Military nursing stabilization 2026: permanent nursing assistants in Defense hospitals

Key data

Nursing assistants at Spanish military hospitals who participated in the stabilization selection process called in November 2024 consolidate their position as permanent statutory staff. Resolución 430/38157/2026, of 13 March, of the Subsecretaría de Defensa, formalizes this appointment in the category of Técnico/a Medio Sanitario: Cuidados Auxiliares de Enfermería within the Red Hospitalaria de la Defensa.

The process originates from Resolución 400/38512/2024, of 25 November, which called the stabilization selection process for temporary employment, and responds to the requirements of Ley 20/2021, which obliges public administrations to reduce the rate of temporary employment in their workforce.

What does this regulation establish?

Resolución 430/38157/2026 formalizes the appointment of permanent statutory staff in the category of Técnico/a Medio Sanitario: Cuidados Auxiliares de Enfermería in the Red Hospitalaria de la Defensa. Those appointed come from a stabilization selection process, meaning they were already providing services at these centers on a temporary basis.

The change in status implies the following:

• Transition from temporary statutory relationship to permanent statutory relationship with the Administration.
• Consolidation of full employment rights associated with permanent statutory staff of the National Health System as applied to the Defense sector.
• Closure of the selection process initiated by Resolución 400/38512/2024, of 25 November.

This appointment falls within the framework of compliance with Ley 20/2021, on urgent measures to reduce temporary employment in the public sector, which established deadlines and obligations for all administrations to call stabilization processes before certain cut-off dates.

Economic and operational impact

For the Red Hospitalaria de la Defensa, this appointment has direct operational and budgetary consequences:

• Workforce stability: Military hospital centers gain predictability in their nursing assistant workforce, reducing turnover and the costs associated with covering temporary vacancies.
• Increase in fixed costs: Permanent statutory staff generate permanent budgetary obligations compared to temporary staff, who could be non-renewed. This must be reflected in the budgetary planning of the affected hospitals.
• Reduction of legal risk: Stabilization eliminates exposure to claims for abuse of temporary employment, a risk that Ley 20/2021 specifically sought to mitigate across the entire public sector.
• Impact on HR management: The human resources departments of military hospitals must update the records of affected staff, reflecting the change in administrative status.

Who is affected?

• Appointed nursing assistants: Professionals who passed the stabilization selection process called by Resolución 400/38512/2024 and who now acquire the status of permanent statutory staff.
• Management and HR of military hospitals: They must manage the change in administrative status of affected staff and update workforce planning.
• Subsecretaría de Defensa: As the convening body and responsible for the process, it must ensure the correct execution of the appointments.
• Other temporary workers in the Red Hospitalaria de la Defensa: This process may serve as a reference for future stabilization calls in other professional categories within the same sector.
• Labour advisors and trade unions in the public health sector: They must be aware of the scope of the appointment in order to correctly advise affected staff on their new rights and obligations.

Practical example

A nursing assistant who had been providing services for several years at a military hospital within the Red Hospitalaria de la Defensa through successive temporary contracts or appointments participated in the selection process called by Resolución 400/38512/2024, of 25 November. After passing the stabilization tests, Resolución 430/38157/2026, of 13 March, formalizes their appointment as permanent statutory staff in the category of Técnico/a Medio Sanitario: Cuidados Auxiliares de Enfermería.

From 13 March 2026, this professional is no longer subject to periodic renewals and acquires a permanent statutory relationship with the Administration, with access to all the rights of permanent staff: job stability, professional career development, mobility rights and the incompatibility regime applicable to permanent statutory staff of the public health system.

For the hospital, this change means that the position is permanently filled, eliminating the need to call new temporary vacancies for that post and reducing the administrative burden associated with managing interim staff.

What should organizations do now?

1. Update the records of affected staff: The HR departments of military hospitals must reflect the change in administrative status from temporary to permanent in all personnel management systems.
2. Review budgetary planning: The transition to permanent statutory staff generates permanent expenditure obligations. Financial managers must incorporate these costs into budgetary projections for subsequent financial years.
3. Inform appointed staff: The affected nursing assistants must receive formal communication about their new status, rights and obligations as permanent statutory staff.
4. Verify compliance with Ley 20/2021: Check whether other professional categories remain in temporary employment within the Red Hospitalaria de la Defensa that should be subject to future stabilization processes.
5. Consult the full text of the resolution: To find out the exact postings and the complete list of appointed individuals, access the official text in the BOE.

Official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-6874