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.