The Nursing Shortage

Vocabulary

Video: Nursing Shortage

Transcript

 
Patricia Ortega has been working in this clinic in Bad Wiessen for three months. The caregiver from Spain is highly qualified. She still doesn’t speak much German. Even so, the patients like her very much.

She came to Germany looking for work, because she couldn’t find a job back home.

Patricia is one of seventeen (17) Spanish nurses at the rehab clinic. Mohammad comes from Valencia.

When a new nurse arrives, one of their German colleagues is assigned to help them acclimatize, and get to grips with the German health system.

Renae Matthes, Nurse: “They’re very well trained. They have excellent qualifications. They’re very quick learners. And they’re extremely helpful. You only need to tell them things once.”

Crisis-stricken Spain is currently home to five-million unemployed. So these nurses are glad to have found work. And Germany needs their help.

Clinic manager, Christian Gores who speaks fluent Spanish found them by placing ads in Spanish newspapers.

Christian Gores, Manager: “We’ve had good experiences with them. Obviously we invest a lot in our staff, but we’re confident this is a very good solution.”

Medical director, Tomas Wessinghage agrees: the Spanish nurses who studied four years at university, are a welcome addition to his team.

As he explains, it’s hard to find qualified staff in Germany these days.

Dr. Thomas Wessinghage, Medical Director: “There’s an acute shortage of nurses in Germany. And the result is that we have a lot of vacancies. Fortunately, we will have filled these positions with Spanish nurses.

And we’re all very glad about that.”

While Mohammad is on duty, a few of the other Spanish nurses are taking German lessons. That’s one of the conditions of the job: good communication skills are part of their work. They will receive the same wages as their German counterparts — only once they have passed a language test.

Mohammed Abbassi, Nurse: “I think this system works very well. I expected getting started in Germany to be harder. But everyone here has made it easier for us. We couldn’t speak the language when we arrived, but we can learn German alongside our work.”

Mohammed and the other Spanish nurses have signed three-year contracts with the clinic. They’re pleased they have work and the Germans enjoy the warmth and high-spirits the Spaniards bring to the team.

Questions

 
Hospital Custodian, Janitor. According to the report, the Spanish nurses came to German clinic because they love German weather and food. True or false?

Hospital Orderly. Do the Spanish nurses have a German mentor?

Nurse, Registered Nurse. Are their attending nursing college in Germany?

Family Doctor, Physician. The nursing profession is very popular among Germans. Is this right or wrong?

Surgeon. Is it necessary to know English at the clinic?

Oncologist. Will the Spanish nurses definitely be working in that clinic for the rest of their careers?

Pediatrician. The German patients are satisfied and pleased with the Spanish nurses. Is this correct or incorrect?

Gynecologist. Are you, or do you know anyone who is a nurse?

Gerontologist, Geriatrician. The locals of my town, city, country want to become nurses. Nursing is a popular occupation. Yes or no?

Obstetrician. Is there a nursing shortage or glut in your country? Are there enough, not enough or an adequate amount of nurses in your country?

Neurology. Do nurses from other countries work in your country? Do nurses from your country work abroad?

Orthopaedics. What might happen in the future?

Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery. What should government and people do?