A Comprehensive Guide on How to Become an Foreign Nurse in Germany
Summary:
The most important factors in determining your prospects of working as a nurse in Germany are your nationality, country of residency, and country where you earned your nursing degree.
Nurses who are citizens in European countries, or have acquired their degree education in any European country, are most likely to be eligible to work in the country. Nevertheless, nurses who are citizens of a Non-EU/EEA country, may also apply to work in Germany, provided that they are able to submit the proper requirements.
Nurses who are citizens of countries listed in the WHO Human Resources for Health Crisis list may have lower chances of working in the country. The country list includes Iraq, Cambodia, Madagascar, Congo, Nigeria, Uganda, and more. This is due to the massive shortage of healthcare workers in their own respective countries. As a result, the German government will not provide assistance to citizens of these countries, and commercial recruiting organizations will not be able to legally aid them in finding work in Germany.
About the Country
Germany is a beautiful country located in Western Europe. In the country, you would find breathtaking landscapes, woods, rivers and mountains. Truly, the country is rich in history, and is in fact, a very popular destination for tourists.
The public transportation in Germany is frequently used and provides an excellent experience. Both the train and the bus arrive on schedule, which means that it is likely for you to get from one place to another more efficiently. Order and punctuality are highly valued in the country. In addition, the roads in Germany are designed to accommodate all modes of transport, where they are even pedestrian and bicycle friendly. The cheapest means of transportation is by bike, thus you may utilize this extensively in Germany as most of the roads in the country have bike lanes.
As mentioned, order is very important in the country, and it is extended with the way you throw your trash. There are designated bins for various types of trash, and you must recycle at a certain time. Due to Germany being an environmentally friendly country, it is essential that you understand the recycling system, and be able to exhibit these skills.
One aspect that sets Germany apart from other countries is that their stores are closed from Saturday evening onwards, and only reopen on Monday mornings. This is because Sunday is a day for relaxation, particularly drinking, in the country, so it is important to plan ahead of time and make the most of it. If you choose to work in Germany, make sure to stock up on food before the weekend so that you do not run out of essential necessities during the weekend.
Due to the 2013 hiring agreement called the Triple Win project, there is a great number of Filipino nurses in the country. This was created in order to alleviate the nursing shortage in Germany. In addition to this, the country is set to hire 200,000 Filipino nurses in the next few years, which could give you a higher chance to land a nursing job in the country. It is also likely that you will meet other Filipino nurses in your workplace when you choose to work in the country.
Type of Nurses
Nurses provide care and assistance to individuals at all stages of their lives, and they are responsible for patient care, pediatric nursing, and geriatric nursing.
Registered Nurses
In order to become a Registered Nurse, you must complete a four-year curriculum of a two-year accelerated program. The daily responsibilities of an RN include attending to and caring for patients, and dispensing drugs to patients. They are the only type of nurses allowed to work with prohibited drugs.
Pediatric nurse
In order to become a Registered Pediatric Nurse in Germany, at least 8 semesters of study for specialization is required. Oftentimes, at least two-year hospital experience is also preferred. Responsibilities of a Pediatric Nurse includes assessing the needs of a child, providing initial care, administering medications, to children, and more.
Geriatric Nurse
In Germany, a certified geriatric nurse must complete official training. A registered geriatric nurse is in charge of planning and delivering care, assistance, and mobilization to the resident or patient who requires it.
Salary
Nursing jobs in Germany are well-known for being well-paid. The average monthly salary for nurses in Germany ranges from 2,800 EUR (₱159,886.64) to 2,900 EUR (₱165,596.88). The amount of salary is dependent on the experience, and qualifications of an individual, as well as the location of the healthcare institution they wish to work in. For instance, nurses who work in Bavaria earn more as compared to those who work in other regions of Germany. Salaries of nurses, who work in public organizations, are often non-negotiable as these are regulated by the company’s collective agreement. In addition, the salary of a nurse is also dependent on the time of work, wherein they are paid more during the night, with a surcharge of 25% to 30% of the regular hour fare.
Demand for Nurses
As of 2021, there are 80,000 open positions for nurses. This is expected to increase to 150,000 by 2025. The rising demand for healthcare workers is due to the aging population and decreasing number of young individuals joining the healthcare sector. The current pandemic has also added to the demand for nurses.
Hospitals
The hospitals in Germany are classified into three major categories: Public Hospitals, Charitable Hospitals, and Private Hospitals.
Public Hospitals
Public Hospitals in Germany are often funded by the federal government, federal states or municipalities. They make up an estimated 30% of all the hospitals in the country. Included in Public Hospitals are teaching hospitals that are associated with German universities.
Charitable Hospitals
Charitable Hospitals are managed by charitable, religious, and voluntary organizations, which include the German Red Cross.
Private Hospitals
Private Hospitals are run by individuals or businesses with a special operating license. Certain institutions will only accept private patients.
In order to be able to work as a nurse in Germany, you must fulfill the following qualifications:
Educational Requirement
A nurse must hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing with at least 3 years of study, and an active nursing license that is recognized by the country. An apprenticeship of nursing, recognized by Germany, is also accepted.
Examinations
Language Proficiency Test
It is essential for a foreign nurse to be proficient in the German language in order to be able to communicate with his patients and co-workers. A foreign nurse may take any of the following German Exams listed below, and must acquire a minimum level of B2 in German language.
German Exam (Goethe-Institut)
Goethe-Institut offers multiple certificate levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2), with the Goethe-Zertifikat B2 being the most ideal for those who wish to work in the medical field in Germany. The Goethe-Zertifikat B2 is a German exam for young people and adults, with the aim to measure their language abilities, and whether or not they correspond to the fourth level (B2) of the Common European Framework of References for Languages’ six-level scale of competence.
Learn more about the exam on their website.
ÖSD Exam
The ÖSD Exam, which is recognized internationally, is aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) levels. The exam consists of two sections: the Written exam, which includes reading, listening, and writing, and the Oral exam.
Learn more about the exam on their website.
telc Language Test
telc – language tests are used to examine the language skills of an individual. This is also based on the CEFR standards.
Learn more about the exam on their website.
Other Requirements
Medical Fitness Certificate
To ensure that the applicant is healthy in both physical and mental aspects, a certificate must be acquired through a German doctor.
Certificate of Good Conduct
The applicant must present a certificate of good conduct from the country of birth, or a German certificate of conduct, to further
Make sure to prepare all the necessary documents and requirements stated above, to ensure that the application process will run smoothly. Study for the tests, and take them carefully to get a high score. Afterwards, once you are deemed as eligible to work in the country, you’re ready to become a foreign nurse in Germany!
References
- 18 Beautiful Places to Visit In Germany – Study in Germany for Free. (2019). Retrieved 15 June 2022, from https://www.studying-in-germany.org/best-places-to-visit-in-germany/#:~:text=Germany%20is%20a%20beautiful%2
- Geriatric Nursing Care – A Promising Professional Field in Germany. (2022). Retrieved 30 March 2022, from https://www.arbeitgestaltengmbh.de/assets/Downloads/Publikationen-Altenpflege/Berufsfeld-Altenpflege-in-Deutschland-englisch.pdf
- Germany to Hire 200,000 Filipino Nurses. (2016). Retrieved 15 June 2022, from https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/newsletter-article/2016/apr/germany-hire-200000-filipino-nurses
- Goethe-Zertifikat B2. Retrieved 30 March 2022, from https://www.goethe.de/en/spr/kup/prf/prf/gb2.html
- Hospitals in Germany (Krankenhäuser). (2022). Retrieved 31 March 2022, from https://www.iamexpat.de/expat-info/german-healthcare-system/hospitals-germany
- How to Work as a Nurse in Germany. (2020). Retrieved 29 March 2022, from https://russianvagabond.com/how-to-work-as-a-nurse-in-germany/
- Living in Germany: A Guide to Living in Germany as an Expat. Retrieved 15 June 2022, from https://www.germany-visa.org/immigration-residence-permit/living-in-germany/#:~:text=It’s%20peaceful%20there&text=But%20in%20general%2C%20there%20is,difficult%20to%20find%20a%20job.
- Nursing professionals. (2022). Retrieved 30 March 2022, from https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/working-in-germany/professions-in-demand/nursing
- ÖSD exams – OSD. (2022). Retrieved 29 March 2022, from https://www.osd.at/en/exams/oesd-exams/
- Registered Pediatric Nurse. (2020). Retrieved 30 March 2022, from https://care-in-germany.de/registered-pediatric-nurse
- What is the Monthly Salary of Nurses in Germany?. (2020). Retrieved 30 March 2022, from https://russianvagabond.com/what-is-the-monthly-salary-of-nurses-in-germany/