Nursing: 33,600 graduates in new nursing training profession

Three years after the introduction of the nursing training profession, around 33,600 people have completed this training for the first time. Of these graduates in 2023, 99 percent (33,100) chose a generalist degree as a nursing specialist, according to the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden. Only a minimal proportion (one percent) obtained a degree with a focus on health and pediatric nursing (300 graduates) or geriatric nursing (100).

The new training has been offered since 2020. At that time, the previously separate training courses in the professions of health and nursing, health and pediatric nursing and geriatric nursing were merged.

High proportion of women

According to the data, around 54,400 people started training to become a nursing professional last year. The proportion of women was 73 percent. Overall, the number of new contracts increased by four percent compared to the previous year. “However, the previous record of 56,300 new contracts from 2021 could not be reached,” explained the statisticians. Across all years, the number of trainees at the end of 2023 was 146,900.

The training has been offered since 2020 and lasts three years full-time. “The training takes place at nursing schools and in hospitals, inpatient or outpatient care facilities,” it said. As with most health and nursing professions, it is not a vocational training within the dual training system.

Demand will increase significantly

The need for nursing staff will increase significantly in the coming years: In a 2023 calculation, the Federal Statistical Office assumed that the number of people in need of care in Germany would rise from around 5.0 million at the end of 2021 to around 6.8 million in 2055 (plus 37 percent) due to increasing aging alone.