She learned about the opportunities to work as a nurse in Germany and found a placement agency which places international skilled workers with businesses and organisations in Germany. That included the Asklepios Clinics, which have been seeking staff from abroad for several years.

Fatemeh has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Gilan University in Rascht, and before arriving in Germany, starting in 2021, she had worked in various clinical settings, including in the field of oncology – treating people suffering from cancer. At the same time, she learned German at a private language school, as getting a job in Germany in her field requires B2 language proficiency in German.

She arranged for her certificates for her application to be translated and certified. The placement agency then organised an interview for her with Asklepios by video link. “It was a bit nerve-wracking”, she recalls: her internet connection was interrupted several times. But everything worked out well in the end and they said yes – and she got her work visa.

In December 2023, she arrived in Hamburg and began working in the ENT ward at the Asklepios Clinic North. She then completed her year for the recognition of her qualifications, in which she attended in-house language classes to learn the vocabulary for her role as well as everyday German for communicating with the patients. She has now been employed as an officially qualified nurse since December 2024.

The language barrier remains one of her biggest challenges. “It’s very important for me to understand everything very well, as the patients’ health is at stake.” Her experiences have been positive, though. “Most people are very kind and understanding. They speak more slowly and praise me for my German.”

Fatemeh also feels at home on her ward. “My team is international, and several of my colleagues come from different countries. I’ve learned a lot about other cultures”, she says. Everyone contributes their own experiences to the clinic, which is enriching. And sometimes their native language skills also help out at work. “If patients can’t speak German, we have to translate for the doctors.”

Because she arrived in Germany without her family, there have been times when she has felt lonely. “It’s probably easier to move abroad with your family or partner”, she says. “There have certainly been times when I could have used a shoulder to cry on.”

She had to do everything on her own: from finding a home to dealing with the public authorities, which her employer supported her with. “It was exhausting, but I’m proud of what I’ve achieved.”

She is currently planning her future in Germany. She wants to stay working in her ward and to continue to improve her German. “Maybe getting German citizenship will also be possible in a few years’ time”, she says. Her employer also wants to retain its international skilled employees. The clinic supports the workers’ long-term integration by offering further training and individual shift planning, and also helps them with bringing their family members over to Germany.