5 reasons why Germany is a great place to explore your nursing career
Burnout. Underpaid.
These are the common words associated with the nursing profession. Nurses are often required to work in shifts and in long hours, and their job can be physically and mentally draining. If you are a practicing nurse, you would agree that describing your job with that one sentence alone is an understatement.
If you are looking for a change for the better, you are at the right place. Well, we’re not talking about changing the nature of your job, but you can get a better work-life balance, a more satisfying remuneration, and a whole lot of self-improvement. How and where?
G-E-R-M-A-N-Y
Hold on. Don’t let the language barrier scare you. Learning German is not going to be easy, but it is not impossible too. Growing up in India, the majority of us can easily speak 2-3 languages. Now, do you feel a little more confident in your ability to learn a new language?
While learning a new language is not the most exciting thing, the benefits that follow can be exciting and rewarding. Give us a chance to present to you the 5 benefits of working as a nurse in Germany.
High demand and guaranteed work placement
What if I tell you there will be 200,000 unfilled vacancies in Germany for nurses by 2030?
The Baby Boomers are retiring/ have retired. Being the generation with a spike in birth rate, not only are they exiting the labor market and leaving many vacancies unfilled, they are the ones who will be needing nursing care and assistance very soon.
Despite the world-class health care system, hospitals and nursing homes are not ready to serve them due to the great shortage of nurses in the field. Thus, Germany has started employing certified international nurses from Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Spain, Romania and more to fill in this gap. With such high demand for nurses, getting a job placement in Germany is much easier, and you will have ample options to choose from.
Nurses are in demand in places like hospitals and clinics, nursing homes, dormitories for disabled people, outpatient social services, rehabilitation centers, or even vocational schools.
Work-life balance
Germany is among the top 10 countries in the world in terms of work-life balance. As a nurse in Germany, you can arrange your work shift based on your preference.
There are generally 3 work shifts to choose from, from 6 am to 2.30 pm, from 1.30 pm to 10 pm, and from 8.30 pm to 6 am. Some hospitals or in-home care also provide the flexibility of working 6-night shifts followed by 6 free days. This system allows you to balance your time for other commitments apart from work, such as family, friends, and your personal time, making it possible to run your errands in the morning or bring your children out for a trip over the weekend.
Attractive allowance and social benefits
Let’s be real. Salary is always one of the important factors that contribute to our job satisfaction. In a survey done on nurse’s job satisfaction, 80% of the respondents chose salary as their main consideration when looking for a change in position. To leave not just your job but your comfort zone to go to a foreign country, you must be looking for attractive compensation that will make your move worthwhile.
You’ve found the right alternative. Germany is known for its well-paying nursing jobs. On average, the annual income of a nurse in Germany is around 33,000 EUR, which is around 2,800 EUR gross per month. This amount differs based on your experience, qualification, region, and work shift. While you have to pay a high percentage of taxes (around 40% of your gross income), this contribution includes health insurance, retirement insurance, unemployment insurance, nursing care insurance, and accident insurance. Now, you may be shocked by the fact that you are only getting 60% of your gross income, but this is the reason Germany is able to provide free health care services to everyone in the country. Treat this contribution as preparation for rainy days, not just for your health but also for unemployment and retirement.
You can read more about the exact contribution amount from employees and employers for each of the social security contributions here.
Career advancement and self-improvement
In Germany, the career advancement opportunities for nurses are plenty. Most nurses will work in a specific unit for a few years before advancing to leadership roles like team leaders. If you continue to climb higher to the managerial level, you have the option to switch your career entirely to academic by training nurses in vocational schools.
Want to upgrade yourself or try a new role? Germany, being a country that places much importance on education, offers many opportunities for you to further your studies. There are more than 200 nursing specializations that you can choose from and earning these specializations will definitely boost your career in terms of demand and salary. Most of these courses are conducted part-time so you can continue to work while you study, and if you’re lucky, your company may provide some form of financial support for your specialization courses.
International culture and exposure
The best part of settling down in a foreign country is the exposure to its culture. Germany is in the top 5 popular countries for immigration. Located in the heart of Europe, it is not uncommon for people to travel cross-border over the weekend for a getaway.
There are ample top destinations that you can visit, most of them are just within a couple of hours’ drive, a train ride, or a cheap flight. Who doesn’t fancy going to Holland, Paris, or Athens whenever you like?
Apart from its centralized and strategic location, living and working with the Germans can also be quite different. Germany is ranked top 10 for the most productive country. They speak directly without beating around the bush and do not tolerate being late for meetings, both of which contribute to their high production rate. These differences in working culture together with the diversified workforce will open your eyes to new ways of solving problems in the workplace.
