Croatian writer Vedrana Rudan denounces nurse overwork and low pay while battling cancer

Vedrana Rudan, a Croatian author fighting cancer, published a candid column describing her experience in the Rijeka oncology department. She praised the dedication of nursing staff but highlighted harsh working conditions, including 24‑hour rotating shifts and salaries she estimates at €1,200‑€2,000 per month, often with overtime. Rudan questioned whether such schedules constitute a “state crime” and called for greater public attention to nurses’ pay. The piece also recounted a distressing incident involving a doctor named Ivana, who, overwhelmed by colleagues’ suffering, arranged a one‑day boat outing for the nurses as a brief respite. Rudan’s writing aims to bring visibility to the struggles of medical personnel in Croatia’s public health system.