Upgrading the nursing professions! DBfK welcomes regulations in the PflStudStG on the practice of medicine

25.10.2023 18:12

On October 19th The Nursing Studies Strengthening Act (PflStudStG) was finally discussed in the Bundestag. The German Professional Association for Nursing Professions (DBfK) welcomes the new regulations for financing studies and practicing medicine.

According to the law, from 2025 onwards, nursing specialists should acquire the expanded skills during their studies in order to be able to independently practice medicine in the areas of diabetic metabolism, chronic wounds and dementia.

“This is an important step towards upgrading the nursing profession as a whole if the announced expansions are addressed quickly,” says DBfK President Christel Bienstein. “It is also an important step towards improving the quality of care in Germany. Anyone who opposes this, as ver.di has just done with their press release, is not acting in the interests of the professional group and patients in Germany.”

The DBfK has long demanded that nurses be allowed to practice medicine independently. The next step according to this law must be a nationwide health professions law that regulates the practice of medicine for all nursing professionals. “If nurses can work independently, this benefits people in need of care. It is much more efficient if every step does not have to be coordinated and approved by a doctor. At the same time, it adds value to the profession when the skills are recognized and constant external control is limited. In our opinion, the experts who have already completed further training or a master’s degree in one of the three areas must also be allowed to practice medicine,” says Bienstein. “To ensure our health care, it is essential that we fully utilize the nursing potential. The new regulation on the practice of medicine is an important step towards this.”