Migrant nurses from Vietnam – First experiences in the German long-term care sector

Background: In 2012 a pilot project «recruiting qualified employees for the elderly care sector» commissioned by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (BMWi) with Vietnam was initiated. 150 Vietnamese candidates with degrees in nursing were recruited and participated in a German language course in Hanoi for six months (level A2). 100 project participants then arrived in Germany in September 2013 and started a (shortened) 2-year training in elderly care at locations in four federal states. The aim was for the Vietnamese to work in German nursing homes for at least three years after completion of the training. The project was implemented by the GIZ Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit and evaluated by the IEGUS Institute for European Healthcare Research and Social Economy from January 2013 to March 2016. Aim: The aim was to explore the possibilities for training of young people from emerging markets to become geriatric nurses in Germany. The results have been used as a foundation for recommendations for companies within the social care sector. Method: The formative and summative evaluation was based on personal interviews, telephone and written questionnaires, consultations and observations. The contribution presents results of the interviews and questionnaires. All relevant stakeholders had been included: The Vietnamese, the nursing and language schools, the nursing providers and mentors. Results: This article summarizes the results of the project evaluation. It gives a first insight into the experiences made from a professional, cultural as well as linguistic point of view.