The German government has approved the introduction of a standardized nationwide training program for nursing assistants, a move designed to streamline qualifications and facilitate the recognition of foreign credentials. The draft law, spearheaded by Federal Minister for Family Affairs Karin Prien and Federal Minister of Health Nina Warken (both CDU), was formally introduced this week.
The new program aims to replace the current patchwork of 27 state-level nursing assistant and nursing aide training programs. By establishing a single, nationwide professional profile for nursing assistants, the legislation seeks to allow individuals with this qualification to more easily transfer between different regions of Germany.
“The number of individuals requiring care is steadily increasing” stated Minister Warken. “To ensure their continued well-being, we need a broad range of professional qualifications”. The approved draft provides the foundation for a generalist, standardized training program in nursing assistance.
Alongside the nursing assistant law, the cabinet also approved expanded authority for nursing staff and measures to reduce administrative burdens within the care sector. The Nursing Competence Act intends to grant nurses increased autonomy and competencies. This legislation previously faced setbacks due to the dissolution of the previous coalition government but is now being reintroduced in an updated form.
However, the German Association of Elderly and Disability Care (VDAB) has expressed concerns that the newly approved legislation does not go far enough. “Both laws fall short of the expectations of many nursing professionals” said VDAB Federal Managing Director Thomas Knieling. The VDAB represents the interests of over 1,800 member companies in the outpatient and inpatient elderly and disability care sectors.
Knieling further criticized the Nursing Competence Act, stating that planned transfers of competence and compensation adjustments are minimal. “Genuine relief and autonomy, for example in the ordering of aids, remain beyond reach”. He argues that the draft misses a crucial opportunity to sustainably strengthen the nursing profession and that the nursing assistant law also requires further development.
Regarding the standardized training program, the VDAB emphasized that, from a practical perspective, the duration should remain one year to effectively address the current shortage of qualified nursing professionals. The organization called for the continued development of both laws to better address the “real challenges facing the care sector”.