Discover your Placement Site in Rhineland-Palatinate

Institutions in the medical and nursing sector can include:

• Hospitals
• Nursing homes
• Senior living facilities
• Rehabilitation clinics ...

You should:

• Learn about tasks and functions in nursing fields.
• Familiarize yourself with the structure and organization of your workplace.
• Learn about the duties of employees and eventually perform some of them after training.
• Understand the nursing philosophy of the institution and its corporate philosophy.
• Participate in nursing handovers, ward rounds, supervision, etc.
• Be able to ensure the independence of those in need of assistance.
• Learn tolerance regarding individual life circumstances of those seeking help.
• Be capable of acting responsibly on your own.

Tasks can be quite specific, including:

In caregiving:

• Participation in the planning and execution of group activities (games, crafts, reading, accompanying outings and walks).
• Engaging in leisure activities with the individuals being cared for.
• Accompanying and supporting outings and celebrations.
• Promotion and support of therapeutic measures.
• Escort services and assistance in maintaining or establishing social contacts (accompanying to the doctor, events, shopping, sports, etc.).

In elderly or nursing care:

• Basic care tasks include personal hygiene (partial/full body washing, showering/bathing, intimate hygiene, dental/oral care, combing, shaving).
• Assistance with excretion (urination, defecation, arranging clothing, changing small pads).
• Nutrition (preparing and serving meals and beverages for patients without swallowing disorders).
• Mobility (simple assistance with getting up/going to bed, repositioning, dressing/undressing, walking, standing).
• Housekeeping services (making beds correctly, disinfecting soiled beds, maintaining the patient's home or environment, managing households in an economical and environmentally conscious manner).
• Assistance with housekeeping tasks, such as preparing food with appropriate preparation and follow-up.

What is not allowed:

• Tasks that pose a danger to volunteers and/or those in need of assistance should not be performed.
• Volunteers should not be solely responsible.
• Tasks related to medical care, such as taking body temperature, pulse, blood pressure, medical rubs, medical baths, inhalations, applying cold packs, inserting nasal gastric tubes, administering tube feeding and fluids through a feeding tube, administering medication, injections, hanging intravenous drips, wound care and dressing changes, applying compression bandages, inserting and changing urinary catheters, enemas, enemas, stoma care, bronchial secretion suction.

Please note that this information provides an overview and that specific tasks and responsibilities may vary depending on the institution and the individual's level of training and experience.

Before starting your volunteer service, you also undergo training as a paramedic:

• The paramedic training lasts for three months (including theory, clinical internship, and ambulance station internship).
• The training costs are covered by the German Red Cross (DRK).
• During the training, you won't receive a stipend or allowance, but you will have liability insurance coverage.
• You can continue to be covered under your family's health insurance during the training.
• You will have the status of a student and be eligible for child benefits.
• The DRK Education Institute coordinates the organization of the training, including assigning clinical placements, etc.
• You will receive the training schedule and details from your ambulance station, where you can also discuss further aspects of the training.
• You will need to sign a "repayment contract" with your ambulance station. If you terminate your service early, you may be required to reimburse a portion of the training costs.

After completing the training, you will become a fully qualified paramedic.

Specific tasks during your service can include:

• Transporting patients, providing patient transportation services, and potentially participating in emergency responses.
• Taking care of the vehicles and maintaining, disinfecting, and restocking the necessary materials.
• Monitoring vital signs of patients.
• Providing medical initial care to patients when necessary.
• Assisting paramedics when required.
• Documenting and recording post-mission activities and reports.

Basic emergency response training

• takes place in the initial phase of your voluntary service, incurring no costs for you.
• Consists of individual modules and is recognized for any involvement within the German Red Cross (DRK), even outside of voluntary service.
• Topics covered include advanced first aid, support services, operations, technology and safety, as well as the BOS radio operator.
• If additional training is required for your role, we will provide it for you (for example, First Aid Instructor).

You should:

• Be able to contribute your own interests during your assignment
• Gain insights into civil and disaster protection
• Experience the processes within an aid organization.

Specific tasks may include:

• Conducting first aid courses
• Presenting first aid topics in schools and kindergartens
• Supporting in medical services
• Warehouse and logistics work
• Assisting in the preparation and execution of group sessions
• Administrative tasks
• Supporting the full-time colleagues in civil protection.

What is not allowed:

• You are not required to perform tasks independently; there is always a contact person on-site or reachable.