"Person confesses to harboring fear prior to taking a life"
Article:
In an exclusive interview, nurse Hatice Koca discusses her career in Austria's intensive care units (ICUs), where she has spent nearly two decades caring for critically ill patients. Despite the demanding workload, long hours, and low recognition, Koca remains steadfast in her commitment to the profession.
Koca, whose experiences are detailed in her recent book, shares that despite the occasional temptation to quit, she has never seriously considered leaving the ICU. In fact, she is currently pursuing a master's degree, with plans to continue her nursing career on the frontlines.
The ICU can be an emotionally draining environment, Koca admits, with the weight of patients' fates bearing down on those working in the unit. Yet, despite the stress and the difficulties, Koca finds solace in the sense of purpose her work provides.
"Every day, I know that I have something for myself, for others, and for society. My work pays off. I go to bed with a good feeling," Koca explains.
To counterbalance the challenges of the ICU, Koca has turned to social media, sharing her experiences on TikTok. With 150,000 followers, she has become one of Austria's most famous health influencers, using her platform to promote nursing as a professions and to advocate for changes in the healthcare system.
"It's never been about me, but about nursing. And about the shortcomings, and that politically something needs to change by investing more in the healthcare system and good nurses," Koca says.
The need for change is evident. By 2030, Austria is projected to face a shortage of between 75,000 and 90,000 nurses. Koca believes that her influence on TikTok has played a role in keeping the pipeline of new nurses flowing, inspiring at least one individual to pursue a career in nursing.
Koca's journey into nursing began somewhat serendipitously. During her training, she received two internships on the ICU, though she had initially sought something else. Impressed by the work of the ICU nurses, she found her calling on the unit, which she describes as "the cream of the crop, the non-plus-ultra."
Factors that might have contributed to Koca's choice of the ICU as her professional home include personal fulfillment, challenge and engagement, skill development, impact on patient care, professional growth opportunities, and social media influence. These factors reflect the broader appeal of the ICU environment for those who thrive in high-stress situations, value critical skill development, and seek opportunities for professional growth and influence.
In addressing Austria's looming nursing shortage, Koca's story serves as a reminder of the incredible impact that dedicated healthcare professionals can have on patients' lives. Through her willingness to share her experiences and advocate for change, she continues to guide and inspire the next generation of nurses, ensuring that the care provided in Austria's ICUs remains of the highest quality.
- While her journey into nursing was somewhat serendipitous, Hatice Koca found her calling in the intensive care unit (ICU), a rigorous environment that offers personal fulfillment, challenge, engagement, skill development, impact on patient care, professional growth opportunities, and social media influence.
- In addition to her work on the frontlines of Austrian healthcare, Hatice Koca, mental-health advocate and science enthusiast, is using her platform as a health-and-wellness influencer on TikTok to promote nursing as a profession, advocate for changes in the healthcare system, and influence potential nurses, contributing to the battle against the projected nurse shortage in Austria by 2030.
