Short bio

I have worked as a senior nurse in the nursing department of Narva Hospital for ten years. Under my guidance, nurses and caregivers learn to become top professionals in providing high-level care to older people. I am a nominee for the Estonian Adult Education Recognition Competition "Trainer of the Year 2023" in Ida-Viru County.

My story

I initiated the opening of the hospice at Narva Hospital and made it my mission to ensure that elderly or seriously ill individuals always receive skilled care and kind words. Natalja Metelitsa, the head nurse of Narva Hospital, says that I have been collaborating with Norwegian colleagues for ten years and have studied in Norway to learn how to care for the elderly, demented, palliative, and oncological patients. "She has acquired valuable knowledge and constantly shares it with her colleagues at Narva Hospital. The opening of the hospice is an essential step in improving the quality of care in Narva. Galina's work has helped create an environment where caring for the elderly is a priority and high-quality services are provided to elderly people," Natalja said about me.

My journey as a trainer began upon the recommendation of my colleagues, who offered me the opportunity to participate in organizing training for caregivers at one of the city's nursing homes. Working with theoretical materials and supplementing them with colorful examples from my reasonably extensive work experience in both medical facilities and patient homes was particularly interesting. After this course, my interest in training grew.

How to support adult learners in achieving their goals?

Adults perceive information through the prism of their life experiences, which varies for each person. Changing established opinions is very challenging. Once, in my first year as a senior nurse, the department staff were dissatisfied with the ongoing changes. They said, 'We've been working like this for ten years before you!' Changing their opinions was a difficult task. Over ten years, our work indeed changed significantly. The need to develop computer skills emerged, and the ability to work with information played a significant role.

People are also forced to change. For some, the process goes smoothly, while for others, it's challenging. A teacher's task is to support and guide, to spark interest. Adults can learn independently but often lack the motivation and energy to break out of their routine and try something new.

I believe that every leader is an adult educator – some are stronger, some are weaker. There are no uniform rules, but there are common goals – to foster interest in both the profession and life through learning and developing professional skills.

How does teaching contribute to your personal development?

I conduct training sessions for my staff and participate in various companies' educational programs. All of this helps me grow and progress. To keep pace with changes, adults need to be flexible capable of learning, acquiring, and applying new knowledge. Even someone who is very skilled but has stopped evolving and is closed off to new ideas eventually becomes a hindrance to the company and colleagues.

What are those moments in my role as a trainer when I realize: “I have such a wonderful job!”?

It's wonderful when people say that your lectures are engrossing and when people engage in discussions. And sometime later, when I meet people who say that what they learned during the training helped them in life or at work. Or when colleagues come to me asking for help understanding new materials or solving unusual situations. That's when I feel that all the efforts have not been in vain.

How would I characterize the future of adult education?

I believe adult education should be oriented toward the group's level. This doesn't mean the group has to be entirely uniform, but there should be some consistency. In such cases, people find it easier to start communication. As a bonus, sharing experiences with colleagues is added. Adult education aims to help people change along with the rapidly evolving world around them. It is crucial to support adults' efforts to foster and sustain their interest in both their profession and life.

3 Skills for the future?