back on those years?
The field trips especially related to the Finnish culture, like outdoor activities and also sauna with our teachers and other classmates.
Practical training during studies which was tailored to fit what had already been taught during the study period, made the studies easier. In addition, learning and practicing with tutor nurses by your side for guidance and support gives one the courage to start practicing and acquiring professonal skills.
I also remember my student days, especially my first year. Even though I was dealing with the pressure of learning Finnish and the loneliness of being far from home, it was still manageable because I did not have to balance work and studies at the same time, unlike many international students do.