Brazilian nurse takes on a key role at UKD

We always enjoy following the professional development of our talents. And we are particularly delighted about this news: Klécios Eufrasio Xavier, who came from Brazil in 2020 as a Nurse, is now responsible for recruiting international employees in the Nursing Directorate at Düsseldorf University Hospital (UKD)!

“I’m very happy that I’m now the one welcoming the new colleagues, preparing everything for them, and finding a ward where they feel comfortable,” says Klécios. “The process isn’t easy because of the language and the different culture. But I’ve experienced all of that myself and can really help. I’m happy that I’m allowed to do this now.”

This is the first time UKD has had a foreign employee as a project manager in the Nursing Directorate. Klécios also sees this as encouragement for international colleagues: “Germany is a very open country. There are many positions that a foreign skilled professional can reach after a few years of work experience or after further training.”

At the beginning, he was told that Germany primarily needed Nurses to work directly with patients. “But I realized that as an international skilled professional you can also pursue further training. Everyone can develop professionally here. International colleagues will always start out working at the bedside. But there are no limits to your career here. If someone works with us at UKD, makes an effort, and is qualified for another position, anything is possible.”

Until 2016, Klécios studied nursing science in his home country, completed a stay abroad in Canada, and then earned a Master’s degree in nursing education. Through the TalentOrange program, he learned German in São Paulo. Even before that, learning foreign languages was his hobby: he speaks fluent English, Spanish, Portuguese, and German. Before joining our program, he had worked as a teacher at a nursing school.

After arriving in Düsseldorf, he completed his recognition as a Nurse by 2021. Immediately afterward, he transferred to the surgical intensive care unit, where patients are cared for after major operations. “At first, I was told I might be overqualified because I already had a Master’s degree, but that was only partly true. In Brazil, I had worked more theoretically. Here, I really wanted to work at the bedside and care for patients. Now I’m very glad that in intensive care I was able to apply my knowledge and continue learning.”

This new step also means a great deal to Klécios. And once again, there is a lot for him to learn: coordinating the authorities process through to recognition, communicating with ward managers, organizing knowledge test courses, and recruiting from within and outside the EU. At present, he is being onboarded by the long-standing Deputy Director of Nursing, who will soon retire.

Klécios is not the only one of “our” talents who has already built a career in Germany: Raquel Haak, for example, completed further training at Frankfurt’s Bürgerhospital to become a specialist nurse for intensive care as well as a practice instructor. She came from Brazil in 2016. Carollyne Valle, also from Brazil, worked for six years at Münster University Hospital as a Nurse. Alongside her job, she studied nursing education. She is now a teacher at our nursing school! Laura Camila Murcia Aristizabal, who came from Colombia in 2020, works at Sana Klinikum in Offenbach. There, she completed further training to become a practice instructor and is now Coordinator of the integration team—so she has a similar role to Klécios. We are proud of you all!