Brazilian nursing staff in Saxony: The first time it snows

In future, Saxony will increasingly rely on foreign staff to care for those in need of care. In view of demographic developments, the state will need an additional 5,000 skilled workers in this area over the next ten years. Health Minister Petra Köpping (SPD) therefore flew to Brazil a year ago, and now there was a reunion in Pulsnitz.

"It's no use just sitting there and saying we have no nursing staff and we can no longer provide certain services. I have care facilities where an entire floor is closed because there is no one to care for the people," said Köpping, describing the problem. That's why the approach is "do it yourself". Waiting for someone to solve the problem is certainly not the solution.

Vamed Klinik has staff from 17 countries

Köpping sees Vamed Klinik Schloss Pulsnitz as a pioneer in this regard. The clinic in the district of Bautzen has been recruiting foreign specialists for ten years. There are currently employees here from 17 countries, including Afghanistan, Great Britain, Iran, Russia, Ukraine and Venezuela. According to clinic manager Carsten Tietze, the proportion of foreigners among the employees is 15 percent. The largest group comes from Brazil.

Clinic works with "Fair Recruitment" seal of approval

Tietze expects more than 20 percent foreign specialists in the future. The Managing Director speaks of a "pragmatic approach". "We don't ask a lot of questions. We see the problem and try to find solutions and try out certain things." His clinic works with the "Fair Recruitment" seal of approval. This excludes the possibility of specialists being recruited if there is a demand in the country in question.

The Brazilians currently studying in Pulsnitz have already completed a nursing degree. They were all unemployed in their home country around the city of Recife. They are now undergoing a one-year training course to prepare them for working in a German clinic. The main aim is to improve their language skills. Every six weeks, they alternate between theory and practical work on the ward.

Young Brazilians want to build a life for themselves in Germany

Most of them say they have settled in well. "Germany is a good country. We can build a life here," says a young woman called Ellen. One participant in the training course describes the Germans as "friendly, patient and empathetic". The hardest thing about the training is the German language, they say again and again. No one seems to have any problems with the weather. They have all seen snow for the first time in their lives.

Ederson Rodrigues has been in Pulsnitz for four years. The 34-year-old now also works as a mentor for his compatriots. "The better you speak German, the fewer problems there are." Of course, some are homesick sometimes. He himself compensates for this with two annual visits to his home country. Brazil is now his vacation destination. He feels very much at home in Pulsnitz: "We're one big family here."

A young woman has left her husband and baby behind in Brazil and is very hopeful that her visa will finally be granted. Her husband is an IT specialist and, in Köpping's opinion, he is also urgently needed in Germany. Meanwhile, the Vamed Clinic is already putting out feelers. Managing Director Tietze also wants to acquire doctors abroad in future. He is expecting the first from Colombia next year.