German Nursing Day 2024: #PflegeZeigtHaltung - Care shows attitude!
Hermann Hanser and Jürgen Graalmann (Managing Director of DPSG) Peter Müller (Judge of the Federal Constitutional Court), Christine Vogler (President of the DPR), Dirk Hoffmann (Managing Director Messe Berlin), Sascha Hingst (Moderator rbb)
Under the motto #PflegeZeigtHaltung (Care shows attitude), the German Nursing Day 2024 broke all records. Patron Prof. Karl Lauterbach, Federal Minister of Health, opened the event, which took place on November 7th and 8th, 2024, at the Berlin hub27 and attracted over 5,000 participants. In times of societal challenges and profound transformations, the nursing profession sent a strong message of solidarity, respect, and social cohesion.
As the only national event of its kind, the German Nursing Day has been organized by nursing professionals for their peers since 2014. The congress has developed into a central platform for the exchange and advancement of nursing in Germany and will continue to be an important forum for the social and political recognition of this essential vocation in the future.
A Congress in the Spirit of Solidarity and Togetherness
"Care shows attitute" – this year’s motto of the German Nursing Day – is much more than just a slogan; it is an active call for responsibility and commitment. Alongside the German Nursing Council and numerous partner organizations, the congress took a strong stand against discrimination and championed the values of democracy, diversity, and dignity. In a society increasingly divided and marked by misunderstanding, the nursing profession embraces its responsibility as a cornerstone of social unity. "Care, Courage, and Cosmopolitanism" – care, courage, and openness to the world — form the foundation of the nursing vocation’s strong and proud stance. These values are deeply rooted in the German Basic Law and the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Code of Ethics.
“Human dignity is inviolable”, Article 1 of the German Federal Constitution, was also a focus and objective of the congress: Germany needs a fundamental right to good nursing care and good framework conditions for carers. Including care in the constitution is essential for our democracy and emphasises the social importance of the profession.
Learn more about this topic and the highlights of the German Nursing Day 2024 under Congress for Nursing in Germany - Deutscher Pflegetag.
Challenges and Solutions
The German Nursing Day reached a new dimension with over 9,000 participants, bringing organizational challenges for CPO HANSER SERVICE. The demand for tickets exceeded the venue's capacity, leading to the suspension of sales for both regular tickets and group registrations, especially designed for the Young Nursing professionals – a clear signal of the event’s immense significance and the strong need for exchange and networking in the nursing sector. Shortly before the congress started, CPO HANSER SERVICE introduced an on-demand ticket option, allowing participants to access the lectures later through the German Nursing Day website.
Additional challenges included logistics, as some rooms were unable to meet the high demand, the organization of the numerous exhibitors, and ensuring a smooth and safe process. At the same time, sustainable measures were implemented: Participants could refill their bottles at water dispensers, waste was carefully sorted, reusable carpets were used, and unused participant bags were donated to social institutions.
Conclusion
Overall, the 11th German Nursing Day 2024 once again proved that nursing is an indispensable pillar of society. The impressive number of participants and the inspiring content showed that nursing is not just a vocation, but a stance. "Pflege zeigt Haltung" – this motto came alive through the engaged discussions, professional insights, and the many forward-thinking approaches shared.
Copyright: CPO HANSER SERVICE GmbH/ Deutscher Pflegetag/ Jan Pauls
Author: Eileen Esser, Project Assistant, CPO HANSER SERVICE
