"Twenty-eight additional nursing professionals have been introduced to the region, which would have been lamentable without their presence."
28 Graduates Shine in Nursing and Geriatric Care Assistance, Facing Promising Careers
The 28 graduates of the Penzberg vocational schools for nursing and geriatric nursing assistance, who received their certificates in 2023, are poised for success in the nursing field. The high demand for healthcare and eldercare professionals in Germany and Europe creates a favourable job market for these newly-minted caregivers.
Due to demographic changes such as an aging population, there is a sustained and growing need for qualified nursing and geriatric care assistants. This increased employment opportunity is a testament to the potential career paths available for certified graduates in these fields.
Graduates can find practical work in various settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient care, rehabilitation centers, and community health services. Geriatric nursing assistance is particularly critical as the elderly population expands.
With initial certificates, graduates may begin as nursing assistants but have access to further qualifications and specialization, such as becoming registered nurses or pursuing specialized geriatric care roles. Continuous professional development is encouraged and supported in many healthcare settings.
Germany has initiatives to address nursing shortages by facilitating vocational training and integrating new graduates into the healthcare workforce.
The class of 2025 includes a diverse group of students, such as Nisrin Ait Bella, Monika Antasova, Katja Attig, and many others. The two vocational schools in Penzberg belong to the Rummelsberger Diakonie, which trains 1,170 learners in social professions at eight school locations in Germany.
Philipp Ross, the evangelical pastor in Penzberg, spoke of a crowning conclusion to the one- and three-year training. Principal Stephanie Strein, who has been leading the vocational schools for nursing and geriatric nursing assistance in Penzberg since the end of November 2023, wished the newly minted caregivers strength, courage, and inspiration to positively impact care.
Eight graduates received their certificates as nurses after a three-year course, marking the third graduating class of the generalist training. Lars Grund, a nursing assistant, was awarded a certificate for outstanding achievements in the nursing assistant training. Some of the nursing assistants will begin a three-year training to become a nurse in September.
The newly trained nurses are in demand, with many already having job offers or planning further qualifications. These graduates can work, depending on their focus, in geriatric care, general nursing, and pediatric nursing.
Stephanie Strein encouraged the graduates to ensure that care is perceived more positively in the public eye and to live their profession with heart, mind, and integrity. Diakonin Tina Dehm from the department for vocational schools sent the annual theme of the Protestant Church ahead: "Test everything and hold on to the good" from the first letter to the Thessalonians.
The completion of this year's class is an important contribution to strengthening nursing care. The graduates of the Penzberg vocational schools for nursing and geriatric nursing assistance are ready to make a difference in the healthcare field.
- The graduates of the Penzberg vocational schools for nursing and geriatric nursing assistance, who are set to make a significant impact in the healthcare field, can find their careers intertwined with science, as they question, improve, and apply health-and-wellness practices for their patients in various care settings.
- As the demand for healthcare and geriatric care professionals continues to rise due to demographic changes, these certified graduates have the opportunity to specialize in their respective fields, furthering their education and potentially shaping health-and-wellness policies through science and research, contributing to a more robust, scientifically-informed health-and-wellness ecosystem in the respective communities they serve.
