Olivier, nurse in Luxembourg, striking portrait
Luxembourg is so attractive to cross-border workers that France is struggling to find nurses. Olivier talks about his experience in Luxembourg where he earns three times the salary of a Frenchman. Here is a clear and realistic portrait of the failure of governments.
Olivier, who graduated a year ago, decided in 2011 to cross the border to work in a home help network in Luxembourg. His job essentially consists of giving injections, dressings, driving the elderly to the cemetery or the supermarket and above all allowing a good social bond with them.
Eighteen months later, it begins as nurse in one of the four establishments of the Robert Schuman Hospitals in internal medicine, for four years later joining the Kirchberg hospital.
What is the difference between the profession of nurse in Luxembourg and in France?
Olivier explains to us: In France, the nurses benefit from a certain comfort because there are caregivers to accomplish many tasks such as technical care, administrative files, etc. In Luxembourg, the nurse has overall responsibility for the patient and must manage everything “.
Patients from all over the world where languages are essential
” Patients come from all over the world and from all social and professional backgrounds. It’s a chance to work in this international environment but you have to speak several languages. Luxembourgish is, in my opinion, an essential condition in order to be able to understand Luxembourgers and treat them as well as possible. English is also very important to communicate with patients who come from all over “.
A nurse earns three times the salary of a Frenchman
Luxembourg offers salary conditions far removed from those offered by France. At the start of their career, a nurse in Luxembourg earns double that of a French one, and at the end of their career, it is triple.
Olivier explains the remuneration system to us: “ A nurse starts his career at about 3,000 euros net per month with permanence on certain weekends. Every two years, he moves up the ladder and earns between €100 and €150 more per month. I have been in this hospital for ten years and I earn €4,500 net per month, on a 40 hour basis, Monday to Friday “.
A life choice with inconveniences that weigh on a daily basis
Despite his gratitude to Luxembourg, Olivier questions his professional life. Indeed, he leaves his house at 6:00 a.m. to arrive by bus, most two hours later at his place of work. On the basis of 40 hours, and between three and four hours of transport per day, Olivier finds that the time spent in transport becomes heavy. He plans to leave Luxembourg for a better quality of life, but he has to accept a lower income.
Luxembourg has a very good health system but inadequate training
Olivier recognizes that the Luxembourg health sector has very advanced technologies. The home care networks, for having practiced them themselves, are very efficient. But what is wrong, he says, is the training. Luxembourg offers a BTS while in France, you need an LMD License Master Doctorate (BAC+3) to be a nurse. This then allows access to a master and specialization. According to him, Luxembourg lacks candidates because the training is not attractive enough. ” Training should be harmonized at European level “, he adds.
The shortage of nurses in France, especially in the Grand Est
According to Olivier, Luxembourg does not train enough nurses and goes to seek its workforce at the borders. Although there are many Portuguese who become nurses, which is a good thing because they often speak five languages, the necessary quota is not there. He explains: In France, hospitals, care homes and EPHADs are sorely lacking in staff. So when you just have to cross the border and earn double what you could have in your country, sometimes it’s hard not to be tempted “. And it turned out: “If Luxembourg offers another nursing course, there will be less of a shortage in France”.
It ends with: The Regional Council finances training in France and then people go to Luxembourg. Wages should also be better in France “.
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