Nobody told me. On several occasions I witnessed each day, each medical parctice. And it not about “doing anything extraordinary," as they would say later. It is simply to fulfill the duty with the love and devotion to the profession..

They are so young that a patient could be afraid at first, but only when you watch them perform their job , any fear disappears.

In the Men medicine ward , at Ciro Redondo Garcia General Teaching Hospital in Artemisa province, Yusdelsi Sanchez Varela and Pablo Cruz Reyes, both nursing graduates, found a space to develop professionally. They assist there about 30 patients.

"When I was a child I used to playing at being a nurse, I liked this profession. Later, I realized love and support was essential to help patients . My mother studied medicine, but she had to quit the medicine school in third year because of family difficulties.. She supported me a lot when I decided to be a nurse ", said the girl, who was trained in that hospital, like her co-worker.

Yusdelsi began working in the Emergency Department when she was in second year of the career . Once a week she had lessons and worked in shifts the remaining days.

"Sometimes, I had lessons after I finished the guard duty . I faced something different; occasionally I got impressed due to what I saw me and I got nervous, but as time went by I overcame these difficulties. I worked in different medical specialties services, and even I practiced in hospital Guanajay "the nurse explains.

Yusdelsi and Paul are aware of the mission they face. During the working day they perform different medical procedures; such as , measure vital signs, channel veins, put Levin and bladder catheter, heal scars, do glycemic profiles, suctioning nasogastric secretions, and other tasks. They are also advise students they share their knowledge with.

"We must carefully follow doctors prescriptions. The treatment of the patient is essential, all they require strict observation and, simultaneously, different, "says Paul, who liked the profession because some of their relatives work in the medicine field and like the art of healing and treating sick people “I studied medicine for five years and later I began working. I volunteered to be on guard duty . It was very different to Yudelsis, the nurse explained. Cruz graduated six month ago.

“During these month I have learned a lot ”,  “ The most important thing is to be sure in every medical procedure and be carefull and tender. Patient have to see us as a friend. Put the hand on the shoulder and ask them how they feel is very good for patients.

Every month they have a meeting and lately they have been selected the best working shift of the ward.

Yusdelsi would like to register in a course for medical emergencies to work in an intensive care unit but she likes what she does in the ward where she has worked since 2013. Paulo would like to study the speciality on anestesia.

They both learn from Maria Elena’s experience, the devotion of Maria de los Angeles , a patient assistant. The same happens to Yosiel and Anilexis, who do their best but take into account doctors’ experience , such as Celestino, and María Elena, who are examples of devotion to the job . It can not be the other way because all they are part of a professional staff who give a step forward for life.

Translated by LMMS