This exploratory, document-based study aimed to identify the competences described in the outlines of the subject Nursing Administration Basics for Technical Nursing courses. We studied programs from 26 schools in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Results showed that the general and specific competences of Practical Nurses are related to knowing how to do (59% and 54%), learning to know (34% and 45%) and knowing how to be (7% and 1%). This shows that there is still a prevalence of knowing how to do in professional education, and that there is a trend to have scientific knowledge as the foundation and tool for this purpose.
professional education; nursing education; competency-based education; professional competence
