Stress, pandemic and vaccination debate: Munich trainees explain why they choose nursing
Created: 01/25/2022, 09:11
Matthias Zöpfl (38) is training to become a healthcare professional at the Munich Clinic.
© Achim Schmidt
There are plenty of jobs here: trainees from care facilities in Munich tell why they love their job despite the constant stress and pandemic.
Munich – They work overtime, they work extra shifts, and they fight day after day on the front line against Corona: Many nurses work at the limit. "The pressure on nurses has grown during the pandemic," confirms Sabine Karg from the German Professional Association for Nursing (DBfK) in Bavaria. The constant stress affects the mood, and recently there was also the debate about compulsory vaccination for people in medical professions. The DBfK has spoken out against it, but the rule will still apply from March 16th. The personnel situation is already difficult anyway. Karg says: “We lose skilled workers in every corona wave.” And they were rare in Munich even before the pandemic.
At the Munich Clinic, the approximately 3,000 nursing staff have an average of around 200 vacancies.
The Munich Clinic reports that there were no suitable applicants, especially in intensive care.
The city hospitals help each other with temporary workers - and also rely heavily on the training of young people.
The academy of the Munich clinic alone offers 500 places for prospective nurses, the nursing school of the LMU clinic has 180 places.
There are also other private and church nursing schools in Munich.
In order to keep the skilled workers after training, some clinics rely on incentives.
The Munich clinic pays specialists about a takeover bonus of 5000 euros.
The application portals of the Munich nursing schools have been open again since last week – interested parties can apply until July.
On this page, we let prospective nurses from Munich have their say.
They tell what they love about their job despite Corona*:
Munich nursing trainees about Corona and their everyday work: "Joy about progress"
Leonie Eger (21):
“I find it exciting to work with patients.
Even during Corona there are always interesting assignments.
What inspires me is the special relationship between nurse and patient.
You get to know people closely.
Some can walk again after a few days, others only after weeks.
It's nice to witness this process.
Recently I was deployed in the intensive care unit: there were many patients with lung transplants.
They arrived with many tubes, deeply sedated.
After a few days you notice that the patients can get up and talk to you again.
To see this progress and to think that I worked on it: That's a super great feeling!"
(Training as a nursing specialist)
Leonie Eger (21) is training to be a nursing specialist and is enthusiastic about working with patients - here she is practicing with a dummy.
© Markus sleep
Matthias Zöpfl (38):
"If Corona hadn't existed, I probably wouldn't have had the idea of switching to nursing. I was previously employed in the catering industry for 20 years. During the first wave, I sat at home and thought: why not help out in the care? I applied to become a volunteer at the Munich Clinic. There I became a ward attendant in the emergency room. Many of my colleagues have become my personal heroes. That motivated me to start nursing training. It's something special when patients start to trust you. That genuine gratitude. It's a good feeling to go home and, ideally, to be able to say: Today we saved a life. As far as compulsory vaccinations are concerned: Basically, I think vaccinations are good and important. I am boosted myself. But I understand that there are peoplewho don’t necessarily feel better because of the compulsion – you have to pick them up now.”
(training as a healthcare professional)
Munich: Apprentices in the care sector explain their motivation
Veronica Zinkl (19):
"Corona was an additional motivation for me - even though I had already decided to do nursing training before that. Of course, you can already feel the lack of staff on the wards during the training. But I quickly realized that I was needed. Responsibility grows from assignment to assignment. It's just motivating when a patient says to you: You are my favorite nurse - you're the best person to talk to. Most recently I was in the palliative care unit. I had a patient who couldn't eat anymore because she kept getting sick. I made her soup with some spices. She was so happy about this soup that she even told the head doctor the next day. It's the little things about the job that make me incredibly happy."
(Training as a nursing specialist at the nursing school of the LMU clinic)
An expert explains why the problem in care existed long before Corona - but politicians and the public looked the other way for a long time:
Nursing trainee in Munich: "The best thing is the gratitude of the elderly"
Thomas Reuter (18):
“Ever since I was eight I wanted to work in geriatric care – that was my biggest dream. Now I have fulfilled it. The most beautiful thing is the great gratitude of the elderly. They give you a lot in return: When I come to them as a young man, they get excited. Of course, I feel the shortage of skilled workers during my training - also because of the pandemic. If we had a corona patient, he had to be cared for more intensively. As a result, other residents sometimes had to wait longer. As an intern, I sometimes had to do more than usual as a result. But you learn to deal with the pressure. I have the feeling that this situation has brought many nurses even closer together. Everyone helps each other - and no distinction is made between skilled workers and interns. I think compulsory vaccinationbecause we have a lot of responsibility and we have to protect the residents or patients. Not all residents would survive a corona infection.”
(Training as a nursing assistant)
Liridone Krasniqi (28):
“There is no home office in the hospital or nursing home – others certainly had it more comfortable during the pandemic.
As a nurse you are always close to people.
This has the advantage that you can experience the result of your work directly.
I see immediately when someone needs help.
And when I can help someone, I feel good about myself.
I think to myself: how would I feel if I needed this help right now?
We are constantly involved in our work with our feelings, you have to communicate constantly - that distinguishes nursing from other professions.
That's why I give my best every day.
That motivates me.”
(Training as a nursing assistant at the Caritas nursing school)
In recent years, the healthcare system and hospitals have been increasingly trimmed for efficiency.
A doctor explains how sick it is.
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