It was May 2021 when the intensive care specialist Julia Rettenberger appeared in the SZ column “Auf Station” for the first time. At that time it seemed to have gone quiet about the many people in the nursing professions – hardly anyone clapped for them, as was the case at the beginning of the corona pandemic. But her work was no less important: people always get sick and caring for them and, ideally, keeping them healthy remains the claim of nursing. However, the fourth corona wave in autumn and the maximum number of new infections that has now been reached in the fifth wave make it clearer than ever before: care is a pillar of society.
The 28-year-old Rettenberger has been proving this week after week for 35 episodes. But now it’s time to hear another perspective: Pola Gülberg is not only a colleague of Rettenberger in the intensive care unit in the Ebersberger district clinic, but also her successor as a nursing columnist for the SZ. From next week, the 37-year-old will take over the baton from Julia Rettenberger and will talk about her perspective on care in the format “Auf Station”. In an interview with the SZ, the two colleagues report on their perception of the care column, why the Ebersberg intensive team is a special one for them and what the ward band has to do with them both.
SZ: Ms. Rettenberger, have you already said everything about care or why are you retiring as a columnist?
Julia Rettenberger: No, not everything has definitely been said – there is a lot to tell about care! I’ve been in the job for a few years now, in the same hospital on the same ward, but something keeps happening that I’ve never experienced before. But there are new projects waiting for me that I can look after. In order to have enough time for this, I would like to finish my work for the column.
Ms. Gülberg, from now on you will share your thoughts about your job with the readers of the SZ once a week. Why?
Pola Gulberg: I’m still enthusiastic about my job, even though I finished my apprenticeship 15 years ago. Nothing stands still in nursing, there is always something new, I totally agree with Julia. I would like to pass on this fascination. The column gave us a voice in nursing, which I think is important – and I’ve really enjoyed reading every episode so far. So I hope to be able to continue the project with honor.
Don’t you see the danger of telling the same thing as your predecessor?
Gulberg: No not at all. We are different people, perceive things differently and work differently – everyone in care has their own focus. This does not mean that the supply is better or worse in the end. But as I said before: the care is incredibly diverse.
“I firmly believe that a new face of the column brings new perspectives and stories”
Rettenberger: I also firmly believe that a new face to the column brings new perspectives and stories – and I very much look forward to reading it then.
The two of you have been working together in the Ebersberg intensive care unit for seven years. Can you remember your first encounter?
Rettenberger: I can’t say that exactly anymore…
Gulberg: When you start in intensive care, you suddenly have 60 new colleagues. That’s so much input – that’s why I can’t remember it anymore. But I still remember the Christmas campaign that we prepared together very clearly! This also allowed us to get to know each other better personally.
Rettenberger: Is correct! We sort of started a station band (laughs).
A station band?
Rettenberger: At our station’s own Christmas party, there are always a few performances, skits or music, for example. At some point we both started singing Christmas carols with a third colleague on the guitar. That was always a blast!
Gulberg: Oh yes (laughs)! That must have been in 2018 and 2019 – unfortunately the Christmas party had to be canceled for the past two years due to Corona.
Outside of work, Julia Rettenberger (left) and Pola Gülberg got to know each other better through playing music together at the ward’s internal Christmas party.
(Photo: Peter Hinz-Rosin)
The protagonist of the care column changes – what about the fluctuation in the intensive care unit?
Rettenberger: There are always some who move away because of their partner or who can no longer afford to live in south-eastern Bavaria – so there is always a specific reason when someone leaves the team, and very often they have nothing to do with them job to do in itself. But we have a hard core that has existed for a long time.
Gulberg: That speaks for our great team. Many of our intensive care units also retire directly, which is usually rare in intensive care units.
Why?
Gulberg: At some point, the work becomes more and more difficult, both physically and mentally. For example, our typical patients are not the young. As you get closer and closer to the patient’s age, it means more emotional stress for most of them. As they get older, many therefore switch to other areas where they feel less stressed.
Ms. Rettenberger, during one of the preliminary talks for the care column, you emphasized that you didn’t want to report on Corona every week. Why?
Rettenberger: There are also other people with other diseases that we care for. That must not fall under the table! Corona is a bad disease, we see a lot of unsightly things on our ward. But when it comes to nursing care, Corona is not very imaginative. We have patients that we have to treat much more individually – that’s actually more exciting!
Gulberg: I feel the same way. We in Ebersberg are a mixed intensive care unit: In contrast to specialist intensive care units in some larger clinics, patients from all disciplines come to us – we are very happy about that. This diversity of our patients and our knowledge should also be represented.
“I was surprised by the positive feedback I got.”
Ms. Rettenberger, what do you personally take with you from the 35 episodes of the care column?
Rettenberger: I was surprised at the positive feedback I got. I’ve been approached by people I haven’t been in contact with for years. I’m glad that so many people are interested in our job. I interpret that as gratitude to our profession. Feeling that through the column is great!
We would like to thank you back: Thank you very much for all the insights you have given us. Mrs. Gülberg, we are looking forward to your stories.
Gulberg: I’m looking forward to!