Training in occupational nursing in nursing students. Current situation in Spanish universities.

Objective: To analyse the implementation of subjects and knowledge related to Occupational Nursing (ON) in undergraduate nursing education.

Method: National multicentre study by means of an integrative review of the curricula of the Bachelor's Degree in Nursing compiled in 2023 from the Ministry of Universities. Duplicate curricula linked to the same university were eliminated. Subjects with specific occupational nursing competencies were identified. In curricula without specific subjects, a reverse search was carried out in the teaching guides of subjects linked to ON. The variables studied were: occupational nursing competences, training credits, optional/compulsory, academic year.

Results: 123 centres offering the Bachelor's Degree in Nursing were identified, 31 were eliminated due to duplication of curriculum. Of the total, 21 (22.82%) offered subjects with ON competences, taught in the 2nd year (n = 3), 3rd year (n = 7) and 4th year (n = 11). The teaching load of the subjects was 6 ECTS (n = 10), 3 ECTS (n = 8), 4 ECTS (n = 2) and 4.5 ECTS (n = 1). The subjects were optional in 95.24% (n = 20). 7 centres were found to include ON competences in other subjects: a) 'Community Nursing' (n = 3), b) 'Public Health' (n = 5), c) 'Management and Quality' (n = 1).

Conclusions: Training in ON is very heterogeneous. It would be necessary to unify training plans for the development of ON.