[Current personnel status and qualification requirements in nursing care]

Efforts to improve the quality of care and to adapt the professional care giving structures to changing demands are mainly influenced by staff qualification. Based on a survey of empirical studies and data sets the present qualification structures on German home care services and nursing homes for the aged will be described. The results showed that the German care-giving system is characterized by a variety of professions and qualification structures. The changing paradigm of care-giving still showed no reflection in practical work. Furthermore, a variety of different educational and training programs of professional nurses impedes its professionalization.