COVID: Nurses and carers are the heroines of the pandemic The coronavirus pandemic has put extra strain on nurses and carers in Germany. Both roles tend to be filled by women, who earn substantially less than their male counterparts. Nurse Katrin Berger in Berlin is passionate about her job, despite the poor pay and difficult working condiditons Katrin Berger can put on her protective gear in a matter of seconds: disinfectant, plastic medical hood, FFP3 mask. The nurse works in the intensive care unit at the Helios hospital in Berlin-Buch. She's been there 26 years. These days, she's usually surrounded by machines, pipes, medication — and many fellow women.