Professional Competences of Nursing in Spain

Professional Competences of Nursing in Spain

Valuing the work of Spanish nursing, we can ask:

·      Can any nursing professional work in any area?

·      Is the nursing performance evaluated?

·      Is the professional development and training of the nurses recognised?

Is professional competence recognised?

At this point, it is essential to define the word “Competence”. It is the combination of necessary:

1.     Knowledge, 
2.     Skills, 
3.     Capacity, 
4.     Attitude, and 
5.      Motivation

for successful occupation of a role or a particular job (Lyle M Spencer y Signe M Spencer 1993).

In Spain, the competence development is a right and an obligation of the nursing professionals. There are several laws that establish the obligation to prove the competence in the nursing work:

•       Ley Ordenación Profesiones Sanitarias 44/2003: Titulo I. Del ejercicio de las profesiones sanitarias. Artículo 4.6:
•        Ley 16/2003, de 28 de mayo, de cohesión y calidad del Sistema Nacional de Salud. Artículo 40 y Articulo 42. Desarrollo profesional.

It is essential the development of knowledge and skills through the Continuing Accredited Education.

Nursing is a profession in constant change and requires constant updating. It is necessary to:

•       Promote the training of Nursing;

•       Develop nursing skills;

•       Define standards of clinical practice; and

•       Minimize the variability in nursing practice and its adverse effects.

Elena Miguel Poza - Nurse, nursing coordinator & trainer - Enfermera coordinadora y profesora de enfermería - IMTRA Instituto Madrileño de Traumatologia (Madrid Spain)
Tel: (0034) 915545405 Email: elena@imtra.es Web site in English: http://www.imtra.eu Web site in Spanish: www.imtra.biz