Spain initiates process for new critical care and emergency nursing specialty

The Spanish Ministry of Health has begun the formal process to create a new nursing specialty focused on Critical Care, Urgencies, and Emergencies. This initiative follows an agreement by the Human Resources Commission of the National Health System (SNS).

The proposal, submitted by the Spanish Society of Intensive Nursing and Coronary Units (SEEIUC) and the Spanish Society of Emergency and Urgency Nursing (SEEUE), aims to unify training for high-complexity clinical environments. The specialty is designed to recognize the advanced competencies required to manage life-threatening situations, including patient triage, clinical assessment, life support, and assisted ventilation.

The proposed training model involves a two-year residency period. During this time, professionals would undergo clinical rotations in intensive care units, hospital emergency services, mobile units, and health coordination centers. While the process has officially started, the specialty is still in its initial stages, and a specific implementation date has not yet been established.