A digital member survey confirms the draft of the professional code of conduct.

Nursing has been regulating its profession independently in Rhineland-Palatinate since 2020. This is made possible by the first professional code of conduct (BO) in Germany. It is binding and the rights and obligations it contains are enforceable. Overall, the BO provides information on independent and autonomous professional decision-making scope; it shows which limits must be observed and where there is a right or even a duty to object, for example if the security of supply is threatened. This is particularly important when conflicts arise.

Core elements confirmed

Involving its members was and is fundamental to the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Nursing when developing the professional code of conduct. The core elements of the professional code of conduct were presented in a large-scale survey in summer 2019. Members were invited to submit their opinions via the chamber magazine, two special newsletters and Facebook: Well over 1,000 participants took advantage of this opportunity.

Overall, the results confirm the draft developed to date. The result demonstrates the high expectations that members have of the professional code of conduct: many hope that it will help them in their day-to-day work. The inclusion of professional duties and tasks from the Health Professions Act in the professional code of conduct was also met with approval. And: The participating nurses clearly emphasized the importance of the international connectivity of the nursing profession and supported the orientation towards the International Council of Nurses (ICN).

"However, it also became clear in the survey that not every member is fully informed about the practical benefits of BO, and not every member is familiar with the reserved activities," says Andrea Kuhn from the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society, who was responsible for designing and conducting the survey.

What happens next?

Following the adoption of the professional code by the Assembly of Representatives, the Rhineland-Palatinate Nursing Association will be subjecting the professional code to ongoing practical testing from 2020. "Feedback from the chamber members will ensure needs-oriented adjustments to our own professional regulations," says Andrea Bergsträßer, board member of the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Nursing and Chair of the Working Group on Professional Regulations.

Source: see Kuhn, A. & Bergsträßer, A. (2019): Practical test from 2020: Survey on professional regulations. In: Chamber of Nursing, No. 16, p. 13.