A good 1.2 million people work in care across Germany. And that despite the difficult conditions. So something about the profession has to keep the professionals going. In an interview, nurse Limbang Jiemer-Rose from Senior Living St. Elisabeth in Schweinfurt explains what the sunny side of nursing can be and how meaningful the profession is.
pflege-today.de: How did you come to the nursing profession?
Limbang Jiemer-Rose: From an early age, it was clear to me that I wanted to help others and work in a caring profession. In my home country in the Philippines, I trained as a midwife and accompanied expectant mothers for years. In 2014, I emigrated to Germany and started looking for comparable jobs. Through an internship at St. Elisabeth, I came to my training as a nursing assistant and finally to the generalist nursing training.
pflege-today.de: Why the decision for the nursing profession after emigration?
Jiemer-Rose: I love and live for care. It’s what I’ve always done and want to continue doing. Due to the shortage of skilled workers, it is a very secure job that at the same time brings local flexibility and many opportunities for advancement. For example, the management level in our hospital promotes staff and offers opportunities for further training. I am currently being trained as a geronto specialist to understand dementia even better. And that benefits the seniors.
pflege-today.de: It is fascinating to hear how you view the nursing profession. Instead of emphasising the stress, you see the challenges and variety in it. Can you tell us more about how you deal with the stresses of everyday work?
Jiemer-Rose: It all has something to do with one’s perspective. Instead of stress, I choose to see that the job is challenging and varied. No two days are the same and that’s what makes it so interesting. I am always presented with new challenges through which I get to learn and grow.
pflege-today.de: What status does the profession have in society? And what is it for you?
Jiemer-Rose: In recent years, the nursing profession has – in my opinion – gained in prestige. Especially crises like the Corona pandemic show who the pillars of society are. We need nurses and we are becoming increasingly aware of that. For me personally, the profession is meaningful. Helping people who need help and living together with them is the most beautiful thing for me. That makes me go home satisfied in the evening.
pflege-today.de: You came to Germany in 2014. Has the nursing profession helped you with your integration?
Jiemer-Rose: I was warmly welcomed by my colleagues, received a lot of support and met great people who have a similar life story. The seniors were also always friendly to me and helped me integrate more than they probably know. Through conversations, I have learned many new words and sentence structures. The residents were happy to correct me when I made mistakes, so that I learned German better every day. The closeness and contact that come with the social profession motivated me to get better and encouraged me in the process.
pflege-today.de: What are your best moments in your everyday professional life?
Jiemer-Rose: After all these years, it is difficult to pick out one particular moment. Since I am a very social person, I enjoy being in direct contact with others. For example, at the staff parties where I can connect with colleagues in a relaxed mood. Or on walks with the residents in our garden. There I learn more about the individuals and there is always a lot of laughter. The stress of the daily work routine then becomes void and only the human togetherness counts.
