Hof University of Applied Sciences will be the first university in Germany to conduct knowledge examinations and adaptation courses for foreign nursing staff as part of a Master’s degree program. According to the Bavarian State Office for Nursing, the institution will receive official certification for such services and can therefore implement recognition for foreign nursing professionals itself. The university is doing this as part of its “Cross Cultural Nursing Practice (M.Sc.)” Master’s course, which can be studied at the Campus in Hof.
Under the leadership of Matthias Drossel, who holds a professorship for applied healthcare at the Faculty of Interdisciplinary and Innovative Sciences, Hof University of Applied Sciences applied for the relevant recognition last November. At the Campus site, the institution has the professional and pedagogical suitability of the staff for the corresponding recognition examinations.
Safeguarding patient care
The necessary premises and technical facilities were also quickly verified during the two-month examination process.
Our offer is aimed specifically at all international nursing staff who have a comparable or even better training from abroad than in Germany. They can take a knowledge test with us. We are pleased that we can contribute to securing patient care in Bavaria through the recognition of foreign nursing professionals – this is an important contribution against the shortage of skilled workers in the nursing sector”
Prof. Dr. Matthias Drossel, Director of Studies
“The examinations are carried out as part of the Cross Cultural Nursing Practice (M.Sc.) degree program.
Nursing expects enormous shortage of skilled workers
The demand for nursing staff is already enormous: many patient beds can no longer be maintained due to a lack of nurses. Outpatient care services and inpatient long-term care are also increasingly facing this problem. According to official studies, there will be a shortage of at least 500,000 nursing staff across Germany by 2032. “We want to tackle this consistently with our faculty at Hof University of Applied Sciences. We offer future-proof degree courses in the field of nursing as well as in the areas of technology and digitalization. We also provide training in vocational education, nursing education and medical education in order to maintain the schools and training capacities for the nursing professions,” says Prof. Dr. Drossel.
Entry mostly via paid internships
In nursing practice, international nurses are employed as part of their studies with paid internships from the third semester onwards. Once their knowledge has been recognized, they can then continue to work as nurses with a Master’s degree in the context of high quality care.
