"Since the Corona crisis we have been applauded and cheered, people are standing on the balcony and celebrating us. But should I tell you something? I itch a shit." Nurses Ricardo Lange writes violent words. They express the young man's deep frustration with the conditions in the German healthcare system.
Since the outbreak of the corona pandemic, medical specialists in our country and worldwide have received expressions of thanks such as the clapping of people in solidarity on their balconies in the evening – but this is not enough for nurses for a long time.
"Broken and burned"
He writes that he does not want to step on anyone's feet with his words, but rather that it is about expressing his anger. "For years, the health system has been broken and the staff burned. Many people don't even know the word leisure and family anymore. (…) What does the gossip bring me if nothing changes for us?"
He does not expect the current crisis to change anything sustainably in the healthcare system and expects that his industry will continue to lack staff in the future. "And right now, when we need the most support, everything is missing. The lower personnel limit has been lifted, now every nurse has to look after more patients."
It is simply exploited that we cannot go on strike, otherwise people die here.
In addition, the lack of protective clothing made his and his colleagues' work more difficult. Everyone gets only one mask per shift. "They are not designed for that. What I find even worse is that there are relatives who stole our masks, even the disinfectant was partially emptied and filled with water. What the hell is wrong with you?"
In addition to all the difficulties at work, there is also frustration when shopping: "If my colleagues and I want to go home and do some shopping after the shift, everything is empty. Then you run from supermarket to supermarket to get at least the most important things. It was even exchanged for vegetables on the toilet paper station. No joke!"
Ricardo Lange demands real solidarity: "You want to appreciate us? Well, then stop acting like selfish people. Buy only what you really need and do not forget that there are people who have to work, or older people who don’t have the opportunity to carry large loads home ".
"Pay us better – now!"
He demands from politicians better pay for colleagues in his industry and better working conditions: "Stop increasing your diets, make our job more attractive again through better pay and above all through better working conditions. It is enough! Do you want specialists? Then she pays like such! Not tomorrow, not at some point. Now! Otherwise there will be no one in the future who will operate all of your new ventilation machines "
Finally, the nurse wishes that his and his colleagues' problems will not be forgotten once the corona crisis is over: "Because we will go to work every day and take care of you or your relatives".
The nurse's clear words seem to have hit an important nerve, because his post has been shared more than 130,000 times and commented on more than 25,000 times (as of April 2nd). It reads for example: "There is nothing left to add … Super Statement ?". Someone else writes: "I think you are absolutely right. But those who clap can't help and are just grateful that everyone does such a good job."
"Let's only fight for salary after the crisis!"
Current petitions such as this show that many nurses think similarly to Ricardo Lange – "Corona Crisis: Joint Call of Nurses to Jens Spahn!" – which, among other things, calls for "a reliable promise of a strong, state-financed wage subsidy" and for ensuring the supply of protective equipment. This petition is very popular.
However, there are other voices from medicine, such as that of this nurse, who asks: "Let's only fight for salary after the crisis!"
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