Galina Batt, General nurse

My story

"For me, recognition means I now have very different kinds of opportunities in the labour market. I also have more security. I am proud of the progress I’ve made."

It was a decision made out of love. In 2014, Galina Batt came to Cologne with her daughter. She wanted to live here with her German husband, whom she had met on holiday.

At the end of 2017 Galina Batt registered herself as seeking work with the employment agency. In Russia she had previously worked as a feldsher. In Germany this occupation is like a cross between a general nurse and a casualty doctor. In her new home she wanted to earn money as quickly and as simply as possible. However, because she was overqualified, she could not find work. The employment agency therefore advised Galina Batt to get her training recognised. She was confident of finding a new position quickly. She has a clear aim: “I want to do something beneficial for society and to improve my own standard of living.”

The advisor made her aware of Network IQ. The IQ website provided Galina Batt with important information about recognition. She received details from the Düsseldorf District government about the occupation of general nurse and about the recognition procedure. She then prepared all the documents and had them translated into German. 

At the start of 2018, Gelina Batt submitted her application for recognition. The application however was rejected because recognition of her training at this point in time was not possible. Instead she was required to start new training and acquire language level B2. The legal situation changed in 2019. A new report on the reference qualifications from the Central Assessment Agency for Healthcare Professions (GfG) now meant that her training could be recognised. According to the report, Galina Batt was missing 1,000 hours of hospital-based practical training and 500 hours of theoretical training. She was also provided with the address of the Louise von Marillac college. The nursing college in Cologne has also been offering adaptation periods since 2018. Financial funding is provided by Network IQ and there are no costs to the participants.

Galina Batt registered for the adaptation period in November 2019. The nursing college recommended initially completing some practical training hours in the hospital followed by the theoretical training. “If you do not have the practical experience in the hospital, it's difficult to follow the theory lessons. This often means that the final adaptation period interview is not passed,” explains Judith Carle, project advisor at the Louise von Marillac school.

Galina Batt found a position as “care assistant in recognition” at a hospital in Bergisch Gladbach. However, it was a difficult start in January 2020. She did not know the specialist German terms. She didn’t understand how the equipment and procedures worked. Despite this, she managed to achieve 1,000 practical hours of training within a year.

When Galina Batt started the theoretical training, the work in the hospital became simpler. “We didn't just learn subject-specific things but were also given lots of support and practical tips on everyday working life in the hospital. Nursing college was very important for the path I had chosen for myself.”

The training in Kazakhstan ultimately proved very useful: “It quickly became evident that Galina Batt had a lot of prior knowledge. We therefore applied to have the 500 hours of theory training reduced. This meant it was possible for her to do the final interview after just 360 hours. She did that with us in August 2021 and passed very successfully,” says a very pleased Judith Carle.

On 16 November 2021 Galina Batt finally received full recognition of her professional qualification. Today, she works as a general nurse in a hospital in Bergisch Gladbach.

The interview took place in December 2021. Rhine-Westphalia IQ regional network provided support with the recognition procedure. She completed the theoretical element of the adaptation period at the Louise von Marillac college in Cologne which received financial support from Network IQ.

My procedure in brief