Prague clinic offers perky incentives to nurses
kujebak
PRAGUE (AFP) – The young nurse wore a polo shirt instead
of the usual sterile outfit, making a show of her perfect breasts
and stomach -- a gift from the Prague clinic where she works.
Like seven other nurses, Petra Kalivodova signed up with
the understaffed clinic for three years -- in exchange for the
plastic surgery of her choice.
"The offer was definitely interesting," said Kalivodova, 31,
expertly placing a needle on a syringe as she posed for a
photographer in a neat, modern surgery at the Iscare clinic.
She could have chosen any other clinic in Prague as there
is a shortage of skilled staff. The Czech health system bad-
ly needs 6,000 nurses on top of the 90,000 it employs, ac-
cording to data from the Czech Association of Nurses.
But Kalivodova fell for the private clinic based in a fancy
glass-panelled office building and offering equally fancy
perks.
Jiri Schweitzer, Iscare's operations director, told AFP
the idea to offer free plastic surgery to nurses, doctors
and secretaries was decided last year.
The offer was never advertised. Managers mentioned the
option during interviews with job applicants and gambled
on staff spreading the word. It has worked like a dream.
Kalivodova, who has worked at the clinic for four years,
renewed her contract and decided to reshape her body.
She already has a breast implant which she paid for.
"It was a solution to my financial situation. It helped, be-
cause the surgery is nowhere near cheap," said Kalivo-
dova.
The clinic charges up to 75,000 koruna (2,850 euros,
3,900 dollars) for a breast implant, about three months'
average wages for a Czech nurse, and up to 1,880 euros,
or twice the average wage, for liposuction treatment.
Clients from the United States and Western Europe find
it cheap and often fly to one of some 200 Czech clinics
now offering cosmetic surgery. The figure has risen from
61 clinics in 1997, according to official data.
But the costs are exorbitant for local nurses, who often
leave the profession to take up better-paid jobs.
"The attractiveness of this profession is low and the sup-
ply of other, less demanding work is big," Health Minister
Dana Juraskova, a former nurse, recently told the Respekt
weekly.
"Working in an office, having the same money, less work
and responsibility -- that is simply far more comfortable,"
she added.
Many Czech nurses have also taken up more lucrative jobs
in wealthier European Union countries in recent years.
Czech hospitals have in turn also looked east for replace-
ments. There are many Vietnamese in the Czech Republic
but not many become nurses because of the tough lan-
guage requirements.
To lure staff, hospitals and clinics need different perks
and bonuses. The one offered by Iscare hit the bull's eye
as the clinic has rejected dozens of job applicants.
"I mentioned this to colleagues and friends, and the
interest in working here is huge," said Kalivodova.
A Prague daily newspaper ran a story on the offer and
"dozens of people seeking a job have reacted, including
two doctors," said Schweitzer.
"But we are fully staffed now," added the director,
leaning back in his leather chair and radiating an air
of self-confidence.
Schweitzer said nurses at the clinic preferred breast
implants, followed by liposuction and tummy tucks.
He added the benefits could also be good for the clinic.
"I can imagine that a nurse at a plastic surgery ward who
looks good will make a better impression on the clients."
"And it is also good for the staff. They were dreaming
about looking better all their lives, and we enabled them
to do it, so it should affect their work too. It has been
a success."
There is a minor catch. If staff leave the clinic before
their three-year contract ends, they have to pay the full
cost of the surgery.
The price is a powerful deterrent to leaving and there is
the "theoretical" option that a new three-year contract
might produce another surgical perk, he added.
"I don't know what will be in three years, but if I wanted
to undergo another surgery, I would certainly ask them
to renew my contract," said Kalivodova.