“The child needed affection and someone to take care of him.” When we reach on the phone Carlotta Zanetti32 years old, the pediatric intensive care nurse portrayed in the shot that won the contest, launched by the Sant’Orsola polyclinic in Bologna where she works to celebrate its professionals on the occasion of May 1st entitled “Your work in one shot”, explains it to us: «that child lives long periods in hospital and the parents cannot stay with him 24 hours a day, the structure itself does not allow it. He needed a cuddle and it came naturally to me to pick him up. An Oss colleague saw us and decided to take a photograph. According to him, it was too beautiful a scene.”
And beautiful it really is. Not only because it won the contest, but for the profound and delicate story it tells of care work. «For a few months» says Carlotta, «we have been working on a path so that mothers and fathers can stay in intensive care from morning to evening. Only the night is not possible because there is no space for beds. This is why, beyond their desire, there are moments in intensive care where they just can’t stay. That child had shown that he needed affection and presence, I could do it and it came naturally to me to make a gesture of closeness and presence. In every gesture we make, regardless of the criticality of the event and the moment, if we can provide closeness and sweetness we never shy away.”
Empathy and relationships that are well present in their profession: «Even with adults, with children everything is easier. It’s all instinctive and natural. You must learn to play with them even during some procedures and always maintain an active and “well-liked” relationship so that they experience the hospitalization in the best way. Although it is always a little traumatic, this cannot be denied. But we try to create an environment of play and relationships.”
Because the Intensive Care environment is known to be “alienating. Between lights, monitors and sounds, as well as obviously the fear of the white coat. There are children who don’t realize where they are and you have to explain to them that it’s a safe environment, even if it’s not normal. When they find someone who is available to be close to them, they trust you straight away. We always try to create a bond of trust to make them understand that we are next to them, for them. With that bond we are also able to provide answers to relational needs.”
How important is caring in your profession? «Care work is much more important than what you know and see… close to professionalism, passion and dedication in making others feel good. What hurts is that it is not considered an integral part of the job, but something more when in fact it is the heart of the profession: empathy and relationship».
Yet it is a profession in crisis… «For me it is the most beautiful in the world. It is in crisis because it is not valued and understood. On a social level, one is considered little. However, when someone experiences your profession first-hand, they understand the value of the nurse’s work alongside the patient, always and in any case.”
Yes, the applause from the windows during the pandemic should have taught us something about your profession and, instead, ours is a country that quickly forgets… «Unfortunately we are not recognized for what we do, even if we are not heroes or angels. But how is the figure of the doctor, the architect and the engineer recognised The profession of the nurse should also be recognized with the same social respect who has knowledge, skills and a code of ethics to respect. It’s a profession in all respects.”
An attitude that also discourages young people from choosing the profession… «We are short of staff and of the will to study to become nurses because the profession is not made attractive. If I had to tell a guy why choose to be a nurse? Because it gives you so muchis a continuous challenge that gives you many opportunities, possibilities and stories. We tiptoe into the lives of our patients to create a care relationship that is good for you and the patient first and foremost.”
THE CONTEST
On the occasion of Labor Day, the Sant’Orsola Polyclinic promoted the photographic contest “Your work in a photo”an initiative created with the aim of describing work in the hospital through the direct gaze of the professionals who experience the Polyclinic every day and take care of patients from every point of view.
The contest involved operators from different areas – welfare, technical, administrative and services – inviting them to share a shot capable of representing the meaning of their work: a gesture, a moment, a relationship or a detail of everyday life often invisible to external eyes, but fundamental in the life of the hospital.
The initiative has been thought through to celebrate May 1st in a participatory and authentic way, putting not only the healthcare professions at the centre, but all the people who contribute every day to the functioning of Sant’Orsola and to the care and assistance of patients.
The participating photographs were published on the Policlinico’s social media and they competed through voting open to followers. The winning shot was chosen by the online community and has become the symbolic image of Saint Ursula for Labor Day 2026.
More than a simple photography competition, the contest was an opportunity to enhance daily work through true, spontaneous images deeply linked to the experience of the people who work within the hospital.
