Changes in nursing education in the European Union.
OBJECTIVE
To provide an overview of changes in nursing education in the European Union (EU) within the framework of the Bologna Declaration, signed in 1999 by the European ministers of education, and to describe specific efforts and changes in Spain.


BACKGROUND
(a) the Bologna Declaration process, its recent reforms in all disciplines including nursing, and perspectives on future developments; (b) the Tuning Project, designed and carried out by a group of European universities to meet the challenges posed by the Bologna Declaration; and (c) efforts in a group of Spanish universities to promote higher education in nursing.


CONCLUSIONS
These changes promote enhanced academic recognition, professionalism in nursing education, and graduates' competencies in practice in most European countries by specifying the undergraduate nursing degree as the minimal entrance level for practice and master's and doctoral programs for further career development.
Zabalegui
Adelaida
A
Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Facultat de Ciencies de la Salut. Josep Trueta s/n, 08195 Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain. azabaleg@csc.uic.es
Macia
Loreto
L
Márquez
Josefa
J
Ricomá
Roser
R
Nuin
Carmen
C
Mariscal
Isabel
I
Pedraz
Azucena
A
Germán
Concepción
C
Moncho
Joaquín
J
D003479:Curriculum; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005062:European Union; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D017145:Models, Educational; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D012015:Reference Standards; D013030:Spain