[Nursing and the prevention of biological risks: from education to professional activity].

OBJECTIVE: To discover the training nursing students receive regarding prevention and control of infection inside hospital settings and the means of self-protection as well as making people aware of the need to improve this training if deemed necessary. METHODS: This is a transversal descriptive study which took place in the nursing schools in Spain. Data was gathered by means of a questionnaire each respondent filled in by themselves. The lack of a response was also studied. A followup meeting was held with those who participated in this study to seek consensus in the search for solutions to those necessary changes detected. RESULTS: 86% responded to the questionnaire. During the course of career preparation, these were the average number of hours dedicated to various areas of study: 34.5 to Biological Statistics, 40 to Epidemiology, 28 to Infectious Diseases, 29 to Microbiology, 9 to Infection Control, 11 to Concepts of Aspesis and Antisepsis, and 36 to Methods of Research and Investigation. More than 50% of the professors teaching these classes are licensed nurses. Student followup during their clinical practice was carried out basically by nurses in university hospitals. 39% of nursing schools teach the concept and content for universal precautions prior to clinical practice. In the majority of public nursing schools, the followup of a student after a biological accident is carried out by the preventive medicine service, whereas this is done by the school insurance company in private nursing schools. Therefore, significant differences exist. COMMENTS: The theoretical knowledge taught is adequate; the number of hours dedicated to each subject varies among the schools; it is necessary to come to an agreement on the minimum levels of training required before engaging in clinical practice in a safe manner. Universal precautions should be taught in all schools before clinical practice occurs.