The German government has decided to introduce a new nursing assistant education programme. The aim of the bill is to ensure that nursing assistants in future undergo a nationally standardised, appropriately remunerated training. Because Germany is divided into 16 federal states, which are allowed to have a say in educational matters, the introduction of such a nationwide standard is not a matter of course.

The aim is to provide specialist assistants with better training and enable them to take on more responsibility. In future, the training period will be set at 18 months throughout the country. Previous training will be replaced. It is important to note that the standardised training also simplifies the recognition of foreign nursing staff.

The core of the new training:

• The training leads to the job title ‘nursing assistant’.
• The duration of the training is generally 18 months full-time. Part-time training is possible. In particular, for people with professional experience, there are extensive opportunities to shorten the training, for example to 12 months or less.
• The training includes mandatory placements in the three major care areas of inpatient long-term care, outpatient long-term care and inpatient acute care. The structure of the training is modelled on the Nursing Profession Act and makes it possible to obtain a shortened qualification as a nurse. Conversely, a discontinued training programme under the Nursing Profession Act can be further taken into account for the acquisition of a qualification in nursing assistance.
• Trainees will be entitled to an appropriate training allowance and will be able to work in all areas of nursing care throughout Germany in the future.

It will take some time before the law is passed and comes into force.