The German Bundestag approved legislation on Thursday intended to streamline administrative processes within the care sector, a move championed by the ruling coalition of Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democrats (SPD). The bill passed with broad support from the government benches, while the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) voiced dissent and the Green Party and The Left chose to abstain from the vote.
The core of the reform aims to grant greater autonomy and expanded responsibilities to qualified nursing professionals, alleviating them from burdensome bureaucratic tasks that currently divert attention from direct patient care. Under the proposed changes, nursing staff are slated to be able to independently perform a wider range of services, previously reserved for physicians, depending on their qualifications. Proponents argue this shift is crucial to ensure improved care delivery and address the persistent staff shortages plaguing the sector. A commission will be established to specify the exact scope of these expanded responsibilities.
A key element of the proposed legislation involves clarifying the legal framework to allow nursing specialists to practice “healing arts” within the bounds of their acquired expertise. This provision seeks to formally recognize skills often utilized by experienced nurses and allows for the integration of further therapeutic competencies into both university-level nursing education and standardized, nationwide continuing education programs.
However, the move has already drawn criticism. Concerns are being raised about the potential for overstepping professional boundaries and the implications for patient safety, particularly given existing concerns regarding staffing levels and adequate training. Critics question whether expanded responsibilities for nursing staff are a genuine solution or a symptomatic fix for a fundamentally under-resourced care system. The hasty implementation and the reliance on a future commission to finalize specific duties have also been flagged as potential pitfalls, prompting calls for greater parliamentary oversight and public consultation before the legislation is fully implemented. The long-term impact on the relationship between nurses and physicians remains to be seen, though the government insists the reforms are intended to foster collaboration rather than competition.
