Table 1.
Variation in nursing support roles across the EU
| Item | Poland | Spain | UK | Austria | Czech Republic | France | Germany* | Finland | Denmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of nurses per 1000 population [6] | 5.16 | 5.51 | 7.86 | 7.99 | 8.07 | 10.46 | 12.85 | 14.26 | 16.09 |
| Tiers in the nursing system [1, 13] |
Two-tier system 1. Registered Nurse 2. Medical Carer |
Two-tier system 1. Registered Nurse 2. Nursing Assistant |
Three-tier system (since 2017) 1. Registered Nurses 2. Nurse Associate 3. HCA |
Two-tier system 1. Registered Nurse 2. Care Assistant |
Two-tier system 1. Registered Nurse 2. Hospital Attendant |
Two-tier system 1. Registered Nurse 2. Nurse Assistant |
Two-tier system 1. Registered Nurse 2. Healthcare Assistant |
Three-tier system 1. Registered Nurse 2. Licensed Practical Nurse 3. Care Assistant |
Two-tier system 1. Registered nurse 2. Social/Health Care Assistant |
| HCA or equivalent classification [1, 12] | Medical Carer (Opiekun medyczny) | Nursing Assistant (técnico en cuidados auxiliares de enfermeria) | Health Care Assistant; Nursing Assistant; Care Assistant; Clinical Support Worker | Care assistant (Pflegehelfer/-in) Home helper in care homes | Hospital Attendant (Ošetřovatel) | Nurse assistant (Aide Soignant/e) | Health care assistant-varies by state e.g. Certifies care Assistant | Care Assistant (Lähihoitaja) | Social/Health Care Assistant (Social- og sundhedsassisten) |
| Training period for HCA [1, 12] | 2 years | 8 months approx | No statutory requirement | 1600 h | 4 years | 10 months | 2 years approx | Several months; no recognised qualification | 8–12 months |
| Mode of regulation of nursing support workers [1, 13] | National for Medical Carers. Ministry of Health regulates training | National law on duties of care Assistants. Ministry of Health regulates training |
National for Nurse Associates trained and regulated by Royal College of Nurses No national regulation for HCAs |
Federal law on duties and training of Care Assistants | National and licensed duties and training | National for Nurse Assistants, regulation via Ministry of Health | Federal law regulates training |
National and Licensed Practical Nurses No national regulation for Care Assistants |
National for Social/Health Care Assistants with compulsory registration and license |
*Training regulations may differ by State