"After Corona, the need for care is not over." Christian Osterried, head of the Heiliggeist Hospital in Schongau, points this out. He cannot fill five positions for nurses alone. And the nursing bonus is promised, but has not yet been received by any employee. But it's not about money: "The system is sick."
Schongau - The "Day of Nursing" was also recently celebrated in Schongau. Pastor Julia Steller and deacon Hans Steinhilber thanked the nurses in the Heiliggeist hospital for their efforts, as home manager Christian Osterried reports. The issue of nursing emergencies, on the other hand, was completely overlooked in these Corona times. The ministries would make new specifications every week. "But how you can do all of this, this question takes a back seat," criticizes Osterried.
There is currently a lot of news about the care premium of 500 euros, which the home manager calls "comfort plaster for carers". And which, incidentally, nobody has in their hands yet. "As of today, no employee has been referred to anything yet," the manager knows. What nobody is talking about at the moment: Five positions for nurses cannot be filled at the Heiliggeist Hospital Schongau because there are simply no applicants. Three positions have been vacant for a long time. Two new jobs were added in 2019: Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn had promised 13,000 jobs for inpatient care for the elderly, these two jobs for Karmeliterstrasse are also vacant. So it stays that way: Instead of the possible 114, you cannot look after more than 100 residents, currently less because of Corona. Because the workload is sometimes many times higher if, for example, a resident suspected of being corona has to be cared for separately.
It’s not necessarily about payment
But Osterried is not concerned with the additional work involved. Not even about the payment of the employees, the house is subject to tariffs. "Even if it is said that nurses earn too little:" The basic salary is just as high as that of a nurse, the payment is a skilled worker salary. "A basic wage of € 2900 gross for a new entrant after three years of training as a nurse. In addition, there is a € 100 shift shift allowance and hourly flat rates for night duty, weekly and holiday duty. Osterried calculates that a long-time employee has a basic salary of 3500 and can get 4000 euros for many special services.
The salary alone is the wrong approach, Osterried is convinced. "It's about the job key, so that the employees have more hands." For 25 years - with the introduction of long-term care insurance - not much has changed in the job key, although the nursing staff are working at the limit. The job market is swept clean, and shouldn't even be.
Because, according to Osterried, many do not want or cannot practice this profession permanently due to the high load. According to his information, the nursing staff stay on average three years after the training, then they move to other areas such as a medical supply store or private nursing. "If the working conditions were better, pressure would be taken out of the system, this job would become more attractive again," Osterried is convinced.
Hire more caregivers to take pressure off
He estimates that at least 20 percent more nursing staff would have to be hired to make duty rosters reliable again, i.e. one additional job for every five nursing staff. "Whenever someone falls out and gets sick, I have to get someone out of the 'Frei'," said Osterried. “For years the system has been based on the good nature and collegiality of the nursing staff - the state should regulate that.
And that really costs money. ”Passing these costs on to the residents alone, but it is not feasible, would mean an additional monthly charge of up to 600 euros.
The chances of being taken over are good
The chances of being hired for in-house trainees are very good. And the start of the new general studies training in autumn also seems to be going well for the Heiliggeist Hospital Foundation. “We found four great trainees. Two applicants from home, one fresh from school and one who is reorienting herself professionally. ”
The city is also well supported. The new board of trustees has already been elected and is expected to meet for the first time in June.
You might also be interested in:
Christian Osterried had previously pointed out the nursing emergency in Schongau
This is still a vision of the future, but the home manager already has the expansion plans in mind
Nursing training is also optimized at Heimerer in Schongau, even under a new roof