Česky
With the arrival of Radka Zinková, the existing position of head nurse was renamed Deputy for Nursing Care. This is a new terminology that is becoming a national standard. "The aim of this change is to unify the nomenclature of functions in the health care fields. I also feel support from the hospital management that my position is as important to them as, for example, the economic deputy," explains Radka Zinková.
She joined the Rehabilitation Hospital Beroun three years ago as a station nurse in the internal outpatient clinics. And when Ilona Kupková started thinking about retiring, Radka Zinková was her first choice. "It's nice when the retiring head nurse can choose her successor. The handover and initiation into all work matters is then much calmer and in a pleasant atmosphere. At least it was for me," the new deputy adds with a smile.
She brings to her new position the varied and valuable experience she has gained from her previous jobs. She graduated from the Secondary Medical School in Pilsen in 1988, originally as a medical laboratory technician. Subsequently, at the Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, she worked with icons of Czech health care, namely professors of microbiology Alena Tomšíková and Vladimír Zavázal. She then gained experience as a nurse at the garrison dispensary of the Czech Army in Strašice in the Rokycany region. It was during this work experience that she decided to extend her secondary education in the field of general nursing.
"When the infirmary closed in 2004, I went back to the lab for a short time. But that wasn't the right fit anymore because I liked working with people and there it was more about instrumentation," she recalls.
After this experience, she moved on to the emergency services control room in Pilsen. Later, she worked briefly as a general nurse at the Genoa Hospital for Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases. She continued to expand her education. During the following years, she obtained a bachelor's degree as a general nurse at the Faculty of Health Studies of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen and completed a follow-up master's degree in nursing in internal medicine.
"During my time working at the Genoa hospital, I was offered a managerial position in a GP team practice, where I then spent 12 years. Initially it was pro-client premium care. But as time went on, and with the change in management, the care there didn't fit with my idea of working with patients and subordinate staff. Therefore, by mutual agreement, we ended our cooperation," Radka Zinková revealed.
Then, after a short look around, she found a job at the hospital in Beroun. "Although it is about 50 km from my home, I was impressed by the environment and the people who welcomed me, so I did not hesitate," she adds.
She has not slackened in expanding her expertise, even in the colours of AKESO Holding, and is now studying management in healthcare in the Master of Public Health programme while working full time.
Radka Zinková comes to the position of Deputy for Nursing Care with a vision to continue on the solid foundation handed down to her by her predecessor. "I came on board at a time when we are starting the Mental Rehabilitation Center, the Sleep Lab, and the Day Surgery is starting up. I definitely want to build on what Ilona Kupkova has successfully established here. My main goal then is to get the new facilities up and running well, stabilize the existing staff and continue to provide the high quality care we have here," he says.
Ironically, as she mentions later, it was the coronavirus pandemic that helped bring the medical field more into the public eye. "By getting a lot of publicity during the covid, it brought a lot of new people into the practice and raised interest in studying at all types of medical schools. It is also evident that the prestige of the general nursing profession, which has been missing for a long time, has returned and is also seen as a stable job," the deputy minister added.
