GERMAN NURSING CAREER
Why German Nursing Career?
Internship| Apprenticeship| Training
The German Nursing Career (GNC) programme of PICOMS International University College aims to prepare qualified Malaysian nurses with a diploma or degree in nursing for long-term gainful employment in Germany.
If you wonder why you should work as a nurse in Germany, continue reading below.
High Demand for Qualified Nurses
Germany is a highly developed country, the biggest economy in Europe and the fourth largest economy worldwide. Germany is ranked as one of the safest countries and its healthcare system is generally recognized as one of the best in the world. German healthcare institutions in general and nursing homes in particular are always on the lookout for professional nurses in order to meet the growing shortage of qualified nursing staff in this important sector of the German economy.
In view of the increasing shortage of qualified nurses in Germany, especially in the field of geriatric care due to high life expectancy, the demand for foreign nurses is expected to rise steadily in the coming 10 years. There are currently over 40,000 available job positions in care facilities that are waiting to be filled. The German Nursing Council predicts that Germany will need up to 300,000 professional nurses until 2030.
Booming Elderly Care Sector
Geriatric care is currently the fastest growing sector in the German healthcare system. This is due to the mass retirement of the “Baby Boomer” generation, which will only increase in the coming years. At the moment there are around 2.6 million elderly people in Germany who are in need of geriatric care. While the number of hospitals is around 2,000, there are approximately 15,000 nursing homes in Germany with around 1,7 million people employed in nursing, incl. geriatric care.
Working in geriatric care offers a great advantage to foreign nurses, especially in the early years of their employment in Germany. The nurses work in a comfortable environment of the nursing home with fixed daily routines, which is more relaxed and less stressful compared to the challenging and hectic setting of the hospital. Besides, it is easier for foreign nurses to practice their German and to create long-term emotional bonds with nursing home residents. After working in elderly care for 2-3 years and gaining professional experience, the nurses can easily change to a hospital or a rehabilitation clinic.
Why Working in Germany
Attractive Salary and Social Security Benefits
Germany is one of the best places to work as a nurse in terms of remuneration. International nurses can start working as assistant nurses in Germany with a good entry level gross salary of around EUR 2,100 per month. After adaptation and full recognition as a qualified nursing professional according to German standards, foreign nurses are entitled to an increase in salary to approx. EUR 2,900 gross per month. Nurses can usually earn extra income from working overtime hours, night shifts or on holidays.
Apart from a handsome salary, foreign nurses enjoy the same social security benefits as their German colleagues, including paid holiday and sick leaves, healthcare insurance, unemployment insurance, nursing care insurance, accident insurance and retirement insurance. In the event of the birth of a child, working mothers are entitled to paid maternity leave and both parents can take up to three years of parental leave, during which they can work part-time on a flexible schedule.
Excellent Professional Development Opportunities
Germany is famous for its qualifications and professional development opportunities. In a long-term perspective, international nurses can take advantage of a very wide range of professional development courses if they wish to get promotion, to upgrade their qualification or to change specialization in any field of interest. Ideally, nurses can combine work with further training, receive the support of their employer and mostly do not have to cover training costs. These opportunities enable nurses to acquire more in-demand skills and knowledge, boost their career prospects and improve their earnings. After gaining necessary experience as a qualified nurse in Germany, international nurses can also work in other European countries, especially in such German-speaking countries as Austria and Switzerland.
Typical Tasks of Nurses in Germany
As a nurse, you will take care of people and support them in their activities of daily life, including the area of geriatric nursing (care of the elderly).
Your tasks in the nursing field will include independent observation, guidance, support and care of patients and nursing home residents. Apart from monitoring vital signs and documenting nursing measures, you may also assist doctors and carry out their instructions with regard to necessary medical interventions. However, it will depend on your individual specialization and qualification. As a nursing professional, you are a competent contact person for the patient’s family members.
Requirements for International Nurses
Those wishing to pursue a nursing career in Germany have to meet the following requirements:
1. Nursing Qualification (Diploma or Bachelor certificate with transcript)
2. Licensure as a Registered Nurse (Sijil Lembaga Jururawat Malaysia)
3. Knowledge of the German language (at least at Level B1 of CEFR)
4. Recognition of Nursing Qualification by German authorities
5. Job offer / Employment Contract from the German employer
6. Visa and work permit to practise the nursing profession in Germany
The good news is that all you need to do to join our GNC programme is to make a firm commitment and to provide items 1 and 2 listed above. We'll take care of the rest.
Your German Nursing Career Pathway
Programme Enrolment
All you need to join our GNC programme is to have a diploma or degree qualification in nursing and a license of a registered nurse from the Malaysian Nursing Board. After submitting all necessary documents and signing agreements, you will be enrolled in the programme and can start your language training.
Language Training in Malaysia and Job Placement
In Malaysia, we will provide you with the German language training for levels A1, A2 and B1 (for approx. 8 months) and prepare you for the external B1 German exam. While you will be learning German, we will prepare all the necessary documents for the recognition of your nursing qualification and start the recognition process on your behalf with the German authorities (approx. 5-6 months). We will also prepare you for the online job interview and arrange the job placement with German employers.
Visa Application and Integration Training
After a successful job interview with the German employer, you will receive the job offer / employment contract. After completing the language training, we will assist you with work permit and visa application as well as other the pre-departure arrangements in Malaysia. While waiting for your work permit and visa, you will take the Online Transit Course “Fit for Germany” (approx. 3 months) in order to get prepared for your future work and life in Germany. The online course is provided directly by a German institution and covers nursing terminology, communication and intercultural training.
Arrival and Adaptation in Germany
We will make all the necessary post-arrival arrangements so that you make a good start in Germany, including transportation to the employer, orientation on work in Germany, assistance with accommodation, insurance and bank account opening.
On arrival in Germany, you will immediately start working as an assistant nurse for approx. 9 months with a gross salary of around EUR 2,100 per month. During this period of immersion in the German-speaking environment, you will sharpen your nursing skills and knowledge, while further improving your German skills. At the same time, you will continue studying German in the first 3 months in order to pass the B2 level exam. During this time, you will receive full-time salary even though you will take the language course within your working hours – not during your free time.
During the next 6 months, you will take the preparatory course in order to pass the nursing knowledge exam, while still working as an assistant nurse and receiving your regular salary.
Full Recognition and Permanent Employment in Germany
After successfully passing the nursing knowledge exam and receiving full recognition according to German standards, your salary will be increased to the same level as your German colleagues (gross salary approx. EUR 2,900). After this point, you can continue working on a permanent basis in Germany and enjoy full entitlements, including holiday leaves, insurance and retirement benefits. You will be required to work with your original employer for at least 2 years.
If you are married, you can apply for family reunion with your spouse and minor children after approximately one year of employment in Germany. Your children will be entitled to free education in German schools. After 5 years of employment, you can apply for permanent residence permit in Germany.
As part of the German Nursing Career programme, we will continue supporting you after your arrival in Germany with any matters related to residence, employment and integration in Germany.
Come join us
