Two years ago Sophie Hanssens stepped into a team leader vacancy at Modis. She’s now a Business Development Manager there and focuses on project nursing. Her story is further proof that at Modis, it is possible to find something more. Are you ambitious? Do you feel like a new challenge and do you have the urge to grow? ‘Her’ project nurses are just the same. Be inspired by her story.
Sophie Hanssens’ past history reads like an adventure story.
‘After my nursing studies, I immediately started a master’s in nursing and midwifery. I gained my degree with great distinction (equivalent to upper second class honours - ed.). In addition, I obtained a professional qualification in oncology. After my studies I started working as a coordinator in Oncology at Brussels University Hospital. At the point where I felt like something new, I decided to switch to elderly care. I became a care coordinator, quality coordinator and director of residential care centres. After a few years I was ready for a new challenge again. And that turned out to be Modis.’
First she became a team leader, then a Business Development Manager. Although the medical world is her habitat, and she feels comfortable there, she was given sales training by Modis, and that felt natural.
‘But I don't see myself as being in sales. Rather, I'm someone looking for solutions for the clients with whom we work or will work.’
Modis recruits nurses (with at least a bachelor’s degree in nursing) and sends them out to clients. Through assignments of an average length of six months in hospitals, home nursing, residential care centres, pharmaceutical companies, occupational nursing, etc., these nurses build up a very wide experience in a short time.
Sophie: ‘They are sent out to provide support to our clients' teams. The exchange between the workplace and our nurse adds real value for all parties. By deploying project nurses, we ensure continuity of care and staff satisfaction along with our client.’
The nursing profession continues to suffer from staffing shortages, not least with the greater scarcity of nurses due to the increase in the length of their training period from three to four years. As a result, there will be hardly any newly qualified nurses on the job market in 2019.
Sophie: ‘It’s also a challenge for our recruiters to find and hold onto good nurses. There’s a lot of competition. Nurses have a range of options when they’re getting started. For us, project nurses need to have the same outlook as us. This makes the search really challenging, but we deliberately go after quality.’
‘The thing I find most interesting is the contact with the sector. I like to stay up to date with what’s happening on the ground: what clients’ preoccupations are, what the developments and trends are, and so on. The most difficult aspect can be the negotiations over a new contract. But a signed contract really gives you satisfaction. As a nurse you always strive for the best for your patient or client, and that’s what I do in this position too.’
‘Keep on learning about life sciences and business development. I think I'm pretty assertive, and I'm always on the lookout for new ways to challenge myself. Yes, I’m something of a self-made person ... Fortunately, there are so many possibilities within our organisation that I can continue to develop here.’
‘I’ve registered for training courses such as negotiating: achieving win-win in a situation, a master class in oncology and so on. This year I also want to become the best Life Sciences BDM at Modis (laughs)!’
‘Absolutely! There are lots of possibilities, both internally and with our clients. And there’s always room to grow in your role, to define your role yourself to some extent or even look for another role. The slogan “Work hard - play hard” really does apply here. Your work is rewarded. There’s always time and space for personal growth, both during and after working hours. Modis rocks!’