– I was the first to “come out” as pregnant. After that, messages poured in from my colleagues that they were also pregnant, says Ina Bergvik.
She is 24 weeks pregnant with her first child. And at work at the hospital in Gravdal in Lofoten, she is in good company.
As many as five other colleagues – all in the medical department – are now walking around with a little one in their bellies.
– It’s quite funny. We become our own maternity group. We have created a group on social media where there are both daily questions and updates, says Bergvik.
She is due in mid-January. The colleagues then wait for the baby in a row.
– There are four due in February and one expecting a child in March/April. We recruit for the future, says Ina Bergvik.
It was The Lofoten post office who mentioned the matter first.
It can get busy in the delivery room at Gravdal when six of the hospital’s nurses are expecting children in early 2024.
Photo: Tommy Johansen
Totally random
She assures that the pregnancy wave among her colleagues is completely random.
– But we can say that a happy workplace means that things are going well at home, she says jokingly.
Bergvik says that both colleagues and regular patients have caught up with the “baby boom” at the hospital.
– There is no one who does not have taken it with them. People think it’s very cozy, even though there may be a higher burden on those who stay, Bergvik continues.
– How has the news that six nurses are pregnant been received by management?
– They have thought that it has been a bit cozy, of course, although they have probably panicked a bit in silence, laughs Bergvik.
Smiling and tearing her hair at the same time
When six of the nurses are going on maternity leave in a short time in the new year, it means that the hospital must have replacements.
Head of department at the medical department, Christian Haaker Haarberg, says he felt mixed feelings when the news about the pregnancies came out on the conveyor belt.
First, great joy that the employees are pregnant. Then thoughts quickly came to mind about the challenge of replacing those who are going on leave.
– You both smile, but tear your hair out at the same time.
Nordlandssykehuset in Gravdal is the only one in Lofoten and covers the four Lofoten municipalities Vestvågøy, Vågan, Flakstad and Moskenes.
Photo: Tommy Johansen
– Panic in the silence is mentioned…
– Hehe, that’s a bit true, yes, he says and adds:
– We have talked about the fact that the next academic day will deal with contraception education.
He turns to a slightly more serious tone when he emphasizes that pregnant women should not feel either guilty or guilty about having become pregnant.
– It is not something they should manage or think about at all. We do what we can to take care of the ones we have, and then we have to see if we can attract someone to us, both in the short and long term.
Have to think again: The lure of free relocation and commuter accommodation
Recruiting nurses is initially not easy, and in the rural areas the challenge is even greater.
That’s why they now have to rethink Lofoten – and want to attract new nurses with new benefits.
– That is why we offer a relocation allowance, which has not been common at Nordlandssykehuset in the past.
Lofoten has for many years been one of the most popular tourist destinations in Norway. Now the local hospital in the region wants to attract nurses who can imagine a Lofoten adventure.
Foto: Nusfjord Arctic Resort
It is assumed that the hospital covers moving costs up to NOK 35,000, against a commitment period of two years in the department.
In addition, commuters with long journeys are offered free accommodation in one of the homes connected to the hospital.
– We have to try to use some tools that have not been tested before to get new people to try a little Lofoten adventure.
– If these cannot be replaced, will it affect the preparedness in Gravdal?
– Basically, it won’t. In the worst case, we have to use a temp agency, but that is a last resort. Temporary nurses are around twice as expensive as permanent nurses. So it looks bad.
2023-09-16 13:27:30
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