The Best in the World

I want to help people prevent problems, and maintain and improve their health in an equal manner. The sector's professionals are multi-skilled experts, and the field is constantly evolving, making the work both interesting and meaningful. At its simplest, my presence can save someone’s day.

I am still at the beginning of my career, but my most memorable success has been helping patients who are afraid of dentists. When a fearful patient comes in for treatment and faces their fear with us, it is wonderful to see how the care relationship develops and how their demeanour becomes more relaxed with each visit.

I treat each patient as an individual. I have a passion for what I do, which shows in my desire to learn and develop myself. I believe everyone has a right to good health, and I want to do my part in making that possible.

Days and shifts are always different. The children are genuine and bring me joy. They give genuine and immediate feedback. I work closely with various experts. Collaborating with families is also an important part of my work. It seems natural and easy to me. The work is demanding, but also rewarding.

There are quite a few! I started my career in a hospital, where I worked for over 12 years in paediatric intensive care, long-term care and infection wards. There, I gained valuable knowledge and skills in caring for and medicating sick children, which I have been able to apply in early childhood education. 

In addition, it is always a wonderful experience to earn the trust of children and their parents. One of the most memorable moments was when I was invited to a child's birthday party. The mother had allowed the child to invite a few friends from daycare, but the only person the child wanted to invite was me. Once, a child asked me if I could be their spare grandmother when they heard that I had become a grandmother to a little baby boy.

I also remember a time when a child refused to let anyone apply lotion, even though it was necessary due to a rash. I managed to reach an understanding with the child, who later said that the lotion could only be applied if Tarja was on shift when the child was receiving care.

You should keep three important phrases in mind: good morning/afternoon, thank you and sorry. I have a good sense of humour, I am patient and creative. I can make quick decisions. I recognise that I am not perfect and want to learn and develop further. I respect the children and their guardians. I fully commit to my work and support my colleagues. Even in difficult situations, I will not give up but will keep on trying.

The care sector is my thing. When I was young, I did not even want to apply for training in any other field. I am empathetic by nature, but I also have a certain level of authority and know how to bring out my professional self when needed.

It is difficult to choose just one instance, because there have been so many! One significant moment was when I succeeded in gaining the trust of a man with a memory disorder who was behaving violently. Another memorable success is related to remote home care, where I had the opportunity to help develop a new care model and even present my work in a British newspaper.

In remote home care, significant moments have also included situations where an initially sceptical client, despite resistance, accepted the remote service. And in the end, they do not want to give it up under any circumstances!

I am empathetic, approachable, friendly, smiling, professional and skilled. I have also studied to become a memory care nurse, as most of my clients have memory problems. 

The social and healthcare field is close to my heart because it allows me to help people and support their wellbeing. It is important to me to encounter each person as an individual and consider their needs holistically. I am motivated by witnessing how my work positively impacts people's daily lives. I also appreciate the opportunity to work in a skilled and caring team where collaboration and professional growth are valued.

I work in a paediatric intensive care unit. The most memorable successes are related to moments when a child recovers from a serious illness or accident and the family is able to return to normal life. 

One situation that has stayed with me was when we cared for a severely ill child whose recovery required close multidisciplinary collaboration and long-term treatment. Everyone in our team did their best. Every little step forward brought hope to both the family and the care staff. Eventually, the child recovered and the family was able to return to their everyday life. One of the most touching moments was when the family later came back to thank us. They told us how crucial our work had been for their lives. 

Moments like these make me realise how important and meaningful this work is – not just for a child's recovery, but also for supporting the family and keeping up hope. Experiences like this strengthen my motivation and remind me of the significance of what we do.

I treat families with trust and offer them emotional support. All feelings are allowed – including my own as a nurse. It is important that families see professionals genuinely caring about and being involved in their concerns without hiding their emotions. The combination of professionalism and humanity builds trust and helps families feel valued and supported.

I work in preventive child welfare at Lapset SIB Helsinki. My work is meaningful for the wellbeing of families. It involves walking alongside them, building solid trust and providing comprehensive support. Right now, I am in my dream job.

Throughout my career, I have experienced many wonderful moments and encounters, but one from my current job stands out in particular.

When I first started working with this one family, their child was very withdrawn and communicated by meowing. Over the years, the child has opened up and now communicates through speech. A long-term client relationship, trust and especially dog-assisted work have played a crucial role in this transformation. During the work, the child had the opportunity to act as a dog handler in front of other children, which boosted the child's confidence and pride in their abilities. It was amazing! In their dream family picture, they wanted to include the dogs. It was a big moment for me. A shy and withdrawn child blossomed into a confident one.

I have studied dog-assisted work in the social and healthcare field and I am also a neuropsychiatric coach. Combining these two has been a long-term dream of mine, which I have now been able to fulfil.

I am my genuine self and bring my personality strongly into my work. I have received positive feedback for my ability to approach people in vulnerable life situations with humanity and as equals.