Eimsbüttel's nursing heroes: Vote for our heroes now!

Eimsbüttel's nursing heroes: Vote for our heroes now!

The Altona Children's Hospital in Eimsbüttel has every reason to be happy, because two teams have been nominated for the “Germany's Most Popular Nursing Professionals 2025” competition. The Association of Private Health Insurance (PKV) launched this special award to focus on the outstanding performance of nursing staff. A total of 43 people and teams are taking part in the competition in Hamburg and are introducing themselves on the corresponding online platform.

The team at the children's intensive care unit, which also includes the dedicated nurse Diane Wehrendt, is particularly proud. She has been working on this ward for almost five years and has received further training in pediatric intensive care and anesthesia. The team, consisting of 35 people, cares for the needs of up to ten seriously ill children at the same time. Her warm treatment of young patients and the ability to give parents a smile in stressful times are hallmarks of her work. A low hierarchy status in the intensive care unit and strong team spirit create a valuable working atmosphere that makes everyday life easier for the nursing staff.

Competition runs in phases

The competition consists of three phases: First, nominations run until May 30, 2025, followed by voting within the federal states until July 11. The national winners will then be chosen in October. The prize money is not to be neglected: 5,000 euros for first place, 3,000 euros for second and 2,000 euros for third place. These funds are to be invested in playtime and clothing for the sick children as well as in the ward kitchen in order to increase the quality of life of the young patients.

However, the intensive care unit is not the only team from the Altona Children's Hospital that was nominated. The team from station I3 also has a chance of moving up in the rankings. The station describes its work as being “in the middle of the action, where it sometimes hurts and heals.” It is also emphasized that the commitment of employees goes far beyond their daily routines. Patient care is the focus of both teams, and fun at work ensures a motivated and high-quality care experience.

Recognition for nursing staff

Given the growing shortage of skilled workers in the nursing sector, the competition is a welcome initiative to recognize the 1.8 million nursing staff in Germany. A survey by the Civey Institute showed that 80 percent of Germans are of the opinion that nursing professions should receive more recognition. The competition was launched in 2017 and illustrates how important nursing professions are for the healthcare system. Last year there were 2,700 nominations and more than 110,000 votes.

The award takes place under the patronage of Claudia Moll, the federal government's nursing representative, and will be presented to the federal winners at the “Festival of Nursing Professionals” in November in Berlin. The entire process provides a platform to draw attention to the importance of the nursing profession and raise awareness of the challenges.

The Altona Children's Hospital and the nominated teams have the opportunity to raise public awareness of their important work. It is an opportunity for the population to show their respect and gratitude for the nursing staff who fight day after day with heart and dedication for the health of our children.

Further information about the competition can be found on the initiators' websites: Eimsbüttel News, Altona Children's Hospital and PKV Association.