September 2026 - HealthCareMaster HealthCareMaster

MASTER’S PROGRAMME IN CRITICAL CARE NURSING

September 29, 2026 Federica Sorrentino

With the opening of applications for the 2026/2027 Academic Year, the University of Parma Master’s Programmes in Healthcare are launching a series of presentations dedicated to their educational offer. The first programme we are presenting is the First-Level Master’s Programme in Critical Care Nursing, designed to prepare professionals to respond to care needs in clinical settings characterised by high levels of intensity and complexity.

Caring for critically ill patients requires advanced competencies, continuous assessment skills, and close collaboration with the different professionals involved in the care pathway. The Master’s Programme aims to prepare specialists capable of assessing and addressing care needs in highly complex settings, both in hospital and out-of-hospital contexts, with particular attention to the evaluation of care outcomes and multidisciplinary teamwork. The programme provides an opportunity to develop a wide range of competencies specific to critical care nursing: from the management of care pathways and continuity of care to the application of key guidelines for critically ill patients, as well as the use of advanced technologies for monitoring and supporting vital functions. Particular attention is also given to the relational dimension and the humanisation of care, which are essential elements in highly complex care settings.

The educational programme combines interactive theoretical lessons, workshops, seminars, and group work, alongside a significant practical training experience. The Master’s Programme has a duration of one year, awards 60 ECTS credits, and offers 100 places. Classes are delivered mainly online in synchronous mode and take place two days a week, on alternate weeks, with the exception of July and August. The programme is scheduled to begin in March 2027. Applications for the 2026/2027 Academic Year are already open and may be submitted until 12:00 p.m. on 29 January 2027.

Choosing the Master’s Programme in Critical Care Nursing means undertaking an advanced educational pathway that integrates scientific knowledge, clinical and care competencies, research, and practical experience, with the aim of preparing professionals to work effectively in settings where complexity, timely intervention, and quality of care play a crucial role.

CONTINUING EDUCATION IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE PROFESSIONS: INVESTING TODAY IN THE SKILLS OF TOMORROW

September 22, 2026 Federica Sorrentino

n an ever-evolving health and social care system, education does not end with the completion of an academic degree. Innovation, advances in research, the introduction of new technologies, and the increasing complexity of care needs require healthcare professionals to continuously update their knowledge and competencies. Continuing education therefore represents a fundamental part of professional development: it provides opportunities to explore specialised areas, engage with new scientific evidence, and acquire useful tools to navigate changes affecting health and social care systems with greater awareness.

Within this context, the University of Parma Master’s Programmes in Healthcare offer advanced educational pathways for professionals who wish to invest in their academic and professional growth, developing competencies that can be applied directly across different care settings. Today, health and social care professions face challenges that require increasingly diverse and advanced competencies. Alongside technical and scientific knowledge, organisational and managerial skills, leadership, communication, multidisciplinary teamwork, research, and evidence-based practice play a central role. Choosing a postgraduate educational pathway provides an opportunity to explore these areas within an academic environment where education, research, and professional practice can interact. The Master’s Programmes in Healthcare are designed precisely to support professionals in developing advanced and specialised competencies, providing opportunities for dialogue with faculty members, tutors, researchers, and professionals, while encouraging an exchange of experiences that can enrich each individual’s educational journey.

Investing in education also means taking an active role in one’s own professional development. Exploring a specific area of interest, acquiring new methodological tools, and broadening one’s perspective can contribute not only to individual growth, but also to the ability to participate in processes of innovation and improvement within care settings. Advanced education thus becomes a space in which professionals can consolidate what they have learned through their professional experience while, at the same time, engaging with new approaches, knowledge, and perspectives.

Choosing to continue one’s education requires time, motivation, and commitment. For this reason, within the University of Parma Master’s Programmes in Healthcare, the student experience represents an important component of the educational journey. The presence of faculty members and dedicated tutors, together with educational activities, practical experiences, and opportunities for exchange, helps create an environment in which professionals can develop new competencies while maintaining a constant connection with the realities of healthcare services and care delivery.

THE VALUE OF TUTORING IN THE MASTER’S PROGRAMMES IN HEALTHCARE

September 18, 2026 Federica Sorrentino

Advanced education is not only about acquiring new knowledge and competencies, but also about undertaking a journey of growth that requires guidance, dialogue, and reliable points of reference. For this reason, each of the Master’s Programmes in Healthcare at the University of Parma provides the continuous presence of tutors who support students throughout the different stages of their academic experience.

Tutors play an important role in the organisation and delivery of the Master’s activities, facilitating connections between students, faculty members, and programme coordinators. Their presence helps facilitate participation in educational activities and supports students in managing the different stages that characterise their learning journey.

In advanced education programmes designed for healthcare professionals, who are often required to balance study with professional commitments, having a constant point of reference is particularly valuable. Tutors accompany students throughout their journey, facilitating communication, providing guidance on scheduled activities, and helping to create a learning environment based on dialogue and shared experiences. The presence of tutors therefore reflects the vision of the Master’s Programmes in Healthcare, which focuses not only on scientific and professional content, but also on the quality of the student experience.

In preparation for the new 2026/2027 Academic Year, the University of Parma Master’s Programmes in Healthcare are getting ready to welcome a new community of professionals interested in investing in their education and developing advanced competencies. Over the coming weeks, the Master’s Programmes offered for the new academic year will be presented, highlighting their characteristics, objectives, and distinctive features. The respective tutors for each programme will also be introduced, allowing prospective students to become familiar from the outset with the professionals who will accompany them throughout their educational experience.

This is also a way of presenting the Master’s Programmes through the people who contribute to their development every day and of highlighting a fundamental principle of the educational offer: supporting every student throughout their journey of academic and professional growth, from education to practical experience.

ADVANCED TRAINING COURSE IN INFECTION CONTROL LINK NURSE: APPLICATIONS OPEN UNTIL 22 SEPTEMBER

September 2, 2026 Federica Sorrentino

Applications for the Advanced Training Course in Infection Control Link Nurse (ICLN) of the University of Parma Master’s Programmes in Healthcare are open until 12:00 p.m. on 22 September 2026. The programme is dedicated to the development of advanced competencies in the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections.

The prevention of infection risk represents one of the key challenges for the quality and safety of healthcare. In this context, the Infection Control Link Nurse plays a particularly significant role: the ICLN acts as a link between the team responsible for infection control and healthcare professionals working every day in different care settings, contributing to the dissemination and implementation of best prevention practices. The University of Parma Advanced Training Course was established precisely with the aim of developing professionals capable of promoting good infection control practices, supporting healthcare staff, identifying and addressing infection risks, and facilitating the implementation of guidelines and organisational policies. This role also contributes to building an organisational culture focused on patient safety and continuous quality improvement.

Classes are delivered online in synchronous mode, two days a week – Thursday and Friday – on alternate weeks. The Course lasts 4 months, awards 30 ECTS credits, and offers 100 places. Activities are scheduled to begin in October 2026. For those wishing to acquire specific competencies in an area that is increasingly central to the safety and quality of healthcare, this therefore represents an important educational opportunity. Places must be reserved by 12:00 p.m. on 22 September 2026. The subsequent enrolment period is scheduled from 6 to 14 October 2026, while the Course is due to begin in October.

Full information regarding the programme, admission requirements, and application procedures is available on the dedicated Advanced Training Course in Infection Control Link Nurse (ICLN) page.

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