Nurses are very close to the patient. Nurses spend more time with the patient than other specialists. Nurses must be professional and care for the patient.
Ulvi Kõrgemaa's study showed that nurses are now more independent. Before, nurses were assistants to doctors, now they are professionals themselves. This has changed thanks to higher education.
Today, nurses are leaders and organizers of their work. Nurses communicate more with patients and help them make decisions. The organizational culture is now more open.
Nurses work more, and their responsibility has increased. Patients arrive at the hospital faster and with more complex problems. Patients do not stay in the hospital as long as before.
Nurses are now significantly more professional. They care about the patient's well-being and help with things like the patient's dog. Nurses can also assist social workers.
The nursing profession in Estonia has changed significantly over the past 30 years. Nurses are more professional and caring towards patients. However, the workload has increased.
There is a need to investigate why nurses work more. It may be that some tasks can be delegated to other employees. Then nurses could spend more time with patients.