[Academic training of nursing professionals in Germany: further development of nursing expertise - results of the Care-N Study M-V].

Background: The development of innovative health care concepts is needed in order to meet the population's need for nursing care in the future. Nurses take over new and expanded roles with a higher degree of professional autonomy. This requires the further development of academic training options for nursing professionals.

Objectives: To explore the developments regarding academic trainings for nurses: (a) what are the pros and cons?; (b) what are the features distinguishing nurses with an academic training from nurses with a three-year vocational training?; and (c) what are the wishes regarding the further development? The aim is to identify key components of further developments of the academic training of nursing professionals.

Methods: The Care-N Study M-V includes a qualitative Delphi survey to generate ideas and comprises two standardized, mailed questionnaires and a group discussion including 25 experts.

Results: The experts find more arguments in favour of a further development of academic trainings for nurses. The primary distinguishing criteria for an academically trained nurse compared to a nurse qualified in a three-year vocational training is a higher degree of professional autonomy in undertaking tasks. For the future development of academic training, the experts would like to see a significant contribution to ensure the provision of high quality nursing and an improvement of working conditions for nurses.

Conclusions: The further development of academic trainings for nurses seems to be reasonable. To meet future challenges, it is necessary to adapt existing academic trainings as well as to develop and implement innovative training concepts in the field of academic nursing.