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Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the nursing staff and other healthcare professionals have worked under great pressure. As a result of the continued flow of COVID-19 patients, there has been a risk of nursing staff shortage.

For this reason, the decision was made that some nursing activities could be carried out by individuals who are not legally entitled to do so, such as students, dentists and midwives. This was an exceptional and temporary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. These activities may only be carried out under strict legal conditions[1]. For example, the activities could only take place under the supervision of a coordinating nurse or training was required. As such, the continuity, quality and safety of the nursing care were guaranteed as much as possible.

Some of these exceptional measures were extended until 1 July 2022 by the Act of December 2021[2], by which the measures were limited to conditions for specific services (e.g. testing patients and administering vaccines).

[1]Act of 4 November 2020 on various social measures following the COVID-19 pandemic

[2]Act of 23 December 2021 amending the Act of 4 November 2020 on various social measures following the COVID-19 pandemic