A job offer for a Pflegefachkraft can look dense if you trained outside Germany. You do not need to memorise labour law, but you should recognise a handful of clauses that shape your first year.
Working time and shift patterns
Look for weekly hours, night-shift frequency, and whether weekends rotate. Some houses pay Zulagen (supplements) for nights and Sundays; others fold them into a collective agreement. Ask how the rota is published and how swap requests work on your future ward.
Probation and notice
Probezeit (probation) is common. Note its length and the notice period during and after probation. If the contract references a Tarifvertrag, ask which table and group you are placed in — that often explains the salary step more clearly than a single monthly figure.
Orientation period
Clarify whether the first weeks include supernumerary orientation or whether you are counted in staffing numbers immediately. That difference affects how steep the learning curve feels.
If an offer is on the table and you want a structured walkthrough of questions to ask HR, our interview coaching can include a contract-question rehearsal before you reply.