Appreciative Recognition 

Concept of INGA Pflege
Implementation of INGA Pflege
PilotingINGA Pflege 2.3 (PHIL)
Recognition of Ukrainian qualifications with INGA Pflege

Concept of INGA Pflege

INGA Pflege is a new professionally integrated adaptation programme for internationally trained nurses. This innovative concept is an adaptation course that enables internationally trained nurses to have their professional qualification recognised in Germany. It also prepares them for working in Germany. As an adaptation course, INGA Pflege combines efficient professional recognition, effective familiarisation with the host institution and the strengthening of communication skills in the profession.

INGA Pflege was trialled in a first pilot round for nurses from the Philippines as concept version 2.3. The further development of the INGA Pflege 3.0 concept for nurses with professional qualifications from different countries is now being trialled in a second round of piloting.

The DKF is coordinating the piloting of the INGA Pflege. Participating facilities are supported free of charge during the pilot phase. With regard to methodological and didactic issues, support is provided in cooperation with the GIM.

INGA Pflege is an adaptation programme designed to enable participants to work as specialists as soon as possible after their professional recognition. To this end, INGA Pflege combines intensive integration of specialised and language learning with guided practice in the future workplace right from the start. This allows the qualification to be practice-orientated. At the same time, INGA Pflege enables intensive language support and preparation for the (specialised) language examination.

INGA Pflege makes it easier for internationally trained nurses to start and settle into their new workplace. The programme promotes sustainable integration into the respective company right from the start.

INGA Pflege is a job-integrated adaptation programme for internationally trained nurses with integrated language training. The adaptation programme can be completed by internationally trained nurses from language level CEFR B1 in 6-12 months, depending on the need for equalisation and learning progress.

The components of the programme are guided practice in the institution, theoretical and practical lessons and integrated language support. The teaching units are carried out in tandem by one specialised teacher and one language teacher (team teaching). Language, communication and care skills are taught, intensified and reflected upon in a job-orientated manner. The focus is on confidence in everyday professional life.

In order to be able to participate in INGA Pflege, the recognised nurses must be employed at the host institution for the duration of the programme. Here, integrated means that the programme, including the language components, takes place during working hours. This avoids additional stress for the internationally trained nurses during this demanding phase of professional recognition.

Likewise, ‘integrated’ also means that it is generally possible to complete the practical part of the adaptation period – in consultation with the competent body and depending on individual compensation requirements – entirely in an institution. With INGA Pflege, internationally trained nurses can already gain experience in everyday working life as part of the recognition procedure. By familiarising themselves with the work processes and teams, the induction process already begins during the programme. This high proportion of practical experience facilitates the entire recognition process.

At INGA Pflege, integrated language training stands for the didactic concept of integrated specialised and language learning. Integrated subject and language learning is realised within the framework of INGA Pflege through cooperation between subject and language teachers in team teaching and through accompanying language support.

The continuous team teaching in lessons ensures that the subject content is fully understood with the existing knowledge of German. It increases the language and communication skills of the specialist staff in recognition so that they can cope with the requirements in the classroom and in practice.

The cooperation between specialist and language teachers in the planning and implementation of specialist lessons means that responsibilities are distributed sensibly among all those involved in the qualification process. Teaching organisation tools can therefore be used flexibly and effectively.

Team teaching offers many advantages for the learners: Lessons are varied, learners receive quick feedback and individuals can be given strong individual support. Team teaching also offers opportunities for teachers: When implementing team teaching, they can expand their specialist and methodological knowledge. The joint planning of lessons also conveys a sense of security and can relieve the burden of preparing and organising lessons.

Team teaching enables subject content and linguistic knowledge to be taught in combination and learning gains to be achieved in both areas.

Implementation of INGA Pflege

Use of the concept and associated materials, as well as support from the DKF, are free of charge during the pilot phase.
You must calculate the costs of the measure individually for your organisation. The calculation of the costs is made up of and depends on

• Personnel costs for nursing teachers, language teachers and practical instructors

• Room costs for the tuition

• Teaching and learning materials

• Working materials

Facilities that are suitable for implementing INGA Pflege are hospitals, nursing homes and outpatient care services. The pilot facilities should fulfil the following requirements:

• Recruit a group of care professionals to enable a joint course start
• Recruitment with agencies that have the ‘Fair Recruitment Nursing Germany’ quality mark (or self-recruiting facilities must carry the ‘Fair Recruitment Nursing Germany’ quality mark)
• Operational integration management is implemented based on a concept
• Willingness to cooperate with DKF and GIM in the pilot phase
• Willingness to enable involved employees to participate in accompanying workshops
• Responsible practical instructors
• Availability of qualified practical instructors to implement the measure in the organisation
• Clear responsibility structures regarding the implementation of measures in the institution
• Possibility of cooperation with a state-recognised nursing school to provide theoretical and practical instruction
• Possibility of working with a language teacher for the duration of the programme implementation

If you do not yet fulfil the requirements listed, we will be happy to support you.

The DKF offers interested organisations in the selected pilot countries initial advice on the INGA Pflege compensation measure. It also coordinates workshops for organisations to plan and prepare the measure.

The DKF also offers support for the company integration management concept, coordinates and networks all relevant stakeholders for the purpose of smooth implementation and coordinates implementation with the facility and the nursing school. Additionally, it supports facilities in familiarising themselves with the concept, provides advice on questions during implementation and, in particular, clarifies pedagogical and didactic issues in cooperation with the GIM.

Do you have questions about INGA Pflege? Then take a look in our FAQs: There we answer frequently asked questions.

Piloting INGA Pflege 2.3 (PHIL)

Piloting of the INGA Pflege Philippines compensation measure took place at the following locations in 2022-2023:

• Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf),
• Anwerbeverbund Vogtlandkreis Sachsen (Vogtlandkreis recruitment association in Saxony) and
• Klinikum Ernst von Bergmann Potsdam Brandenburg (Ernst von Bergmann Hospital Potsdam Brandenburg).

The programme will continue to be offered at all three locations. The three federal states have different requirements for recognition, e.g. regarding the language test. In addition, there are different funding options at the three locations.

In Hamburg, the B2 nursing language test is a prerequisite for recognition. At the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, INGA Nursing is funded by the European Union and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.

In Saxony, passing the final interview and proof of B1 language skills are required. In terms of funding, the Vogtlandkreis recruitment association has AZAV certification for the programme.

And in Brandenburg, a B2 certificate is required before the final interview. The INGA nursing adaptation programme at Klinikum Ernst von Bergmann is employer-financed.

The duration of the programme for Filipino participants is between 6.5 and 8 months, depending on the location. During this time, the internationally trained nurses from the Philippines complete an adaptation period. INGA Nursing has now been evaluated. You will find the evaluation results here (only in German language available):

The piloting of INGA Pflege Philippines has made it clear that a high level of commitment is required from all those involved in order to enable successful implementation. Changes in the framework conditions for recognition processes, such as the conversion of notifications and compensation measures to the Nursing Professions Act, the use of the sample reports from the Assessment Centre for Healthcare Professions and the introduction of the specialist language test in some federal states, are also proving challenging.

It is not easy to organise the participants’ joint start to the measure in view of the processes involved in obtaining visas, travel planning, participation in language courses, etc. Coordinating persons at the location as central contact persons have proven to be extremely helpful. The active and early involvement of the wards and teams in the INGA Pflege project is important for the acceptance and success of the programme.

The active and early involvement of the wards and teams in the INGA Pflege project is key to the success and acceptance of the measure at the sites.

Recognition of Ukrainian qualifications with INGA Pflege

Then get in touch with us!

We offer all interested hospitals and nursing facilities an initial consultation on the compensation measure INGA Pflege.

Your contact partners for all queries:

Deutsches Kompetenzzentrum für internationale Fachkräfte in den Gesundheits- und Pflegeberufen (DKF)
im Kuratorium Deutsche Altershilfe (KDA)