Nursing in Germany
Profile of the nursing profession
The German healthcare sector offers foreign nursing professionals excellent perspectives: a crisis-proof profession with heart and passion as well as plenty of career opportunities.
Working as a nursing professional in Germany:
The number of people in need of care will continue to increase further:
"According to the care statistics updated every other year, the number of people in need of care throughout Germany in 2017 amounted to about 3.4 million, which was 70% more than at the beginning of the millennium. The Federal Statistical Office also anticipates a further increase in care dependency in the future: The experts expect the number of people in need of care throughout Germany to increase to about 4.53 million by 2060.“
Source: Demand for nurses in Germany by 2035. Published by Rainer Radtke, 17/08/2020, at https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/172651/umfrage/bedarf-an-pflegekraeften-2025/ of 28/09/2021)
What are protected professions?
All professions in the healthcare sector are regulated and thereby “protected”. Protected professions are also called regulated professions. The terms “protected” and “regulated” mean the same thing.
In order for you to be allowed to use the professional title of “nursing professional” in Germany, you need to have your professional qualifications acquired abroad recognised in Germany.
Recognition Finder
The “Recognition Finder of the Federal Ministry” gives an overview of protected professions.
Click here for more information about professional recognition and the required documents and certificates.
Since 2020, a new standard has been defined for nursing professions in Germany:
There is only one single professional title: “nursing professional”. This means that a nursing professional can work in both paediatric and geriatric care or in a hospital.
Important to know:
In Germany, nursing is a profession that requires formal training – but in many other countries, it requires a university degree
In many countries, training to become a nurse involves a university degree and can take up to 5 years. The training is often academic and is concluded with a bachelor’s degree in some countries. In Germany, however, nursing is a profession that requires formal training and its focus is less medical. The training is hands on, usually alternating between school and work on a ward.
Nursing professionals working in Germany often perform different tasks than in their home countries. For example, basic care is one of the daily tasks of a nurse in Germany. To avoid any potential disappointment, you should make sure to find out in advance about any similarities and differences in tasks between your home country and Germany.
All our certified hospitals offer you advice and guidance by a colleague from your home country before and during your application.
Opportunities and prospects
You are new to Germany and would like to expand your skills? Nursing offers a wide range of opportunities in a field of your choice, such as intensive care, palliative care, or a nursing management study programme, to mention but a few examples.
At our certified hospitals, there is a point of contact who is well versed in these matters and can give you expert advice.
In addition, you can always get in touch with general counselling centres such as:
Important professional and trade associations
A professional association is an organisation that supports its members in achieving common goals and interests. Members usually pay a fee to receive specific services, such as legal advice in the event of conflicts.
For nursing professions in Germany, the following associations are most important:
In addition, there are the trade unions. For example, a trade union advocates for better working conditions or higher pay for its members.
They include Verdi, www.verdi.de, and the German Trade Union Confederation, DGB, www.dgb.de.
What does this mean for you? The Helios hospitals have a works council. A works council consists of several hospital employees and represents your interests to your directors or the management. If you have any questions about trade associations or trade unions or any specific labour law problems, you can always contact your local works council first. The works council can also help you if you have any questions about occupational safety and health, rights of termination or other problems. It’s important to know that the works council always acts on your behalf and in your interests!