Suche
Mein Konto
New nurse in legal dispute: Unexpected chamber contributions!
A Neuwied nurse is legally fighting against unexpected contribution demands from the Nursing Chamber as part of compulsory membership.
New nurse in legal dispute: Unexpected chamber contributions!
In the Neuwied district, a legal dispute between a nurse and the nursing chamber is causing a stir. The carer in question unexpectedly received a request for payment of contributions to the nursing chamber, even though no payment notice had previously been sent. This situation raises questions because in Rhineland-Palatinate there is compulsory membership for nursing staff. The process is currently being legally examined, which is causing debate among experts. The Rhein-Zeitung reports However, in some other federal states there is no compulsory membership.
The nursing chamber is financed exclusively through membership fees, which are staggered according to income. Such financial obligations can lead to tension, especially in a professional field that is subject to high work pressure. The chambering of the nursing profession is also being discussed, an issue that is viewed inconsistently in many federal states. The Ärzteblatt highlights that a state nursing chamber has existed in Rhineland-Palatinate since 2015, which was brought into being by the Health Professions Act.
The development of nursing chambers
A lot has happened in German nursing policy in recent years. The first state nursing chamber was founded in Rhineland-Palatinate in 2015, and discussions about a nationwide nursing chamber have gained momentum in recent years. The German Professional Association for Nursing Professions (DBfK) is actively promoting the establishment of nationwide nursing chambers. These should not only represent the interests of the nursing staff, but also help to ensure the quality of care.
Establishments in other federal states are also planned in the future. Nursing chambers are to be set up in Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony, while Hamburg decided against such a chamber in 2014. These developments show that there is some division within the nursing profession over the need for compulsory membership. Markus Mai, President of the Rhineland-Palatinate State Nursing Chamber, makes it clear that despite the protests against compulsory membership, a majority of nursing staff support the chamber.
Given these conflicts, it is not surprising that payment practices within the chamber are also in focus. Over 20% of members do not pay their contributions or only pay them incompletely. This fact is another sign of the challenges that nursing chambers face, especially in times of financial strain for nursing staff.
The nursing chambers, as bodies under public law, have the potential to increase public and political awareness of the nursing profession, which can benefit the entire industry. The discussions about compulsory membership and the role of nursing chambers will certainly continue in view of the changing conditions of health care.