"There are only absolute geniuses here!"

Our interviewee this time is Unnur Eyjólfsdóttir, but she is the head of the Foss and Ljósheima department at the Southern Health Institute in Selfoss (HSU). This is a geriatric ward with 40 household patients, most of whom are over 70 years old. "Our role is to help family members with activities of daily living and other things they need in their last years, months, or weeks of life. We put a lot of effort into making our clients feel good up to the last moment. There are 85 employees at Foss- og Ljósheim and we have here an excellent mix of unskilled people, activity workers, paramedics, and nurses. The youngest is turning 18 and the oldest is 67, so the range is great and we are extremely lucky to have this great group," says Unnur.

MASTERS IN LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
We are curious about Unnar's background. "I was born at HSU here in Selfoss on November 8, 1984. I was at Sandvíkur School until the 5th grade. Then transferred to Vallaskóli and was there until the 10th grade. FSU took over after that, as with most of the young people here in Selfoss. From there I went directly to the University of Iceland to study nursing and graduated from there in 2008. Then I studied for a diploma course in emergency nursing and graduated from there in 2010. Now I'm back in school and have a master's program in leadership and management with a focus on human resource management at the University of Bifröst. A very exciting project, but of course it's a little strange to be back at school after 14 years of school holiday."

THE CAREER BEGAN IN PULLÓ
What about past jobs up to the current job? "I worked like many girls in Selfoss in Pylsuvagnin or Pulló from the age of 16 until I went to university. After that, I started working in a children's emergency room with my studies. Then worked there after graduation and until we moved to Norway in 2011. In Norway, I started working in home care and was then fascinated by care for the elderly. Was there as a general nurse until 2017 and then got the position of assistant head of department and was in charge of everything related to my client's in-home care. We moved back home in December 2021. A month later, I started as an assistant department manager at Foss- and Ljósheimar. After that, things progressed very quickly, and on August 1st I took over as head of department, then in charge of Foss- and Ljósheimar and Móberg. I had the honor of setting up our new nursing home, Móberg, which we opened here at Árvegur in Selfoss in October 2022. A new head of department then took over Móberg in June 2023 and now I am with Foss- og Ljósheimar.

FOUR KIDS AND TWO KITTENS
But how's our interviewee's family situation? "I am married to Ástmar Karl Steinarson, a civil engineer, and we have four children, Pálmar Óla, Sunneva Ösp, Eyrúna Ýr and Brimar Stein, and two cats in addition, Selma and Laila. With all these children, most of my time is spent outside of work, but I still really enjoy playing all kinds of board games and knitting whenever I can!”

MIDWIFERY FASCINATED
"I planned to become a midwife like my aunt Guðfinna, but she welcomed me right away. Then I was offered a position in the children's emergency department alongside my studies, and then I became fascinated by pediatric and emergency nursing. Didn't want to work on anything else. However, we moved to Norway and there I got a job in home care, where 95% are people over 75 years old. I was going to stop there for a few months while I was catching up on the language, but it got too long and then I didn't want to go anywhere else. Worked as home care in Norway for 9 years."

JUMPS INTO ACTION WHEN NEEDED
We ask Unnur a little more about her work cycle. "The job of head of department involves overseeing all work in the department. This includes plans and work processes for the work in the department, planning shifts, and making sure we have enough staff on all shifts. Added to that is hiring new people when needed and always being ready to jump in when staff is needed. Likewise, I take part in a variety of teamwork to improve work processes and quality work and other organizations.

NO DAY IS THE SAME
What is the best thing about Foss- and Ljósheimar? "Our dear clients, but of course also the staff. There are only real geniuses here and the household people make the days fun with all their stories and hints! I must also mention that I appreciate it here that no day is the same and the variety is enormous. I work best when I can show up to work and never know what the day is going to be like!”