The First-Level Master’s Program in Critical Care Nursing, part of the Healthcare Masters at the University of Parma, is designed to train professionals with advanced skills in managing complex clinical situations, both in hospital and out-of-hospital settings. The program aims to develop specialized abilities to address high-intensity care needs, integrating technological tools, continuous outcome assessment methods, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
Among the program’s distinctive objectives are: managing critical care pathways with a transdisciplinary approach, using technologies to support vital functions, advanced monitoring of critically ill patients, managing invasive and non-invasive ventilation, organizing protected intra- and extra-hospital transport, as well as relational aspects such as therapeutic education, effective communication, and care during end-of-life stages. The curriculum also includes project work, workshops, and internships at partner institutions.
The program lasts 13 months, awards 60 ECTS credits, and offers 100 places. Classes are delivered online in synchronous mode, with meetings held two days a week on alternating weeks.
The program will begin in March 2026. Applications are already open and will close on January 30, 2026, at 12:00 noon.
The First-Level Master’s Program in Family and Community Nursing and Integrated Care for Public Health, part of the Healthcare Master’s offer from the Department of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Parma, provides a training pathway dedicated to healthcare professionals who wish to work in modern care settings. The program is designed to respond to emerging needs in the areas of chronic diseases, disabilities, and community support.
This Master’s aims to train nurses with clinical and organizational skills in community-based work, fostering collaboration with general practitioners and multidisciplinary teams to ensure continuity of care and personalized interventions. Core topics include needs assessment across different life stages, health promotion, health education, home care, disabilities, family planning, outcome monitoring, and the integration of healthcare and social services.
Interactive teaching, workshops, seminars, and project work form the core of the program. A practical internship in affiliated hospital, community, or residential facilities is also included, allowing participants to apply the skills acquired. Lessons will be delivered online in synchronous mode, two days per week on alternating weeks, making it easier for working professionals to balance study and employment.
The Master’s Program will begin in March 2026 and will run for 13 months. A total of 60 places are available. Applications will close on January 30, 2026, at 12:00 p.m.
The First-Level Master’s Degree in Palliative Care and Pain Management for Healthcare Professions, part of the Healthcare Master’s programs offered by the University of Parma, is designed for healthcare professionals who wish to acquire advanced skills in caring for people with serious or incurable illnesses. The goal is to train palliative care nurses capable of addressing not only physical suffering but also the emotional and relational needs of patients and their families. Fields of application for the Master’s program include hospices, hospital care, primary care services, and community-based facilities. The course aims to provide theoretical and methodological tools for holistic, person-centered care through interactive lectures, workshops, project work, and internships at affiliated facilities. A key strength is the synchronous online format, which allows participants to balance work and study effectively.
The program lasts 13 months and offers 60 student places. Its structure, with streaming lessons held every other week, is designed to ensure flexibility for those already working in healthcare, without compromising the quality and comprehensiveness of the training. The Master’s program will begin in March 2026. Applications are already open, with the deadline set for January 30, 2026, at 12:00 PM.
We are pleased to announce that the Healthcare Master’s Programs at the University of Parma have established an important partnership with the prestigious Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF), an organization dedicated to the development of nursing leadership, the improvement of care, and the promotion of advanced education at the international level.
Founded in 1934, the FNF is a world-renowned charity whose institutional mission is to pass on to future generations the knowledge and experience developed by Florence Nightingale, the pioneer of nursing science, admired and respected worldwide.
The Foundation pursues this important responsibility through a variety of strategies aimed at developing leadership and research skills among nurses and midwives.
Thanks to this affiliation, the Healthcare Master’s Programs will become part of a global network that promotes leadership, innovation, professional development, and influence on healthcare policy. Through this partnership, students will have access to a wide repository of free online courses and, if selected, the opportunity to take part in the FNF Leadership Programme, as well as to attend the Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service, held every year on May 12th—International Nurses Day—at Westminster Abbey in London.
Through the FNF network, students and faculty will gain access to:
International and leadership development programs;
Training events and policy forums;
Collaborations with leading professionals and institutions.
This collaboration strengthens our commitment to international education, offering new opportunities for growth and cultural exchange:
Enhanced learning: content and methodologies inspired by international standards of excellence.
Networking and global outlook: access to a worldwide community of professionals.
Visibility and prestige: recognition of the international profile of our Master’s Programs.
“Becoming affiliated with a historic institution of such scientific value as the Florence Nightingale Foundation once again highlights our concrete commitment to offering our students and the professionals who contribute to the success of our Master’s Programs valuable opportunities for growth within an international perspective.” — Prof. Antonio Bonacaro, Head of the Healthcare Master’s Programs
The 2024–2025 academic year has concluded with extremely positive results for the Healthcare Master’s Programs at the University of Parma. It was a year defined by significant educational achievements, international recognition, scientific exchange opportunities, and a strong focus on pedagogical innovation and internationalization.
The academic year began with an official inauguration ceremony that saw the enthusiastic participation of students, faculty, and healthcare professionals. This symbolic event reaffirmed the mission of the Master’s programs: to train highly qualified professionals capable of responding to the complex challenges of the healthcare system through an interdisciplinary and global approach.
One of the most notable milestones of the year was the first official graduation ceremony for the Healthcare Master’s Programs. More than just a celebration, the event recognized the value of the training journey undertaken by healthcare professionals from across Italy.
Throughout the year, numerous opportunities arose for professional development and international dialogue. Distinguished guests, including Professor Sharon Brownie, Full Professor of Nursing at Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia, and Professor Tais Vernaglia, Director of the “Alfredo Pinto” Nursing School at the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (University of São Paulo, Brazil), led high-impact workshops on global health leadership, transformative health education, and patient engagement. Their contributions further strengthened the international profile of the Master’s programs.
A major step forward in advanced training and internationalization was the integration of English-language workshops across all Master’s curricula. These sessions aimed to enhance communication skills in globalized, multicultural clinical environments, further boosting the European and transnational positioning of the programs.
To support continuous improvement in teaching quality, a training course for educational tutors was introduced. This course aims to uphold excellent pedagogical standards and promote innovative teaching methods centered on simulation, empathy, and student-centered learning.
Special attention was also given to theoretical and practical advances in nursing. Events included the presentation of the book on Marisa Cantarelli’s nursing model, organized in collaboration with Rede Unida and the National Association of Brazilian Nurses. This initiative offered an important moment of reflection on a foundational theoretical model for Italian nursing practice, which remains highly relevant today.
Among the year’s most significant initiatives was the launch of the advanced training course for Infection Control Link Nurses (ICLN), developed in response to the growing need to train healthcare professionals with specific expertise in preventing and managing healthcare-associated infections. The course has generated strong interest and promises to be a great success thanks to its large and engaged cohort.
In the scientific arena, students and tutors of the Master’s programs played a key role at the CEU 2025 Congress, contributing original work on topics such as nursing leadership, digital education, and innovation in postgraduate training.
Crowning an already fulfilling year, Professor Antonio Bonacaro, Director of the Healthcare Master’s Programs, was awarded the prestigious title of Fellow of the European Transcultural Nursing Association (ETNA). This recognition acknowledges his longstanding commitment to promoting transcultural care, inter-university collaboration, and the development of international educational projects.
The 2024–2025 academic year was thus a period of substantial growth in reputation, quality, and international engagement for the Healthcare Master’s Programs at the University of Parma, solidifying their role as a leading reference point in postgraduate healthcare education.
Professor Antonio Bonacaro, Director of the Healthcare Master’s Programs, stated:
“Looking back, I can only express deep gratitude for the vision and dedication of Professor Leopoldo Sarli and Dr. Giovanna Artioli, whose contributions from the very beginning were instrumental in the creation and development of these Master’s programs. Today, we see a vibrant, international academic community—one that is innovative and responsive to the challenges of the healthcare system. We envision the future as a laboratory of ideas, open to the world, where education becomes a tool for social and professional transformation. It is with this spirit that we prepare to face the challenges of the coming academic year. I take this opportunity to wish a wonderful summer to all faculty, tutors, and students whose ongoing contributions make these Master’s programs a true path of excellence”.
With a clear eye on the future, the Master’s programs are now gearing up to tackle the new academic year with renewed enthusiasm, strategic vision, and a strong spirit of innovation—driven by a dynamic, cohesive, and globally-oriented academic community.
In today’s complex and rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, the importance of fostering work environments rooted in mutual respect, authentic listening, and psychological safety is becoming increasingly evident.
A strong healthcare organization is not built solely on protocols and performance indicators, but also on the quality of professional relationships and the ability to create spaces where individuals feel confident and safe to express themselves. In particular, psychological safety—understood as the ability to speak openly, ask questions, report errors or raise concerns without fear of retaliation—is now recognized as a key factor in:
Improving care quality and clinical risk management
Supporting continuous learning within multidisciplinary teams
Enhancing workplace wellbeing and reducing the risk of stress and burnout
Strengthening collaboration among professionals and with patients
Promoting respect and active listening within healthcare organizations also means adopting inclusive leadership models, building cohesive teams that value diverse skills and perspectives, fostering interprofessional dialogue, and supporting frontline workers.
The Master’s programs in Healthcare offered by the University of Parma are aligned with this vision. These programs address relational dynamics in a structured way through targeted training activities focused on effective communication, conflict management, collaborative leadership, and the creation of more sustainable work environments.
A more effective and humane healthcare system begins here: by recognizing the value of people, trust, and the quality of professional relationships.
In a constantly evolving healthcare system—marked by increasing complexity, technological innovation, and organizational transformation—postgraduate education stands out as one of the most effective tools for advancing one’s career and strengthening one’s professional role.
For those working in healthcare, investing in education is not just about acquiring new knowledge. It means building practical, recognized, and strategic skills essential for facing increasingly complex challenges: from clinical coordination to process management, from training colleagues to promoting quality and safety in care.
This is precisely the mission of the Healthcare Master’s Programs at the University of Parma: to enhance the professional profile of those working in the field, facilitating access to roles with greater responsibility, expanding employment opportunities, and fostering the development of competent, ethical, and self-aware leadership.
The Master’s programs offer:
advanced and up-to-date clinical skills;
managerial tools to understand and lead organizational change;
soft skills to work effectively in teams, communicate clearly, and handle complex situations;
project design and research capabilities, essential for contributing to service innovation.
Moreover, the strong connection with the professional, academic, and institutional world ensures that participants receive a solid, current education aligned with the real needs of the health and social care sector.
Lifelong learning is now an integral part of the modern healthcare professional’s profile. It means learning better to act with greater autonomy, vision, and impact. Those who attend the Healthcare Master’s Programs equip themselves with a new set of tools to understand the present and shape the future—because every more empowered, aware, and well-prepared professional is also a vital ally for a fairer, more effective, and more sustainable healthcare system.
In today’s healthcare settings—characterized by increasing complexity, interdisciplinarity, and interconnectivity—the traditional model of top-down leadership is revealing its limitations. Modern care dynamics require agile decision-making, shared responsibility, and a strong spirit of collaboration among all professionals involved. In this context, an innovative approach is emerging: distributed leadership.
This model values the contributions of all team members, recognizing their skills, experience, and cross-functional abilities. Leadership thus becomes a collective function, expressed through interaction among professionals, constructive dialogue, co-decision-making, and a widespread sense of responsibility.
In healthcare, this approach translates into:
improved communication among professionals;
greater involvement in clinical and organizational decision-making;
increased flexibility and adaptability to complex situations;
enhanced workplace well-being and individual motivation.
In an era marked by rapid innovation and a growing demand for personalized care, no single professional can have all the answers. Distributed leadership allows teams to tap into their collective potential, building networks of trust, fostering mutual growth, and promoting a culture of continuous learning.
This model proves particularly effective in environments where teamwork is essential: from critical care to home healthcare, from community medicine to clinical risk management. In all these areas, the ability to share leadership and support each member’s active contribution is key to improving care quality and patient safety.
The Healthcare Master’s Programs at the University of Parma strongly support this evolving vision of leadership. Within these educational paths, significant attention is given to developing soft skills, group dynamics, and the building of self-aware teams. Leadership, in this context, is not seen as a position, but as a shared competence to be cultivated and activated according to collective needs.
Preparing tomorrow’s healthcare professionals also means training them to take on active, collaborative, and responsible roles in their work environments, helping build more horizontal, inclusive, and innovative organizations. Today more than ever, leadership in healthcare is a team effort.
In an era where medicine is increasingly called upon to face complex challenges, clinical research stands as an essential tool to ensure quality, effectiveness, and safety in healthcare practices.
Research is no longer a field reserved for a select few specialists: today, all healthcare professionals are expected to develop skills in collecting, interpreting, and applying scientific evidence. The ability to critically reflect on one’s work, analyze clinical data, compare approaches, and measure outcomes is what transforms care into a truly dynamic process, one that continuously evolves and improves. Doing research means cultivating a critical mindset—one capable of asking meaningful questions rooted in everyday clinical experience.
It is within this perspective that the training offered by the Healthcare Master’s programs at the University of Parma is positioned. Here, clinical research is not a separate activity from practice, but an integrated tool for learning and professional growth. Through project work, thesis development, methodological workshops, and research mentoring, students are guided along a scientific development path that is practice-oriented and aimed at solving real-world problems.
Promoting research also means fostering a cultural shift within healthcare organizations: moving beyond the automatic repetition of procedures, valuing best practices, and critically addressing the limitations of existing models. A healthcare system grounded in research is a system that is fairer, more transparent, and more effective. In a socio-health system that aspires to quality, safety, and human-centered care, healthcare professionals cannot simply apply knowledge—they must also help generate it. This is why the Healthcare Master’s programs are committed to training professionals capable of producing knowledge.
Understanding the fundamentals of quantitative and qualitative research, designing a study, critically reading scientific articles, using outcome and quality indicators, participating in research networks—these are just some of the essential skills required today by those working in clinical, educational, and healthcare management settings. Training in research means contributing to the construction of professional knowledge, improving care, and—above all—giving voice to people’s real needs.
In the era of digital healthcare, the way we communicate with patients is undergoing profound changes. Digital portals, electronic health records, symptom-tracking apps, and intelligent chatbots are becoming everyday tools in care management. While these innovations improve accessibility, traceability, and service efficiency, they also raise a crucial question: how can we preserve the human connection in clinical communication?
Despite the growing use of technology, active listening, personalized care, and empathy remain at the heart of the healthcare professional–patient relationship. Communication in healthcare is never just an exchange of information; it is a delicate process rooted in emotional understanding, trust, and shared decision-making. Digital tools should not replace human contact—they must support and enhance it.
Chatbots and virtual assistants can provide quick answers and guide patients, but they cannot grasp emotional nuances, interpret unspoken concerns, or manage vulnerability. Healthcare professionals must therefore learn to integrate these tools into their clinical practice while maintaining the ability to interpret context, tailor language, and support patients through uncertainty. In this evolving landscape, digital literacy—the ability to critically and responsibly understand and use technology—joins interpersonal skills as an essential component of healthcare professionalism.
The Healthcare Master’s Programs at the University of Parma pay close attention to these transformations. Their goal is to prepare professionals who can combine technological expertise with empathy, fully aware that every interaction—even when mediated by a platform—is an opportunity to build trust, listen deeply, and provide care. Future healthcare professionals must be able to master digital tools without ever forgetting that at the heart of every act of care, there is always a person.
