Nursing as an apprenticeship: The first “nursing apprentices” start in autumn

It was in the planning stages for a long time and was the subject of heated discussions: nursing theory. From autumn onwards, young people in Upper Austria will be able to complete an apprenticeship in the nursing sector after completing compulsory schooling, i.e. at the age of 15. According to Deputy Governor Christine Haberlander (VP), we are the fourth federal state after Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Lower Austria to create “further access to nursing in order to inspire young people for the profession”.

• Read more in the comment “Every hand counts”

The need for personnel is high: by 2040, the number of people in need of care in Upper Austria will increase by 45 percent to 107,000. The apprenticeship includes two career profiles: on the one hand, the three-year training to become a nursing assistant, and on the other hand, the four-year apprenticeship to become a nursing assistant. For the time being, only the Ried I district old people’s and nursing home and the Linz Spallerhof senior center are serving as “pilot operations”. The theory training is carried out at Vocational School 1 in Linz in cooperation with the School of Health and Nursing on the Neuromed campus. The first ten-week course block begins on November 13th – up to 36 places are available.

Internships and basic salary

Nursing apprenticeships are already a successful model in other countries such as Switzerland, says State Councilor for Social Affairs Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer (VP). And in Austria, too, according to surveys, 76 percent of young people would consider working in the care sector. It is important “that young people can be picked up immediately after compulsory school” and that they do not have to wait until they are 17, as is currently the case. In addition to remuneration in accordance with the collective agreement for social and health professions (905 euros in the first year of training), the apprentices are already permanently employed in their company. In the third year of training, apprentices earn a basic salary of 1,368 euros.

In order to get an overview of the entire nursing profession, four internships must be completed, for example in a hospital or in mobile care. Volkshilfe and the Red Cross have already been won as project partners.

• From the archive: Only “cheap assistants”: criticism of nursing teaching

There has been repeated criticism of nursing teaching in the past. For example, the Austrian Health and Nursing Association (ÖGKV) complained that young people were only allowed to work on patients when they were 17 years old. As a result, apprentices could be used “at best as unskilled workers”. In addition, the Diakonie, among others, warned against “overtaxing” young people and existing staff.

The curriculum was adjusted accordingly. According to Jennifer Nieke, director of the School of Health and Nursing at Kepler University Hospital, the focus in the first two years of training would be primarily on “learning the basics of dealing with people”. This requires “perceiving and observing”. “Medical measures such as taking blood or changing bandages are trained on mannequins in a simulation room.”

Practical instructor in every company

In the third year of training, from the age of 17, work on patients is possible. In the fourth year of training, i.e. for nursing assistants, the focus is on “advanced medical and diagnostic measures”. And the care modalities have also been laid down. In addition to testing the quality of training, every training company will also have practical instructors who will be released from regular operations and “will supervise a maximum of three trainees at the same time”.

Nursing teaching in numbers

• 36 places for future nursing assistants and nursing assistants will be available from autumn at Vocational School 1 in Linz. The first theory block starts on November 13th.
• 640 internship hours The “nursing apprentices” have to complete their first three years of training in four different areas. This includes care in nursing homes, hospitals, mobile services and homes for people with disabilities. Volkshilfe, the Red Cross and the Sisters of Mercy Hospital have already been won as partners.