You're never too old for a PlanB!

"I will be 117 years old and will continue to train in nursing until then," laughs Mrs Inge Malgadey, an "old hand" at PlanB. She has been part of the team since day 1 and, as a lecturer, is in charge of all nursing classes and childcare. Not only has she witnessed the development of PlanB at first hand, she also has many stories to tell about nursing lessons. You can find out directly from her how nursing training has changed, what tips she has for prospective nursing students and much more.

How has PlanB grown over the last 10 years?

Mrs Malgadey: "The demand for care has increased.

There are more vacancies and better salaries for carers these days. We can now place them in a job straight after their training. We prepare them for this in our further training programmes so that they are ready for all the challenges at work. I support them with our qualified nursing training programmes. This shows how PlanB not only responds to the needs of the market, but also actively contributes to the preparation of nursing staff."

Has the structure of the participants changed over the years?

Mrs Malgadey: "We have become more diverse and multicultural. Everyone is welcome here. We offer professions that offer good earning potential. This has also made the participants more committed and determined to earn a good salary after their training."

How do you establish trust with your students? 

Mrs Malgadey: First of all, it is fundamentally important that my students trust me and my learning methods and believe that they will lead them to success. Students need to know from the outset that every PlanB lecturer has their own way of teaching, all of which prepare them equally well for the exams. 

I do a lot of practical work with the trainees and make sure that they work in a focussed and disciplined manner. This can sometimes seem a little strict. But I always have an open ear for the needs of the participants. I'm fair and always take the students' side in everything. 

What do you do with participants who find it difficult to follow the lessons?

Mrs Malgadey: "We have participants from a wide variety of cultures and with different language levels. Of course, there are always cases where individual participants need more support. In lessons, I then go back to the beginning. I repeat the subject matter that our students find difficult to understand. I can also see from their faces whether they have understood it or not."

Can you give me an example? 

Mrs Malgadey: "For example, when I use new nursing terminology. If I'm not sure whether they know them, I ask them and explain them again. In between, the participants can also look up the words they haven't understood on their mobile phones."

What are the biggest challenges facing future carers today?

Mrs Malgadey: "Communication between the customer and the carer has become even more important. Nowadays, we have more customers from different cultures. It is therefore important that nursing students are able to respond to their needs. We have organised special seminars for this purpose. In the seminars, I explain why communication is important. Especially in a multicultural environment."

Do you have any tips for prospective carers?

Mrs Malgadey: "Attentiveness, reliability, punctuality and communication." And that they should take their time. When learning and at work. In the nursing profession today, they are told that they don't have time. And that's wrong. Everyone starts out on some kind of path. And it's slow at first. But it gets faster and faster the more they do it. I endeavour to convey this to you. That they don't have to look at the clock."

What are your favourite memories?

Mrs Malgadey: "When the participants have finished and fall around my neck, cry and leave. That's an unforgettable moment. It's nice to see that many participants keep in touch with me after their training. That shows me once again how much trust they have in me and PlanB."

Is there a more concrete example?

Mrs Malgadey: "I've had so many experiences. One participant, for example, who didn't find the right job for her after her training. I encouraged her to keep looking for a suitable position. She then went on to do further training. And now she's in a job where she's in charge. She trains people and does the journey planning. Of course, that makes me happy. When someone takes the incentive from school to continue their education."

Mrs Malgadey has put it in a nutshell: learning goes beyond training! But let's let the students themselves have their say and tell us about their experiences at PlanB! 

Stay tuned and find out first-hand, how our former participants experienced their time at PlanB. And how friendships and togetherness at school supported them during their training! 

Find out more here!