Health Minister Warken wants to expand the powers of nursing professions

Berlin. Federal Health Minister Nina Warken wants to give new impetus to the nursing professions and expand their powers in providing care. The goal is to "retain nursing staff by making better use of their skills," the CDU politician said on Wednesday.

In an aging society, good working conditions in nursing are essential, Warken emphasized. This would attract more young people to the profession.

The planned reduction in bureaucracy also serves this purpose, the minister said. "Every minute a caregiver doesn't spend time filling out forms is a minute saved for their patients."

“Better use” of nursing skills

The cabinet had previously approved Warken's draft "Law on Expanding Powers and Reducing Bureaucracy in Nursing" – formerly the Nursing Competence Act. The bill now moves to the Bundestag, where it is scheduled to be debated after the summer recess .

A core element is a competency upgrade for the approximately 1.7 million professional caregivers. In the future, they will be able to independently perform certain medical treatment tasks and issue follow-up prescriptions for services and aids for home nursing care (HKP).

Further details will be finalized in framework agreements between the self-governing partners and with the involvement of the leading associations of outpatient and inpatient care facilities. Furthermore, a "model scope of practice" project will define the tasks and responsibilities of nursing professionals in more detail.

Staffler: Goodbye doctor’s reservation!

The Federal Government's Commissioner for Nursing, Katrin Staffler, praised the nursing update: "Goodbye to the doctor's reservation! We are finally breaking old habits and enabling nursing staff to do what they are capable of," said the CSU politician.

Peter Koch, chairman of the Central Baden Nursing Alliance, expressed his deep disappointment. "The current bill is a slap in the face to the profession."

True transfer of authority means substituting medical services where nursing expertise can professionally take responsibility, according to the nursing manager. His conclusion: "With the current draft, specialist nursing continues to bear responsibility without having decision-making authority. This frustrates many nursing professionals."

The law also proposes steps to reduce bureaucracy. For example, the scope of care documentation is to be limited to a "necessary minimum." In the future, quality inspections by the Medical Services (MD) will be announced to nursing homes and care services more early.

The home supervision and MD should work together even more closely on inspections, double inspections should be avoided “as far as possible” and inspections should be combined, the BMG said on Wednesday.

In addition, the coalition wants to strengthen "prevention before and during care" to curb the increase in the number of people in need of care . The prevalence of care will continue to exceed the level expected due to demographic changes, the draft states. By 2055, the number of people in need of care could rise to as many as 8.2 million.

Expansion of municipal care planning

The law is intended to give municipalities more binding opportunities to participate in the licensing of nursing facilities. Regional nursing networks are to receive more support.

The German Employers' Association for Nursing (AGVP) sharply criticized this proposal. "Overburdened municipalities are a misfit as care planners. In order to manage care planning, they would poach already scarce staff from the nursing bedside to the offices," said association president Thomas Greiner.

BKK board member Anne-Kathrin Klemm countered, arguing that the "de facto contracting obligation," according to which nursing care funds are obligated to enter into a care agreement with providers – "regardless of need" – has led to inadequate care. "Thus, the supply follows profit rather than local needs."

Simone Fischer, the Green Party's spokesperson for nursing policy, accused the coalition of lack of courage. "What is being sold as a breakthrough is in reality a step backwards in key areas. Instead of consistently strengthening nursing competence, relief, and participation, we are seeing cuts, reductions, and missed opportunities."

Uniform training for nursing assistants

The cabinet also approved a draft law on nursing assistant training (PflFAssG). This will establish a uniform nationwide structure for the training profession, replacing the previous 27 different state regulations.

The training is generalist in nature and includes mandatory placements in long-term care and inpatient acute care. The training is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2027. The training period is typically 18 months full-time. However, part-time and shorter training periods are possible.

In principle, a secondary school diploma should be sufficient as a prerequisite. However, it should also be possible to begin training without a formal qualification if the nursing school's prognosis is positive.

A nationwide guaranteed training allowance is planned. Representatives of health insurance funds called this step long overdue. "Adequate remuneration during training makes the profession even more attractive," said Oliver Blatt, head of the GKV umbrella organization.

However, it is completely incomprehensible that the training costs should "once again unfairly be passed on to those in need of care and those who pay contributions." Politicians are thus accepting further increases in personal contributions .

Already, those in need of long-term care are shouldering nearly €1.8 billion in training costs included in their out-of-pocket costs. This type of cross-subsidization of government services must end. (hom)