Article - Published on 23.9.2025 15.52 # Saana Lahtinen, a practical nurse at the Abdominal Center, enjoys her varied work Saana graduated as a practical nurse in 2019 from Riveria in Joensuu. She has been interested in the hospital environment since she was little, and working in healthcare felt like a natural career choice.  Saana Lahtinen appreciates the strong team spirit at work. “We all pull together and encourage one another. You can always ask a colleague or figure things out together.” After completing her degree, she moved to Helsinki, drawn there by the larger city and better job opportunities. Saana’s first job in Helsinki was at the Kalasatama Health Station, where she worked for just over a year. She also had a chance to try working in customer service at S-Bank, but the experience reinforced her feeling that her place was in healthcare. “I realized that I want a job where I can truly be of help and be a part of people’s lives.” In early 2022, she was hired to work at the HUS Abdominal Center Outpatient Clinic and procedure room. The work is diverse and varied: the outpatient clinic treats patients with, for example, stomach, pancreas, liver, or rectal cancer; inflammatory bowel disease; or tumors in the appendix region. Minor surgical procedures are performed in the procedure room for patients in a variety of specialties, such as vascular procedures, pacemaker replacements, and chest drain insertion. Workdays begin with a group stand-up meeting, during which the staff reviews the day’s assignments and any urgent matters. Nurses rotate among different stations according to the assignment schedules, and the nature of their workday varies depending on which unit they are assigned to. ## The nurse’s personality shines through during the outpatient clinic days “The clinic days are really independent, and you get to show your own personality. It really makes the work feel meaningful.” On the clinic days, Saana reviews the patients’ records in advance, prepares the examination room, and receives patients who are coming from the physician’s appointment and will be undergoing surgery later. Nurses review the patient’s medical history together with them, take their vital signs, and discuss their wellbeing, nutrition, and mental coping. The patient also receives written instructions on how to prepare for surgery, and the nurse is available to answer any questions they may have. ## Precision and teamwork are essential in the procedure room In addition to the physician, there are usually two or three nurses working in the procedure room. Everyone has their own role, such as scrub nurse or circulating nurse, and the duties are rotated. The job requires constant alertness and the ability to anticipate the next steps. “It’s good to be thinking one step ahead of the surgeon.” On Wednesdays, Saana works in the Anesthesia and Surgery Unit at Meilahti Bridge Hospital, where vascular surgery procedures are performed. ## Being there for the patient Interacting with a patient—especially at the beginning of the care pathway—requires sensitivity and situational awareness. The nurse’s role is particularly important when a patient has just received a serious diagnosis. “Sometimes words fail you—and that’s when you can just be there.” The most challenging situations are those in which the patient has young children or is a young adult themselves. ## Team spirit and growth are what drive us forward The workplace community is an important resource for Saana. The team includes both seasoned veterans and newer members. There is a strong sense of solidarity. “We all pull together and encourage one another. You can always ask a colleague or figure things out together.” The variety and challenges of the job, along with the opportunity for continuous growth, make it inspiring. She is grateful for the responsibility she has been given and the opportunity to grow as a professional. In the future, Saana wants to continue working in the field of health and well-being in an environment where she can do meaningful work and be a genuine part of people’s lives. [See all open nursing positions at HUS](https://ejnv.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/fi/sites/CX_1/requisitions?lastSelectedFacet=CATEGORIES&selectedCategoriesFacet=300000379899847) [Read more career stories ](https://www.hus.fi/tietoa-meista/ura-husissa/uratarinat) 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/saana-lahtinen-practical-nurse-abdominal-center-enjoys-her-varied-work) - [ Share on Linkedin (opens in a new window) ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.hus.fi/en/newsroom/saana-lahtinen-practical-nurse-abdominal-center-enjoys-her-varied-work) Print this page