title: [State of development of the role of academic nursing staff at German university hospitals in 2015].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In order to meet the requirements of the increasing complexity of patient care it is recommended to promote more differentiated nursing staff structures and to integrate academic nurses, which is international standard and recommended by the German Science Council. The implementation level is unclear. What is the percentage of nurses with an academic degree at German university hospitals, and what are their task profiles?
  
  
  METHODS
  Standardised written survey by nursing directors of all 32 German university hospitals and medical universities in 2015.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 75 %. The ratio of nurses with an academic degree amounted to 1.7 % overall, and to 1.0 % in direct patient care. The activities of nurses with an academic degree correspond to international Advanced Nursing Practice approaches including conceptual development (76 %), support of evidence-based care (72 %), practice projects (64 %) and patient counselling (56 %). There were significant variations among hospitals nationwide concerning pay rates with a current lack of reliable pay structures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first national survey to determine the quota of nurses with an academic degree in direct patient care. The ratio of 1 % is well below the 10 to 20 % recommended by the German Science Council - hence the need for immediate action and comprehensive reforms. A follow-up survey is planned for 2017.
authors.affiliation: Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institut für Gesundheits- und Pflegewissenschaft, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Antje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tannen
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik Freiburg, Pflegedirektion, Stabsstelle Qualität und Entwicklung, Freiburg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feuchtinger
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik Köln, Pflegedirektion, Stabstelle Pflegewissenschaft, Köln, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Strohbücker
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik Bonn, Stabstelle Pflegeforschung, Bonn, Deutschland. Electronic address: andreas.kocks@ukb.uni-bonn.de.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kocks
mesh_terms: D057179:Advanced Practice Nursing; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D005858:Germany; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: German university hospitals; Hochschulabsolventen; Pflege; Pflegepersonalstruktur; academic; academic degree; akademisiert; deutsche Universitätskliniken; nurses; staff structure