ERN CRANIO Exchange ASST Azienda Ospedaliera Papa Giovanni XXIII

From April 13 to 19, Silja Wiese, one of the OR nurses, completed a clinical exchange in the pediatric department of Papa Giovanni Hospital in Bergamo. Silja highlighted: “My stay began with a warm welcome from Ramona Capelli (ERN ERNICA), who made this impressive week possible.”

During her stay, Silja observed several interesting differences compared to the Netherlands, for example in work schedules, the use of sedation, and the organization of patient pathways. These insights offered a valuable perspective on how healthcare practices can vary across countries.

In Italy, nurses complete a four‑year university education and can work in a wide range of roles, including circulating nurses, scrub nurses, anesthesia assistants, and recovery room staff. This highlights their broad deployability and the depth of their professional training. At the same time, the exchange also sparked valuable reflections on how the diverse expertise and responsibilities of nurses can be further recognized and made more visible within healthcare teams, an ongoing conversation that differs from country to country.

Despite these differences, the atmosphere in the operating room was good, and Silja mentioned:

“was given many opportunities to actively participate in the daily program.

In addition to the work in the operating room, trips to Bergamo and Milan together with Ramona and Michaela Carrera were fantastic and provided a perfect conclusion to the week “

Overall, the exchange was a valuable experience that strengthened professional connections and offered meaningful insight into differences between countries, particularly in the nursing role.