[Basic and technical nursing--two concepts with far-reaching consequences for professional nursing]

While nursing is now established at universities and knowledge of nursing science is increasing, nursing practice often is restricted by traditional structures of nursing organizations. Therefore it is difficult to transfer new knowledge into practice. In this context the terms "Grund- und Behandlungspflege" (basic and technical nursing) gained in importance. They influence the number of nurses in hospitals and determine what kinds of activities will be financed by social insurance for nursing care (Pflegeversicherung). This paper shows the wide propagation of the terms "Grund- und Behandlungspflege" by a standard text-book on hospital managerial economics. Furthermore vehement criticism of the terms and their consequences from a nursing point of view will be discussed and their potential origin in German language use.