Who is Elias Ernst - and what does his path say about the state of our nursing care?
A portrait by Arne Frank
Leipzig. When I meet Elias Ernst for the first time in the cafeteria of a Leipzig hospital, he looks very different from what you would imagine a typical nursing trainee to look like: calm gaze, upright posture, clear expression. "I didn't just want to click," he says right at the start of our conversation. "I wanted to make a difference."
Just a few years ago, Elias was working in project management at a large company, between customer meetings, budget planning and endless meetings. A well-structured office routine, as it should be. And yet: "I earned well - but slept badly."
What had happened? Why does someone in their early 30s, with a secure job and a clear career path, decide to make a new start in a professional field that many avoid due to its stressful nature?
From monitor to humanity
"I'm part of Generation Y," explains Elias, "and we want to know what we get up for in the morning. At some point in my old job, I missed the feeling that my work had a real impact. Lots of surface, little depth."
On his Instagram channel @pflegemitelias, Elias regularly provides authentic insights into his everyday life as a nursing trainee. In short reels and stories, he tells of moving moments, bizarre encounters and challenging shifts - and always with a dose of humor. He also uses his platform on LinkedIn to talk about structural problems in the healthcare system and provide constructive food for thought. His motto is always: "Keep going!"
"I try to show what nursing really is - honest, human and sometimes really funny," says Elias with a broad grin. "We experience so many real things. I want to share that - not just with other nurses, but with anyone who is curious."
His openness is particularly well received. From night shift stories with coffee in hand to reflections on emotional conversations with patients, Elias shows care from the inside. Without soft focus, but with heart.
And he is happy about everyone who accompanies him: "I hope that even more people will join him online. Not to celebrate me, but to see nursing from a different perspective - as a profession with wit, understanding and dignity."
Elias humorously competes with Cristiano Ronaldo for followers on Instagram.
Care in crisis - or at a turning point?
Elias is part of a growing movement of career changers entering the care sector. Because although the challenges are great, society's need for more humanity in the healthcare sector is more tangible than ever.
According to the Ministry of Social Affairs' 2023 nursing report, there will be a shortage of over 13,000 nurses in Saxony by 2030 - in Leipzig alone, around 700 vacancies are currently unfilled (source: Federal Employment Agency, 2024). The strain on existing staff is high, and the drop-out rate in training is around 30 percent. And yet, people like Elias show that care doesn't just have to be a stopgap, but also a conscious choice for a meaningful life.
"Care is not sterile. It's full of life."
Elias is completing his training on a vascular and plastic surgery ward. "Sure, the theory is hard. I'm not a straight-A student, I never was," he admits openly. "But I can see the connections. I understand how important communication, teamwork and presence are."
He speaks with respect about the small gestures in day-to-day care: "A good conversation while washing, brief eye contact, attentive listening - that can mean more to a person than any tablet."
"I want to show that care is strong"
What drives Elias is not just the day-to-day work, but the bigger picture: "I want to show that care is not just self-sacrificing, but strong, smart, strategic and socially relevant."
On social media, he is increasingly becoming a voice for the care of the future - approachable, smart and with attitude. "I believe that if more people experienced how versatile and humane nursing is, then more would choose this profession."
A profession - and a message
Elias doesn't see himself as a hero. But as someone who takes responsibility - not just for patients, but for the image of a profession. His message: nursing is not a stopgap solution, but a decision for closeness, responsibility and a genuine contribution to society.
"Maybe it's also because of my roots," says Elias. "My parents both come from the trades. At the end of the day, they know what they've achieved. And that's what I do now too."
Finding meaning where others only see burden
Elias Ernst is not just a nursing trainee - he is a voice for change. At a time when nursing is under pressure, he brings courage, clarity and commitment to the table. And shows: Those who seek meaning sometimes find it exactly where others see only burden.
Sources & Related links:
- Pflegereport Sachsen 2023: sachsen.de
- Federal Employment Agency: Skilled labor shortage analysis nursing professions (2024)
- Elias Ernst on Instagram: @pflegemitelias
- Elias Ernst on LinkedIn: profile
