More flexibility and academic training for nurses and carers

"A more flexible ratio of skilled workers is one means of strengthening the provision of good inpatient care in Hamburg," said Melanie Schlotzhauer, Senator for Social Welfare. In future, a higher quality of care in a nursing home or similar facility will lead to more flexibility in terms of staffing and fewer demands. Thus, nursing homes that provided good quality care over the past 12 months can lower their proportion of specialist staff to 40 per cent from November 1, 2024. Then, they can choose candidates with a mix of qualifications. Until now, 50 per cent of carers and nurses in care homes were required to have three years’ training - regardless of the quality of care in the home. The District Residential Care Supervisory and the medical service monitor the quality of care in nursing homes across Hamburg.

Meanwhile, BHH has set up a part-time Bachelor's degree course in "Applied Nursing Sciences”. Ksenija Bekeris, Senator for Schools and Vocational Training, pointed out: "This course enables students to gain crucial, professional experience from the start and to work from the second phase of their studies. This is how we train highly qualified nurses." Around 60 students will take up their course of study from the winter term 2024/2025. Various additional measures should improve the quality of training in healthcare. "A scientifically sound and practice-orientated education opens up a wide range of career opportunities and makes the nursing profession attractive. We are now taking major steps towards strengthening nursing training through the degree courses at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg) and the University of Hamburg," said Katharina Fegebank, Senator for Science, Research and Equality. HAW is launching a Master of Science in Nursing from the winter term 2025/2026. Every year, 25 graduates with a Bachelor's degree in a nursing, therapy or healthcare profession can acquire a Master of Education at the University of Hamburg (UHH) to teach at vocational schools. 

HAW's main degree course will be adapted to the legal requirements of the Nursing Studies Strengthening Act passed in late 2023. Academically trained carers will be able to perform medical tasks in future. Skills for treating diabetic metabolic disorders, chronic wounds and dementia will be integrated into the main nursing course from 2026. "All of these measures contribute to our strategy for a skilled workforce in healthcare and nursing, which we will publish at the end of the year," Schlotzhauer added.
mm/pb