Trauma nursing in the German health care system

This article provides an overview of the history and current practice of trauma nursing in the German health care system. A description of nursing education, skills, duties, and responsibilities of the nursing workforce is complemented by a brief description of the trauma system. As current demographic developments, structural changes, and medical progress result in a rapidly changing health care environment, tasks for nurses are becoming increasingly complex. The development of academic programs and extended nursing tasks are expected to help manage the upcoming changes and challenges in the manifold processes of patient-centered-nursing-care delivery. (Int J Trauma Nurs 2002;8:9-14.)