The Course of Studies in Nursing at the University of Parma provides for the training of professional nurses, who are responsible for the duties envisaged by the Ministerial Decree of the Ministry of Health dated 14 September 1994, no. 739 and subsequent amendments and additions.
The bodies responsible for the management organisation of the degree course, for the purposes of its Quality Assurance, are represented by the Course President, the Quality Assurance Officer (RAQ), the Review Group (GR) and the Course Council.
The number of students admitted to the course is determined by the Ministry of University and Research (MUR). The course spreads its 310 students per year over three teaching locations: Parma Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Parma Azienda USL, Piacenza Azienda USL. Each location benefits from university teaching and from teaching provided by national health system (SSN) professionals. The theoretical and practical teaching activities are coordinated by a Director of Professionalising Teaching Activities (DADP) for each of the three courses and by teaching tutors who support the DADP.
The learning outcomes expected at the end of the degree course are:
1) Knowledge and understanding
Graduates of Nursing must know and understand the:
- biomedical sciences for the understanding of physiological and pathological processes related to the state of health and illness of people at different life stages;
- psycho-social sciences and humanities for the understanding of normal and pathological relational dynamics and people's defence or adaptation reactions to situations of psychological, social and physical distress;
- theories of learning and change for the understanding of educational processes aimed at citizens or patients;
- general and clinical nursing sciences for the understanding of the fields of nursing intervention, the clinical method guiding an effective approach to care, the operational techniques of intervention and the evidence that guides decision-making;
- ethical, legal and sociological sciences for the understanding of the organisational complexity of the health care system, the importance and usefulness of acting in accordance with regulations and directives as well as the respect for values and ethical dilemmas that arise in daily practice; they are also aimed at fostering the understanding of professional autonomy, areas of integration and interdependence with other professionals in the care team;
- hygiene-preventive sciences for the understanding of health determinants, risk factors, both individual and collective prevention strategies and interventions aimed at promoting the safety of health workers and users;
- computer and language disciplines with a special focus on the English language for the understanding of scientific nursing literature both in print and online.
2) Applying knowledge and understanding
Nursing graduates must demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge in the following areas:
- integrating their knowledge, skills and attitudes in order to ensure safe, effective and evidence-based nursing care;
- using a body of theoretical knowledge from the nursing sciences from the biological, behavioural and social sciences and other disciplines to recognise the needs of persons cared for at different ages and stages of development, at different stages of life;
- integrating theoretical and practical nursing knowledge with the biological, psychological, socio-cultural and humanistic sciences useful for understanding individuals of all ages, groups and communities;
- using theoretical role models within the nursing process to facilitate growth, development and adaptation in the promotion, maintenance and recovery of health of the population;
- interpreting and applying research findings to nursing practice and linking research processes to the theoretical development of the nursing discipline;
- delivering safe and evidence-based nursing care in order to add the health outcomes or a state of compensation of the resident;
- comprehensively and systematically ascertaining the care needs of the resident;
- using assessment techniques to collect data accurately on the main health problems of the resident;
- analysing and interpreting accurately data collected through assessment;
- planning the delivery of nursing care in cooperation with the clients and the interdisciplinary care team;
- evaluating the progress of nursing care in cooperation with the interdisciplinary care team;
- ensuring constant nursing supervision of the resident;
- managing a variety of activities which are required to deliver nursing care to patients in different care settings, both hospital, community and residential.
3) Making judgements
Nursing graduates must demonstrate independence of judgement through the following skills:
- making nursing decisions;
- setting priorities within groups of patients;
- deciding on the interventions to be allocated to the support staff;
- implementing nursing care by personalising choices based on the similarities and differences of the persons cared for with respect to values, ethnicity and socio-cultural practices;
- deciding on appropriate nursing interventions taking into account legal, political, geographical, economic, ethical and social influences;
- critically evaluating the outcomes of care decisions made on the basis of patient outcomes and care standards;
- taking responsibility and being accountable for one's actions during professional practice in accordance with the profile, code of ethics and ethical and legal standards;
- making decisions through a scientific approach to patient problem-solving;
- analysing organisational problems and proposing solutions;
- making decisions in situations characterised by diversity of positions (conflicts or dilemmas).
4) Communication skills
Graduates of nursing are expected to develop the following communication skills:
- using appropriate communication skills (verbal, non-verbal and written) with users of all ages and their families within the care process and/or with other health professionals;
- applying teaching and learning principles for specific informational or educational interventions addressed to individual users, families and groups, and to other professionals (support workers, nursing students, nurses);
- supporting and encouraging users in making health choices, reinforcing coping skills and self-esteem and enhancing available resources;
- managing conflicts arising from different positions;
- facilitating the coordination of care to achieve agreed healthcare outcomes;
- collaborating with the care team to agree on operational modalities and to implement and develop protocols and guidelines.
5) Learning skills)
Nursing graduates are expected to develop the following self-learning skills:
- developing independent study skills;
- demonstrating the ability to encourage questions and tolerate uncertainties arising from study and practice;
- developing the ability to ask questions about one's own practice, relevant to the times, places and interlocutors;
- demonstrating the ability to continuously seek opportunities for self-learning;
- demonstrating the ability to self-assess one's own competences and outline one's own development and learning needs;
- demonstrating the ability to learn collaboratively and to share knowledge within work teams;
- demonstrating the ability and independence to search for the information needed to solve problems or uncertainties in professional practice, critically selecting secondary and primary sources of research.
