14 things to know living as a Filipina Nurse in Germany
A lot of Philippine Nurses are working abroad to search for greener pastures. Munich is a City located in the Region of Bavaria, one of the most beautiful and expensive City in the whole world. It belongs to the third largest Cities in Germany, just like Berlin and Hamburg. Approximately, 1,558,395( updated June 2020) is the population in Munich. [1]
- You are not the only Foreign Nurse in your Station
A big percent of Foreign Nurses are working in Munich. You will encounter colleagues from different sides of the world. You are not the only one who are searching for greener pastures. You may have colleagues who comes from Serbia, Bosnia, Romania, Macedonia, Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Croatia, Albania, Tunisia, Poland, India, and as far as Mexico and Peru.
While taking care of patients, you are also learning different cultures from other side of the world. You will understand more how the person acts because of their origin.
2. 3 Shifts
You will work in 3 shifts. Morning(6:00-14:00), Afternoon( 13:00-21:00) and Night Shift (21:00-06:00) are the most common time of shifts that you will be working. In other cases , like working in the Operation room and Hemodialysis unit, you will be in on-call duty during night shift.
3. Digital Documentation
Most Hospitals are using digital documentation. The old way is writing manually on charts, because of the modernization, Germany is doing their best to use digital documentation rather than charting manually. You will have your own username and password as well as email address in your unit. It is easier to understand the doctor’s order and have lesser mistake.
4. Nurses Shortage
Nurses are in demand in most high profitable countries. Because of the olding population, stressful job and small salary from other working careers, some Germans does not want to study Nursing. Only small to moderate percent of German individuals with passion to Nursing are studying the course.
You will encounter colleagues who are always sick due to Burn-out and other reasons. Patient-staffing ratio is always at risk.
The German government is doing their best to have enough nurses in the country.
5. Seasons affects Patients attitude
Most patients during Winter Time are depress because of lack of Vitamin D. The patients sleeps early due to early Sunset. During Summer, it is so warm in your hospital stations that you will sweat a lot. In Germany, they dont use air conditioning system. This is to help save the ozone layer. Only in special units are air conditioning present.
6. All care system
The nurses are working in all-care-system. Nursing assistant are working mostly like how Bachelor nurses does(due to shortage). Bachelor Nurses are assigned in preparing medications, morning care(like bathing the patient when they cannot do it alone), Vital signs, helping the patient to eat their meal and carrying doctors order.
7. You can explore the beautiful City of Munich during your day off
Munich is one of the most beautiful City around the world. It has finest old architectures to modern fashion to vintage and beautiful landscapes. During your day off you can explore the breathtaking City, learn their culture, and take beautiful photos.
8. There are ‘Universities of Excellence‘ in the City
If you want to continuously pursue your education, you can enroll in the two best Universities around the world. The LMU( Ludwig Maximilian University) and TUM (Technical University of Munich) are both excellent Universities.
Other prestigious Universities also offers online classes and distance courses if you don’t have enough time to present yourself daily in normal classes.
9. Your employer might sponsor your Continuing Education
Most employers in Munich offers their nurses continuing education. They believe that investing advance knowledge in their employee will help in implementing better quality care for the patient.
10. You will have Permanent Contract in your Hospital
After 6months of Probationary, most employer will offer you a Permanent Contract instead of Contractual. They know how to cherish their employees. Nurses are in demand in Germany. The Administration will do their best for you to stay in the Hospital.
11. Your patients will be amaze about your Skills and Language
Most Patients, will ask you where did you study Nursing. They are amaze about your advance skills in taking care of them. They are always thankful and happy to know that you can speak their language.
You can ask your patient if your grammar is good, and they will help you to correct it. They feel glad if they can help you in a simple way. German is a difficult language. They will immediately know if you are not a native speaker, because of the pronounciation of ‚R’. They always say that you are good in English when you cannot pronounce the word ‚R’ correctly.
12. The Apartment rent is expensive
Since Munich belongs to one of the most beautiful Cities in the world, do not be surprise that the price for houses and apartment are high. A simple single Apartment with approximately 33square meter size cost aproximately 750-1100 euros.
13. You are paying a lot of taxes
In Germany you are paying a lot of taxes. The percent range of tax starts from 14% ranging to 45% depending on how much salary you are earning. In Germany, if you declared that your religion is Roman-Catholic, you also pay taxes to the church.
6 Types of Taxes in Germany
| 1 | Single,Separated Employees, Civil Partnership, Married Person, or widowed who are not in the tax categories II,III,IV |
| 2 | Single and Separated Employees who have a child. The child is eligible to Child‘s allowance |
| 3 | Married Employees and one spouse does not earn wages, or the spouse earns a wage but is classified under tax category V, or widowed employees who are within the first year of a spouse‘s death and are not separated |
| 4 | Married employees- (not separated)both are working/receiving income in Germany |
| 5 | Married employees But one of the spouses, at both spouses request, is under Class III |
| 6 | Persons on multiple wages from more than one employer |
14. Public Transportation is not a hassle
There are 24/7 availability of transport in Munich. The DB train, buses, tram, taxis, rental scooters and bicycle are always present whereever you go. You dont have to worry. You can buy in MVV monthly or yearly tickets. Yearly tickets tends to get cheaper, the 2 months in a year is free of charge.
References:
1.Landeshauptstadt München, Redaktion. “Landeshauptstadt München – Bevölkerung”. Landeshauptstadt München. Archivedfrom the original on 19 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
A Happy Place 