Nursing Assistant (PFA)

Education and Qualifications

Educational Prerequisites: Successful completion of compulsory schooling (nine years of schooling).

Vocational Training: Completion of a two-year training program for nursing specialist assistance. Training can be undertaken at vocational schools for social professions or specialized health and nursing schools. Includes theoretical and practical content concluding with a state examination. German Language Proficiency: B1 level.

Theory:

• Fundamentals of Nursing: Anatomy, physiology, pathology, disease studies.
• Nursing Processes and Techniques: Documentation, care planning, execution of nursing measures.
• Communication and Interaction: Counseling, patient and family care, teamwork.
• Legal Framework: Nursing and health law, professional ethics.
• Hygiene and Safety: Infection prevention, occupational safety.

Practice: Practical training in various healthcare settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, and outpatient services. Practical training involves at least 1,200 hours.

Personal Requirements

Physical and Mental Resilience:

• Physically fit to handle tasks like lifting and moving patients.
• Stable mental condition to manage the emotional challenges of the profession.

Social Skills:

• Empathy, patience, strong communication skills, and teamwork essential for effective nursing care.

Reliability and Sense of Responsibility:

• Responsible for the care and support of patients, necessitating reliability and meticulousness in work.

Additional Requirements:

• Health Certificate: Medical confirmation of suitability for the profession.
• Criminal Record Extract: Clean criminal record may be required.

Income

Average Income:

• Starting Salary: Approximately 2,687 euros gross per month.
• Experienced Nursing Specialist Assistants: Can earn around 3,800 euros gross per month with increased experience and further training.

Factors Influencing Income:

• Employer: Public institutions and larger facilities often follow collective agreements, offering potentially higher salaries and better benefits.
• Regional Differences: Urban areas or economically stronger regions typically offer higher salaries than rural or economically weaker regions.
• Allowances and Bonuses: Additional income from shift work, night shifts, weekends, holidays, and annual bonuses (13th and 14th salaries).
• Work Experience and Qualifications: Increased earnings with experience and additional qualifications.

Example Calculation:

• Base salary: 2,600 euros gross per month.
• Additional allowances (e.g., night shifts): 200-300 euros.
• Christmas and vacation bonuses: Approximately 3,000 euros annually (contributing monthly approximately 250 euros).
• Resulting in a monthly gross income of approximately 3,050 euros.

Net Income:

• Net income is approximately 70-75% of the gross income, dependent on factors like tax class, marital status, and deductions.

Summary

Nursing specialist assistants in Austria play a pivotal role in healthcare, requiring a blend of formal education, practical skills, and personal attributes. Their income varies based on individual achievements, regional factors, and specific employment conditions, reflecting the demanding nature and importance of their profession.