Thomas Karlsson - Mobile nurse
What do you do at Oriola?
I have been working for more than six years as a support nurse with advanced treatment for Parkinson's disease. The treatment improves the patient's movement patterns. I work as a caring technical support for patients and travel throughout the country by car, train or airplane.
Describe a day in your life!
As a nurse in this support programme, the most fun and challenging thing is to help a patient start the treatment.
Being able to help and support a person to better life and health, even if we can't cure all diseases – it gives me so much energy back.
We do this together with the patient-responsible doctor or Parkinson's nurse either in a hospital ward or in the patient's home. We spend a lot of time with patients during these days to get the best treatment results possible. This enables us to work to make the patient as independent as possible with the treatment. We also help the patient to understand the effectiveness, dosages and symptoms of the drug.
How do you use your expertise in your work?
I have worked for 30 years as a nurse, which means that I have gained a lot of experience in healthcare. This makes you calmer and more secure in your professional practice. To be able to distinguish between what is sick or healthy. Acute or not. I have also got older, which I believe has created security both in life and in working life.
What does health mean to you?
Physical and mental wellbeing. Waking up in the morning and thinking this is going to be a really good day! A work-life balance. A life of social connections, hanging out with people who can give me energy and joy.
What do you do to restore your energy?
Spend time with family and friends, cinema, theatre visits and concerts. Travel, see new places, preferably in Europe. France is the favourite. We have holiday homes in Norrtälje where we mainly spend time in spring and summer. I enjoy being outdoors with daily walks, cycling and gyms. Love the summer with sun and warmth.
Is there anything you would like to say to future colleagues?
Study to be a nurse! There are so many different opportunities in the profession both in Sweden and abroad. Being able to help and support a person to better life and health, even if we can't cure all diseases – it gives me so much energy back.