Jana

Abstract

Jana was interviewed twice, due to a tape malfunction that damaged the tape of her first interview. The second interview took place three weeks after the first. In the first interview, she spoke a great deal about her experiences as a nurse and her thoughts on the health care system. Like many of her classmates, she said that nursing is a very difficult job because it demands a lot of hard work, strange hours, and causes much psychological pressure. In return, a nurse receives low pay and little respect. She also said that she was troubled that doctors and nurses are often not responsive to patients’ needs. Many of the nurses are very apathetic towards the patients. They are more interested in cleaning the sink than talking to the patients. She herself was always much more interested in finding out how the patient felt and talking to her/him, rather than cleaning up. This is why she left nursing and is now studying psychology. She also expressed concern over the transformation of the health care system and the difficulties among the poor in paying for health care.