The degree course (CdS) in Nursing aims at offering students solid knowledge of methods and general scientific contents, which are oriented towards the acquisition of the most specific professional competences, linked to ability and capability in applied comprehension, in autonomous decision-making, in collaboration with other health-care operators, in the management of nursing assistance for the private and public sectors. To be admitted to the CdS a student must hold a secondary school diploma or other educational qualification achieved abroad, recognized as equivalent qualification according to the current legislation. The CdS can enroll 245 EU students and 5 non-EU students, as stated in an annual programme set by the Ministry of Education, Research and University with specific decree, in relation to available human resources, support and teaching staff, to suitable facilities, and educational and scientific equipment (classrooms, facilities for practical exercises, modelling and biomedical research), to complex services and operating units in agreement with the National Health Service, including private health care facilities in agreement with the NHS. Lessons and clinical internships are carried out in the training centers in Chieti, Vasto and Pescara in their local health-care service centers, under the responsibility of the highly qualified Course Director, appointed on the basis of a curricula evaluation by the Chief of the CdS. Admittance to this degree course, of which indications are annually posted on the university web site (www.unich.it), is conditioned by passing a national admission test. For a more efficient learning process, good knowledge of or suitable competences regarding Biology, Chemistry and Physics are required, as set by art.4 (OFA) of the Didactic Regulations of the CdS. To achieve this degree, students must achieve one hundred and eighty credits (180) CFU including all didactic and training activities, theoretical and practical, in addition to the final qualification exam.
The degree course lasts three years. Students who enroll as part-time students may have supplementary years, as set by the current Didactic Regulations of the CdS. Graduates who complete the degree course achieve an academic qualification as doctor in nursingProfessional ProfileNursing graduates are, in accordance with law n. 251, art. 1, comma 1, dated 10th August 2000, professional healthcare operators of the nursing sciences area who professionally and independently exercise activities regarding prevention, the treatment and the safeguard of an individual’s and the public’s health, the treatment of chronic patients (Chronic care nurses in the local healthcare services centres) and assistance to disabled people, carrying out the functions indicated in the institutional regulations of the professional profile, including the specific nursing code of conduct and using planning methodologies for assistance in childhood, adulthood and geriatric age. Graduates acquire solid training in the core disciplines. They must know and be able to use the English language in treating patients and their family, and filling in nursing records.Functions in the workplaceNursing graduates participate in identifying health needs and nursing assistance for individuals and the public, thus setting objectives; graduates are responsible for planning, managing and evaluating nursing assistance interventions; they assure proper application of the diagnostic-therapeutic prescriptions; they operate independently or in collaboration with other social-health operators, even with support staff; carry out professional interventions in public and private healthcare facilities, in the territory and in home care, employed or as free-lance; participate in training support staff, and in lifelong learning for their professional profile and research.Competences associated to functionsSanitary and social education, and health and safety promotion; assistance in the medical-surgical area, in the specialist area, in the oncological field, in the critical and emergency area, in the neurological and mental health area, in the territory and in community nursing.EmploymentNurses are employed in the National Health Service (SSN), in public and private facilities, in rehabilitation centres, Health care assistance Residences, Hospices, medical clinics and/or multi-specialized clinics, integrated home care, other types of extra-hospital assistance. Current legislation allows graduates to exercise free-lance activities in private or associated medical clinics, in associations, service cooperatives, non-government organizations (ONG), public or private prevention services.Admission RequirementsEducational requirements for admission: To be admitted in the bachelor degree course in nursing, candidates must hold a secondary school diploma or other educational qualification achieved abroad, recognized as equivalent qualification. The essential and motivational prerequisites required to enrol in this nursing degree course include good interpersonal skills, adaptability, analysis and problem-solving abilities.To be admitted in the bachelor degree course in nursing, a solid preparation in reasoning and general culture is required, including the areas of biology, chemistry, and physics.This study programme has restricted access, according to law 264/99 conditioned by a national admission exam set by the MIUR which includes a multiple-choice test.Description of the Tutoring systemClinical contexts require students, at the end of their three-year degree study programme, to hold competences to efficiently handle the complexity of nursing assistance. Therefore, in the area of training, graduates must be guaranteed the possibility to experience dynamic and unpredictable situations. The tutoring system aims at orienting and supporting students in their educational path based on a main principle:Clinical simulations are a strategy which reproduces real and complex situations in which the graduate must get involved and react "as if", so that situations are risk free for the patient or operator. When needed mechanical mannequins are used for skills training. Based on the simulation, the student can show :- their ability to apply systematic evaluation acquired during lessons- their ability to act through critical thinking and decision-making- their ability to carry out technical-gestural interventions- their ability to coordinate with other operators- their ability to manage their emotions deriving from the situations.In laboratories, groups of 10 students are given clinical simulation situations which recreate a hospital room where the mannequin represents the patient, two students represent the nurses and the laboratory tutor adds realistic aspects to the simulation; the remaining students are observers. In relation to changes to or description of parameters, students are asked to collect data, attribute significance and interact in a coordinated manner to decide on and apply interventions. At the end of the simulation, the tutor invites students to reflect on their experience. This laboratory gives students a multi-dimensional learning opportunity to acquire technical/practical knowledge, but contextually develop this knowledge in an evolving dimension of clinical studies (represented by the mannequin) and the managing/emotional dimension simulated by the tutor/actor. The union of these elements (mannequin, tutor and students) is the most appreciated aspect by students since the simultaneous experiences regarding technical-gestural, management/organizational interventions, including full participation of the tutor, give students a very realistic experience, by challenging their abilities and knowledge and test whether tension and emotional impact in specific situations can condition the results of their actions and assistance decisions.Clinical internships1st year Students- First admissionA student’s admission in an internship is conditioned by participation in activities considered mandatory, participation in laboratory activities and exercises, including training interventions in relation to risk prevention and safety in internship locations.A few days before the start of the clinical internship a meeting is organized with the students, to discuss the forms which will accompany their experience. In particular, the following are discussed:- codes of behaviour to be adopted during the clinical internship, even in cases of injury- an internship attendance record.Following the meeting, a further meeting is organized for each hospital unit with the CdS Chief, the Health and Nursing Administration, tutors, operators and students, and further information is given regarding operating methods and the organization of the clinical internship, the hospital’s organizational chart and its members.2nd and 3rd year StudentsStarting from the second year, students are assigned to operating and service units, having acquired a broader range of knowledge and experience in a progressive manner. Faced with a student’s particular situation or learning requirements which are identified during the training evaluation, the didactic director can choose to customize the paths of the clinical internship so as to favour the students’ achievement of their goals and the set performance levels.In the third year, the study programme includes theoretical training in the Intensive Unit and Psychiatric Unit, followed by assignment to the Department of Mental Health Services, Operating units for Intensive Care and Emergency Room and 118 first aid services.Students have the opportunity to repeat their internship during the second and third year, in the various operating units they had participated in during their first year (Medicine and/or Surgery). This second internship in the previous operating units enables students, having increased experience and acquired knowledge, to practice assistance planning of clinical case studies in the medical or surgical area and collaborate in executing complex techniques.Final ExamIn accordance with art. 7 of the Interministerial Degree dated 19th February 2009, the final exam which is equivalent to a qualifying state examination - ex art.6 legislative decree n. 502/1992 and subsequent modifications - comprises:1. a qualifying practical test which evaluates the technical abilities in executing nursing assistance, the holistic approach in taking on a patient and the global ethical behavioural aspect in the area of prevention, treatment and assistance, through the selection of a clinical case. The final exam is based on an evaluation of applying knowledge and understanding, of independent judgements and communication skills (Dublin descriptors 2, 3, 4: applying knowledge and understanding); making judgements; (communication skills);2. the writing and discussion of a paper of theoretical-applicative nature (ricapitulative) or experimental. Students must pass their final practical exam to be admitted to discussing their degree thesis in the same degree session.