nurse
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nurse
A woman who has completed training in nursing and professionally cares for sick people or people in need of care. The official job title today is "Gesundheits- und Krankenpflegerin" (healthcare and nursing professional), but the term is still very commonly used.
Die Krankenschwester brachte dem Patienten seine Medikamente und wechselte den Verband.
The nurse brought the patient his medication and changed the bandage.
The word is made up of "Kranken" (an old form meaning "sick people") and "Schwester" (sister). So it literally describes a "sister for the sick."
Die Krankenschwester kümmerte sich fürsorglich um die Patienten.
The nurse cared for the patients compassionately.
"Krankenschwester" (nurse) is the most common term in everyday language. In official documents, job advertisements, or formal usage, the official job title "Gesundheits- und Krankenpflegerin" (healthcare and nursing professional) is usually used today.
Ruf bitte schnell eine Krankenschwester, mir ist nicht gut!
Please call a nurse quickly; I don't feel well!
Common verbs used with "Krankenschwester" (nurse) include "als Krankenschwester arbeiten" (to work as a nurse), "eine Krankenschwester rufen" (to call a nurse), or "die Krankenschwester fragen" (to ask the nurse).
Meine Tante arbeitet seit 20 Jahren als Krankenschwester im städtischen Klinikum.
My aunt has worked as a nurse at the city hospital for 20 years.
sister
In a hospital, both words can refer to a female nursing professional. Schwester is a traditional, context-dependent abbreviated term and is not unambiguous outside this context, while Krankenschwester explicitly names the profession. Use Schwester in the appropriate hospital-ward context and Krankenschwester when the job title should be clear.
Im Gespräch stellte sich die Krankenschwester als erfahrene Pflegekraft vor.
During the conversation, the nurse introduced herself as an experienced healthcare professional.
Auf der Station bat ich die Schwester, den Verband zu wechseln.
On the ward, I asked the nurse to change the bandage.
