Canditidate
In a personal meeting with Brigit Friedrich from Swiss HRmed, I was very well informed about what this means and what it takes to make the move to Switzerland.
Mary
IPS nurse
My name is Sofia, I am 23 years old and come from the Netherlands. I've been living in Bern since April 2025 and work as a nurse in the oncology department at Inselspital. I feel very much at home here! In the Netherlands, I learned German up to level B2 and have noticed that my language skills have improved steadily since I arrived here, which is of course very nice and motivating. I also speak English and am half Polish, so I also speak Polish fluently.
In the Netherlands, I spent four years training as a nurse. During this time, I completed several internships in outpatient care, nursing homes and hospitals. I gained a total of 240 ECTS points, after which I received my diploma and was awarded the title „qualified nurse“.
I notice a big difference in the way people treat each other in Switzerland compared to the Netherlands. Colleagues here are very friendly, patient and polite. I also find that there are hardly any hierarchies between doctors and nurses, even among senior physicians. In the Netherlands, I often had the impression that interactions were less respectful, people were more impatient and direct, which sometimes made the atmosphere difficult. The relationship between nurses and doctors was also more hierarchical there. I perceive this cultural difference very positively here.
In the Netherlands, it is quite normal to have your own opinion and to defend it. I think that makes me a critical nurse who attaches great importance to the quality of care. I have also learned to communicate clearly, a skill that helps me to avoid misunderstandings. I see these clear communication skills as a great advantage in my day-to-day work.
Fortunately, Esmee from Swiss HRmed guided me step by step through the whole process. Before I came into contact with Swiss HRmed, I was very unsure and didn't even know where to start. Thanks to their personal and transparent support, regular phone calls and motivating manner, I was able to strengthen my confidence and find the courage to really take this step into Switzerland. Without her, I would probably have given up and never come here!
I realize how much I have grown personally through this step. It's very rewarding to leave your comfort zone: moving to a new country, learning a new language and working in a field I had no experience of before. I have also learned to appreciate my family and friends even more. I have become more aware of how important they are to me. I also learn something new every day in my job, whether it's in day-to-day care or in dealing with new processes.
I received a very warm welcome. At first, I was very worried that I wouldn't be welcome as a foreign nurse with limited knowledge of German. But the opposite was the case: everyone was considerate, patient and explained everything to me with great understanding, even several times if necessary. My neighbors were also very friendly and greeted me warmly.
I want to gain a lot of experience in the hospital and learn as much as possible about oncology. At the same time, I want to discover beautiful Switzerland and visit new places regularly. But the most important thing for me is to enjoy my job and my life here!
In a personal meeting with Brigit Friedrich from Swiss HRmed, I was very well informed about what this means and what it takes to make the move to Switzerland.
Without Brigit, I would probably still be in the same place. She helped me get my diploma recognized and also helped me find a new job as a nurse.
Working in such a multicultural country makes it possible to get to know different nations - their languages, mentalities and ways of communicating. It is very inspiring.
