Increase in Nursing Trainees for 2024: Count sees a 9% surge
In 2024, the nursing sector in Germany experienced a significant transformation, with a notable increase in new registrations and a shift towards more Registered Nurses (RNs) relative to other nursing categories.
According to data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), a total of 14,568 new nurses registered in 2024, marking a 7.0% increase over the previous year. This surge in new registrations is a positive step towards meeting ongoing workforce demands in the healthcare sector, where nursing shortages persist despite growth initiatives.
The distribution of job titles among these nursing graduates showed that the majority were RNs at 64.9%, while Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) declined to 34.8% and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) remained a small portion at around 0.3%. This trend indicates a growing interest and capacity in registered nursing roles.
A total of 59,400 people started vocational training as nursing professionals in 2024, representing a 9% increase from the previous year. Among these trainees, around 74% were women and 26% were men. The average age of these trainees was 24 years.
Regarding practical training, 30,300 nursing trainees completed their training in hospitals, 6,700 in ambulatory care facilities, and 21,000 in stationary care facilities. Interestingly, 44% of the new trainees started their vocational training with a non-profit carrier, while 25% and 29% chose public and private carriers, respectively.
The age distribution of nursing trainees showed that 19% were aged 30 years or older, while around half were 21 years old or younger. In 2024, 37,400 people completed nursing professional training, with 99% choosing the generalist job title.
This expansion of the nursing workforce in 2024 is a positive development for the healthcare sector, providing a potential solution to ongoing workforce demands. The shift towards more RNs among new graduates is particularly noteworthy and suggests a focus on advanced nursing roles in the future.
Individuals recognizing the potential for personal growth and learning in the nursing sector might find the recent shift towards Registered Nurses (RNs) in Germany intriguing, as it indicates a focus on education-and-self-development opportunities within advanced nursing roles. Those considering vocational training in nursing professions in 2024 would benefit from knowing that there was a 9% increase in training initiatives, opening up more paths for personal growth and learning.
