Nursing care
Nursing care supports people whose health or coping abilities have deteriorated, whether due to illness, surgery, trauma, or the exacerbation of a chronic condition.
Nurses perform medical procedures, monitor health, alleviate discomfort, and prepare patients to return home or go to a care facility. Nursing care is available in hospitals, care facilities, and at home (home nursing and home support care for cancer patients).
Important to know!
The need for nursing care is determined by a doctor, and a referral letter(Opens in new tab) is required to receive the service.
Nursing care cannot be started until a doctor has prescribed treatment and assessed how often nursing care is needed.
Important to know!
The need for nursing care is determined by a doctor, and a referral letter(Opens in new tab) is required to receive the service.
Nursing care cannot be started until a doctor has prescribed treatment and assessed how often nursing care is needed.
Home nursing
Home nursing is intended for people who need professional medical care but whose health condition does not require hospitalization.
This may be necessary, for example, for people with limited mobility who are unable to visit a doctor themselves. A home nurse is an important source of support for both the patient and their loved ones and helps to maintain contact with the family doctor or attending physician.
The patient is referred to home nursing by a family doctor or specialist, and a referral letter is required to receive home nursing.
During a visit, a home nurse performs both care and treatment procedures: they draw up a nursing care plan, advise and care for the patient, and carry out treatment procedures and certain examinations.
Important to know!
Home nursing is free of charge for people with health insurance, as it is paid for by the Health Insurance Fund.
Important to know!
Home nursing is free of charge for people with health insurance, as it is paid for by the Health Insurance Fund.
During a visit, a home nurse, for example:
provides advice – teaches the patient and/or family members how to use assistive devices and offers nutritional advice;
perform nursing procedures – prevent and treat bedsores and perform positional therapy, measure blood pressure, insert a urinary catheter, maintain a permanent catheter, maintain and change an epistostomy, maintain stomas, treats wounds and ulcers, maintains tracheostomies, inserts and maintains peripheral venous catheters, inserts nasogastric tubes, teaches tube feeding, performs inhalation, measures blood sugar with a glucometer;
performs medical procedures based on the doctor's decision – removes wound sutures, performs oxygen therapy, administers medications and nutritional solutions, performs pain management, performs peritoneal dialysis and, if necessary, certain laboratory tests;
provides cancer patients with symptomatic treatment and alleviates discomfort.
Nursing care in hospital
Inpatient nursing care, or nursing care in hospital, is intended for patients whose condition is stable and who do not require constant medical care, but whose treatment or care needs exceed what can be provided by home nursing.
Such care may be needed after a serious illness or trauma, during an exacerbation of a chronic illness, or in the case of a serious illness to alleviate discomfort.
Referral to a nursing hospital is decided by a family doctor or specialist (together with a nurse, if necessary). The length of stay in the hospital and the content of the services depend on the patient's health condition and nursing needs.
How much does inpatient nursing care cost?
In the case of inpatient nursing care, 90% of the cost of one bed-day for a patient with health insurance is paid by the Health Insurance Fund and 10% by the patient.
In addition, the hospital may charge a bed fee of a total of 50 euros (10 × 5 euros) for the first ten days of hospitalization, as is the case with specialist medical care.
The exact cost of the patient's co-payment for one day of nursing care can be found on the service fees page.
How much does inpatient nursing care cost?
In the case of inpatient nursing care, 90% of the cost of one bed-day for a patient with health insurance is paid by the Health Insurance Fund and 10% by the patient.
In addition, the hospital may charge a bed fee of a total of 50 euros (10 × 5 euros) for the first ten days of hospitalization, as is the case with specialist medical care.
The exact cost of the patient's co-payment for one day of nursing care can be found on the service fees page.
Nursing care in a nursing home
The Health Insurance Fund finances nursing care in general nursing homes, which means that nursing home residents receive the necessary nursing care free of charge.
A nurse monitors the health of residents on a daily basis, performs the necessary procedures, and works with the doctor to find solutions to health problems.
The Health Insurance Fund finances nursing care in general nursing homes, which means that nursing home residents receive the necessary nursing care free of charge.
A nurse monitors the health of residents on a daily basis, performs the necessary procedures, and works with the doctor to find solutions to health problems.
The role of a nursing home resident's loved ones
Loved ones play an important role in supporting people living in nursing homes. First, it is worth familiarizing yourself with how the nursing home organizes its services:
- what kind of assistance is offered in daily activities,
- what health care services are provided,
- how counseling, information, and transportation are provided.
Loved ones play an important role in supporting people living in nursing homes. First, it is worth familiarizing yourself with how the nursing home organizes its services:
- what kind of assistance is offered in daily activities,
- what health care services are provided,
- how counseling, information, and transportation are provided.
The costs of care services, medications, and assistive devices are borne by the person receiving care or their loved one who is responsible for their support.
Loved ones also play an important role in monitoring the health and well-being of nursing home residents. If you notice any changes or have any concerns, please inform a care worker, nurse, or doctor so that the problem can be resolved in a timely manner.
The costs of care services, medications, and assistive devices are borne by the person receiving care or their loved one who is responsible for their support.
Loved ones also play an important role in monitoring the health and well-being of nursing home residents. If you notice any changes or have any concerns, please inform a care worker, nurse, or doctor so that the problem can be resolved in a timely manner.