That's why geriatric nurse is her dream job
Created: 12/29/2022, 2:43 p.m
By: Ingrid Zeilinger
You learn the life story of the elderly: Theresianum resident Katharina Koch (86) enjoys the time with geriatric nurse Veronika Sandmayr.
© Anita Beer
It's a backbreaking job, but a hugely important and fulfilling one.
Caregivers are wanted everywhere.
Despite poor pay, working with the elderly and those in need of care is a calling for some.
Veronika Sandmayr from the Theresianum explains why.
Fürstenfeldbruck
- "It was always clear to me that I wanted to go into nursing," says Veronika Sandmayr.
She comes from the district and did her first internship in a nursing home after high school.
It's easy to explain why: her grandmother and mother both worked in nursing professions.
You get a lot back from old people, often simple things like a smile, says the 33-year-old.
"I think it's great when a resident remembers my name even though he already has mild dementia." Then she knows that she's done something right.
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When Vroni, as she is called in the Theresianum, began her training as a geriatric nurse in 2006, she was the first apprentice in the facility for a long time.
At that time the Theresianum was full of nuns.
The cheerful Bavarian has a close relationship with the Niederbronner sisters.
"I really enjoyed working with the sisters."
Veronika Sandmayr (2nd from right) with her former colleagues on the second floor of the retirement home.
© Anita Beer
She emphasizes that the job is more than going to the toilet, washing and helping with personal hygiene.
You have to be there for the residents, accompany them and listen to them.
"You learn about their life stories and get an insight into another life," says the 33-year-old.
You have to find the right amount of closeness and distance.
"But friendships are also formed across generations."
It is therefore inevitable that one must learn at a young age to cope with death and to be able to be there for dying people.
"The nuns have ritualized the farewell," says the state-certified geriatric nurse.
She now enjoys accompanying the dying.
"Some residents also give you the feeling that death is not a bad thing and is part of life." But that doesn't mean that the death of a resident doesn't touch you.
Veronika Sandmayr believes that empathy is the most important thing in her job.
You have to empathize with the residents and be able to understand things.
Flexibility is also required - not in terms of working hours and the shift system, but in dealing with the elderly.
"People with dementia in particular may be happy and friendly today, depressed tomorrow - I have to be able to change my mind." And ultimately, resilience is also part of it.
Overwork, shift and weekend work, low pay: Sandmayr is familiar with these negative headlines about nursing professions.
The job is exhausting and a lot of work, admits the 33-year-old.
Sometimes you walk on your gums.
"The care key is simply too weak - too few employees for too many residents." Nevertheless, she never thought about leaving.
And financially she is happy.
The remuneration is well above what is paid in other sectors.
She would therefore recommend training in the nursing profession at any time.
"When young people work with old people, you can learn an incredible amount from each other and gain life experience." You also acquire specialist knowledge about medical care, medication and clinical pictures.
"These are things that may also become important in one's own family."
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Veronika Sandmayr now works as a residential area manager in the gerontopsychiatric area in the Theresianum.
Even during the corona pandemic, she decided to pursue further training, having already completed the further training as a gerontologist in 2014.
Her conclusion: "Nursing is my dream job, it's still like that and I'll still say it in 20 years.
You can find more current news from the district of Fürstenfeldbruck at Merkur.de/Fürstenfeldbruck.