Interior periodically convenes selective tests by means of the national competition system to enter the Correctional Nursing Department (BOE Official State Gazette N. 226, as of December 21st 2015, Section IIB). This process has two stages: first an exam and second a practical training period. The program includes issues regarding the health of inmates such as: prevalent pathologies, primary healthcare, emergencies, mental health, public health, research, information system, environmental health, bioethics, health education, etc. as well as legal, administrative and correctional law issues. After several studies, among which it is worth highlighting that presented in the 4th National Congress on Prison Health (2002) held in Salamanca (Spain) under the title “Study on the profile of correctional nurses in Cataluña” in 2005 the tenets of correctional nursing were described according to the role of nurses in Cataluña39 (see Table1). TRAINING OF CORRECTIONAL NURSES University training of nurses provides them with the necessary skills to value, identify, act and assess the health needs and provide the appropriate care to individuals, families and communities with a scientific training in critical, reflexive and humanistic attitude. Their basic training includes providing care to healthy or ill individuals and assessing the response of their health states implementing those activities which will encourage healing or a dignified death and, if possible, recovering their autonomy and independence. According to the National Agency for Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA in Spanish)40, the nursing degree answers to a nursing profile responsible for the general care of individuals and the community. The current reality of the Degree in Nursing in Spain is that it only covers the training of general nurses. Therefore, new graduates lack the training and skills necessary to work in specific areas, such as the area of correctional nursing1 , as well as the social skills which set up the socialization41, 42 of nurses in this area: being familiar with the setting, the population served, knowing how to interact with inmates and different groups working within a correctional facility (surveillance and treatment teams) and being familiar with regulations and rules1, 4. There are several factors included in the specific nature of the care that correctional nurses must provide. On one hand, health care provided to immigrant population (43.82%)3 entails a series of events and realities that the health provider should be aware of to be able to address the specific health issues in permanent accordance with the social and cultural reality of this population as well as their original customs, values and beliefs. Several factors such as the language, religion, a lack of structural, familiar and affective references imply difficulties and conflict when dealing with these individuals43. Often they are original from developing countries with impaired healthcare structures, where migratory inflows import parasitic and tropical diseases with a low prevalence in our 46 Rev Esp Sanid Penit 2016; 18: 110-118 M Sánchez-Roig, A Coll-Cámara Prison nursing and its training — 113 — country44. These features imply that nurses have to be trained in healthcare skills (imported and tropical diseases and other prevalent health issues), as well as cultural and anthropology skills to face the needs of immigrant populations1, 45. Another specific feature of the imprisoned population is the use of psychoactive substances (drugs and/or psychotropic substances). Drug abuse is one of the main problems of those who are admitted to prison, due to both the number of inmates who suffer this problem and the severity of the complications derived from this abuse: psychophysical health, disintegration of personality and familiar and social breakdown6 . Being familiar with the offer of harm reduction programs both inside and outside prison enables continuous treatment follow-up as well as biopsychosocial support for inmates with a problem of drug dependency. Correctional nurses must have the skills to plan, supervise and encourage adherence of patients to treatment according to the objectives established by the program and the individual features of each user, as well as practical skills to identify urgent situations quickly and safely in case of intoxication or overdose1 . On the other hand, the high prevalence of mental disorders and the complex organization of everyday activities within correctional facilities, restrictions of every type, forced cohabitation, rigid schedules, monotony, emotional isolation and frustration make the construction of appropriate therapeutical spaces very difficult for determined mental patients28 and it impais the prevention of isolation and discrimination of these particularly vulnerable individuals due to their disabilities46. Prisons need professionals capable Table 1. Competence of correctional nurses in Catalonia. CP1. Being aware of and applying the principles upon which comprehensive correctional nursing care is based. CP2. Identifying the most prevalent health issues among inmates-patients in the correctional setting. CP3. Being aware of the range of health programs implemented in the correctional setting. CP4. Providing nursing care by granting the right to dignity, privacy, intimacy and confidentiality as well as the right of inmates-patients to take their own decisions. CP5. Personalized nursing care