Karoliina Suvitaival has happily worked at HUS for nearly 30 years
Keywords:“The variability of work and meaningful work tasks have saved me from constantly changing jobs. There has been no need to get ahead of myself. I have also met excellent collaborative partners and had amazing colleagues in my different work tasks,” says Karoliina Suvitaival, Customer Services Manager, Occupational Health Services.
Suvitaival launched her career as a freshly graduated registered nurse at a plastic surgery clinic in the mid-1990s. After a few years, she started working as a nurse at HUS Occupational Health Services. The flexibility of the work community allowed her to continue her studies and become a public health nurse. She was appointed Occupational Health Nurse-in-Charge in 2004, the same year she was expecting her first child.
Nobody can work miracles alone
Suvitaival still has fond memories of the miracles of specialised medical care she witnessed at the plastic surgery clinic. There she realised that nobody could work miracles alone: an entire team of experts from different fields need to work together.
“I have constantly encountered new wonderful things in my work.”
“I have been working as a supervisor for twenty years now, and I supervise 15 occupational health nurses; I have worked with a partner for a couple of years.
My partner and I share supervisory responsibility, and we both have almost the same number of subordinates. It was a relief to get a partner. For a long time, I carried out all the work that is now our shared responsibility,” Suvitaival sums up.
A customer services manager coordinates the duties of occupational health nurses and develops their work, almost like a coach.
It is often said that there is little chance of career development in the health care sector, especially in nursing. Suvitaival feels that there are plenty of opportunities, as long as you boldly seize new opportunities.
Occupational health services focus on education and competence. They are currently being developed with enthusiasm and commitment to the work, keeping the customer’s best interest in mind.
No two workdays are the same
Occupational health services have developed over the years, and there are now more requirements and legal obligations than ever before. The variability of workdays is something that Suvitaival loves. She meets many stakeholders and different collaborative partners at work. No two days are the same.
“It’s wonderful to work at HUS. I find it important to be able to care for and serve experts in a multiprofessional manner in the best hospital in Finland. I also think that my role is socially important and meaningful. My work is an amalgamation of my values,” Suvitaival states.
Read other career stories.