Germany: The mood in the care industry is getting worse and worse – @shutterstock | Alexander Raths
+++ Nursing staff remains scarce +++ What nursing staff earn +++ German nurses at the limit +++ Austria feels so healthy
Nursing staff remains scarce
According to the annual Care Climate Index Germany, cooled further. Nursing staff still feel that they are not sufficiently represented by politicians and that their work is not sufficiently valued. “The already chronically high workload is shaping the mood of the professional group and more and more people are experiencing the problems first hand,” says Franz Wagner, President of the German Nursing Council
As the graphic shows, in 2017, 70 percent said that the staffing levels in nursing did not meet the requirements. In the current survey it is 71 percent. In 2017, only six percent said that the staffing situation was sufficient, and in 2018 it was another two percentage points less. For 76 percent, there is no improvement in sight: They do not believe that demand will be met in the next ten years.
What nurses earn
Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) wants to combat the staff shortage in nursing with higher salaries - he is demanding up to 3,000 euros per month for nursing staff. In addition, temporary work should be curbed and collective bargaining coverage should be expanded. Elderly care in particular should become more attractive. As the graphic shows, the salary prospects in this area are lower than in nursing. According to a survey by the IAB, the median gross monthly salary in geriatric care in 2016 was a good 2,600 euros. Nursing professionals received a good 3,200 euros. All supplements for night shifts or work in the intensive care unit are already included. Compared to 2012, wages have increased by 8.6 percent on average for all nursing employees.
German nurses at the limit
Nurses in Germany have to look after many more patients than in other countries. According to a current study by the Hans Böckler Foundation, the staff shortage and thus the high workload are particularly severe in this country.
In Germany, nurses would have to care for an average of 13 patients. In Switzerland, on the other hand, there are only around eight patients per nurse, in the Netherlands 6.9 and in the USA only 5.3, as the graphic shows.
The more patients have to be cared for at the same time, the greater the workload and the worse the quality of care. The Hans Böckler Foundation cites the long-standing underfunding in the social service professions as the reason for the staff shortage.
Austria feels so healthy
The majority of Austrians rate their own health positively. This was the finding of a study by Uniqua Österreich Versicherungen AG , carried out by Marketagent.com, in December 2017.
21.2 percent of those surveyed rate their health as very good. Another 48 percent rate it as rather good. 24.7 percent declare their health to be rather mediocre. 5.5 percent even describe it as rather bad. 0.5 percent consider their health to be poor.
Do more exercise in the new year and eat healthier: many Austrians have set health goals for themselves. 57.2 percent plan to reduce their weight. Sport is in second place among health goals. 55.3 percent of those surveyed would like to move more. 53.9 percent plan to eat healthier in the future.
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