The model program for the further development of staffing levels in inpatient care by the GKV-Spitzenverband (National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds) was concluded on January 21, 2026, with a closing event in Berlin attended by approximately 700 participants (including around 80 in person). At the closing event, Prof. Dr. Heinz Rothgang (project manager, SOCIUM) and Constanze Stegbauer (aQua Institute) presented the implementation concept for qualification- and competence-oriented staffing using the new approach to staffing levels and its further development, as well as the results of the formative and summative evaluation. According to these results, improvements were observed in the quality of nursing care, the quality of life of residents, and employee satisfaction. Prof. Dr. Ingrid Darmann-Finck from the IPP highlighted the results from a nursing science perspective. She emphasized that additional staff only leads to an improvement in resident outcomes if long-term care facilities actually establish the extensive personnel and organizational development processes that are necessary for competence- and resident-oriented work organization. This includes, for example, the implementation of systematic competence management with competence analyses embedded in personnel development interviews and targeted promotion of any missing competencies.
Extensive materials developed as part of the project are now available on the GKV Spitzenverband website to support interested long-term care facilities in implementing a competence- and resident-oriented work organization.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Ingrid Darmann-Finck
Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research
Department of Qualification and Curriculum Research
darmann@uni-bremen.de
