Germany Introduces New Legislation to Boost Nursing Studies
Germany’s government has introduced the Nursing Studies Strengthening Act to make nursing studies more popular among students and help ease the workforce shortage.
The new legislation aims to close loopholes in training allowances and encourage more people to pursue a career in nursing.
The nursing course is offered as a dual study program, with students receiving an appropriate training allowance for their studies.
The act will also address the needs of current nursing students who started their training in nursing before the introduction of these regulations.
In a statement published on May 24, the federal government has revealed that these students would also be eligible to receive a training allowance for the remaining period of their studies, ensuring that all nurses receive the necessary support.
Another key aspect of the regulations is the recognition of the significant contributions of nursing professionals from other countries. The Nursing Studies Strengthening Act aims to simplify the recognition of international degrees by establishing guidelines for the scope and documents that are required to be submitted in an effort to reduce staff shortages in this profession.
Moreover, the option to replace comprehensive equivalence exams with knowledge assessments or adaption courses has also been proposed. Through such changes, the government intends to make it easier for qualified foreign nurses to transition to the profession.
In response to the digital age’s rapid progress, the government plans to update the legal framework for vocational nursing training by offering more flexible learning experiences in nursing education and incorporating digital teaching methods.
Findings of a study by the Federal Ministry of Health released on International Nurses Day showed that nurses want better pay and more colleagues in the workplace. The study involved more than 5,500 nurses who were asked about their job satisfaction.
“Nursing staff needs appreciation, a say, a respectful working atmosphere, and consideration for their family situation,” Federal Health Minister Prof. Karl Lauterbach said.
Germany is one of the top countries in Europe for international students, and there are many well-known German universities where students can study medicine, including:
- Heidelberg University
- Rwth Aachen University
- Lübeck University
- University of Hamburg
- University of Bonn
According to data by Erudera, a global higher education search platform backed by artificial intelligence and machine learning, Germany is home to 440,564 international students, of whom 17,470 are enrolled in Human Medicine and Health Sciences.