VNR 2025 Contribution by Deutscher Pflegerat

The German Nursing Council (Deutscher Pflegerat e.V. – DPR) is actively contributing its nursing expertise to the further development of the German Sustainable Development Strategy (GSDS). The focus is on how the healthcare system can contribute to achieving the 2030 Agenda. Against the backdrop of demographic change and global crises, sustainability in Germany must be considered comprehensively and the care perspective must be integrated into all strategic dimensions.

Healthcare as a central infrastructure

A sustainable healthcare system that provides all population groups with access to high-quality healthcare is essential. In this context, the DPR emphasises the need to strengthen the nursing profession as a critical infrastructure. Events such as the COVID-19 pandemic show that resilience and crisis resilience must be key priorities. The DPR is paying particular attention to long-term care at home, which is where the majority of people with care needs are provided with care. Innovative local care concepts and long-term investment in the autonomy of the care profession are essential here.

Strengthening the healthcare and nursing professions

Professional carers are the backbone of a functioning healthcare system. The DPR is committed to better working conditions, the new legislation governing nursing practice and advanced nursing practice (Scope of nursing practice), safe staffing ratios as well as targeted further training for professional carers. The reform of the legal framework is essential in order to significantly improve interprofessional cooperation.

Good practice: The establishment of academically trained carers such as community health nurses can ensure and improve healthcare provision for the population in rural, structurally weak and urban areas. As an interface between prevention and care, they can make a decisive contribution. A few community health nurses are already working in communities and health centres in the federal states (Länder) of Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Hamburg and Bavaria, for example.

Sustainable education and global health

Education is the key to sustainable healthcare. The DPR is committed to ensuring that the concepts of “planetary health” and “disaster nursing” are integrated into the curricula of nursing training and nursing studies. This must be anchored in all phases of nursing training in order to prepare nurses for future challenges and establish them as drivers of change.

Good practice: Projects such as “Green Guide for Nursing (GG-Nurse)”, “Practice instructors in nursing and healthcare professions as key persons for vocational training for sustainable development (BBNE-PfleGe)”, “Sustainable action in nursing education: curricular integration of planetary health and digital competence (Naht)”, interprofessional “S1” Guideline “Sustainability in intensive and emergency medicine” and “Heat protection in nursing education – teaching and learning materials for school and practice (HiP)” are developing or already offer practice-oriented approaches that promote sustainable action in nursing practice.

Prevention and health promotion

Nursing professionals play a central role in prevention. The DPR advocates a stronger legal basis and prioritisation of prevention measures. The aim is to sustainably strengthen the health literacy of the population and to establish preventative measures.

Good practice: Increased training and further involvement of academically trained nursing professionals such as community health nurses in prevention and health promotion can help to identify and avoid illnesses and health problems at an early stage.

Political participation

The transformation to a sustainable society requires the cooperation of all relevant stakeholders. The DPR is committed to ensuring that the largest professional group in the healthcare sector is involved more strongly and sustainably in political processes in order to establish internationally exemplary standards in Germany. Health and well-being must be consistently promoted as central elements of sustainable development.

The DPR emphasises the central role of the nursing profession in a sustainable society. By setting clear priorities and systematically incorporating the perspective of professional carers, the German Sustainable Development Strategy can make a decisive contribution to achieving the 2030 Agenda.