Article - Published on 27.5.2021 14.32 # At the Abdominal Center, each employee plans their own shifts Keywords: - [Abdominal Center](< /en/search?q=Abdominal Center >) - [career story](< /en/search?q=career story >) The Abdominal Center uses an activity-based and competency-based work-shift planning system that takes employees’ personal circumstances into account. Each employee gets to plan their own work shifts. During the shift planning phase, we will also ensure that sufficient expertise is secured.  Nurse Manager **Johanna Koivu** has enjoyed working at HUS for a long time. She began working as a nurse in the Stem Cell Transplantation Unit in 2003, where she also had the opportunity to work in stem cell collection and earned her certification as an apheresis nurse. “I became interested in studying nursing science when HUS offered me the opportunity to complete the core and intermediate studies in nursing science. I applied to the university and graduated with a master’s degree in health sciences in 2012,” Johanna Koivu says. After completing her studies, she moved from a nursing position to become a deputy nurse manager. She gained experience in surgical nursing and in the duties of an immediate supervisor. The work as a deputy nurse manager in the liver and liver transplantation surgery unit was rewarding and varied. “Through my work, I was able to learn something new every day and get to know the activities of other specialties as well. I was soon offered a substitute nurse manager position and immediately jumped at the chance,” Johanna Koivu says. The work on Ward M13 is varied and rewarding. The ward serves several specialties and provides both inpatient and outpatient care. Johanna’s responsibilities include human resource management and overseeing activities in collaboration with the supervisory team. “The most rewarding aspects of my job are human resource management and operational improvement. The best feedback is when staff members get excited and want to improve themselves and the unit’s activities. When employees are happy and learning new things, patient care improves as well,” Johanna says. She is particularly inspired by the development of care processes. When processes are improved, patient care runs more smoothly, the quality of work increases, and patients are treated more effectively and safely. ## Patient feedback gives us strength for this demanding work Patient feedback reminds Johanna of why she decided on the healthcare sector in the first place. The support of the work community and colleagues also goes a long way. “Especially now, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been wonderful to see how strong professional ethics bring the work community closer together, even in the most challenging situations,” she says. After working at the Abdominal Center, Koivu now works as a nurse director at the HUS Neurocenter. *Article edited on January 23, 2025.* *Information has been added about Johanna Koivu’s current job responsibilities.* [See all open positions](https://ejnv.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/fi/sites/CX_1/requisitions?mode=location) [Read more career stories](/en/about-us/career-hus/career-stories "Career stories") Share the news - [ Share on Facebook (opens in a new window) ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.hus.fi/en/newsroom/abdominal-center-each-employee-plans-their-own-shifts) - [ Share on Linkedin (opens in a new window) ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.hus.fi/en/newsroom/abdominal-center-each-employee-plans-their-own-shifts) Print this page