The care for the elderly in the last decades has changed in Germany and it has become evident that a more medical focus is necessary than before. Therefore, in the reformed law for nursing professions in Germany the three former nursing professions are joined together to one new profession, the general nurse. In the contribution at first the reasons are explained which lead to this reform. Due to the new law the nursing schools have to develop new nursing curriculums. An educational based approach of curriculum development often used in Germany is described. This approach aims to enable students to actively shape professional changes in health care. Finally, two principles of curriculum construction are introduced and visualised, the situation-based principle and the principle of increasingly higher competence acquisition.