Pediatric Nursing

The Bachelor's degree programme in Pediatric Nursing (degree class L/SNT1 - Nursing and midwifery) has a three-year duration.
The programme is worth 180 university credits (CFU/ECTS) and aims to train students to become fully-fledged pediatric nurses, by providing them with the required technical and scientific knowledge.
The study plan complies with the learning standards established by European Union legislation for the nursing profession, and includes both theoretical and practical classes as well as clinical training. Indeed, clinical training is a critical part of the study programme: internships are coordinated by top professors in the field, and student interns are supervised by professional tutors for the duration of their placement.
The Bachelor?s degree programme in Pediatric Nursing of the University of Milan has been recognised by the Italian National Committee for UNICEF as a breastfeeding-friendly university programme (Corso di Laurea Amico dell'Allattamento) for the period 2017-2020.

In compliance with the EU standards mentioned above, graduates in Pediatric Nursing are expected to acquire the following knowledge and skills:
- the scientific, theoretical and practical knowledge needed to practise as a nurse, as provided for by EU Directives 89/48/EEC and 2005/36/EC;
- a solid grounding in core subjects, encompassing biological and hereditary phenomena, the functioning of organs and apparatuses, and psychological, social and environmental factors, with a view to applying this knowledge on the job;
- professional autonomy in providing all-round (i.e. technical, relational and educational) nursing care to pediatric patients, and in a variety of settings (preventive and palliative care, rehabilitation, protection of individual and collective health), in compliance with the laws governing the nursing profession and the relevant code of ethics;
- methodological skills for developing goal-based care plans, by applying the nursing process to pediatric patients;
- knowledge of the fundamentals of nursing, the conceptual models of nursing care, the evolution of the nursing profession and the related bioethical, deontological and medico-legal principles;
- the ability to contribute, within the limits of their own role, to identifying and meeting the health needs of pediatric patients (i.e. newborns, children and adolescents) in prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care settings, by adopting tailored measures to support patients and their families, and by collaborating with other social and healthcare workers;
- the ability to interact with young patients and their family members in a way that is appropriate to their age and takes into account their status, as well as their cultural, religious and ethnic background;
- knowledge, skills and experience to be able to ensure the correct administration of prescribed treatments and medications;
- knowledge of nursing research methodologies, the organisation of nursing services, and professional liability issues;
- the ability to immediately intervene in the case of clinical emergencies, by providing the necessary first-aid measures within the limits of their own role, in order to ensure survival and the best possible assistance;
- knowledge of the main actions to be taken in the event of a catastrophe;
- the ability to take ownership of their own professional development through lifelong learning;
- the ability to avail themselves of the collaboration of support staff, if necessary, and to participate in their training;
- proficiency in one language of the European Union besides Italian.
Graduates in Pediatric Nursing are also expected to have knowledge of the following:
- the fundamental notions needed to identify the physical, psychological and socio-cultural needs of pediatric patients in terms of nursing care (in both straightforward and complex situations), to define nursing goals, and to implement and evaluate evidence-based pediatric nursing interventions, by applying the nursing process and its conceptual models;
- the fundamental notions needed to develop an integrated care approach that takes into account the patient's age group, values and cultural and religious background, and critically evaluates the clinical, relational, educational, social and ethical aspects of pediatric nursing in prevention, assistance, rehabilitation and palliative care settings, with a view to restoring the patient's wellbeing, to the extent possible;
- the theoretical and methodological basics of physics, statistics and computer science, as necessary to identify, understand and interpret biomedical phenomena;
- the fundamentals of biological organisation and the molecular and biochemical mechanisms of life processes and their metabolic correlates;
- the structural organisation of the human body and the mechanisms that govern embryonic development and organ differentiation;
- the main morphological features of human systems, apparatuses, organs, tissues, cells and subcellular structures, as well as their morpho-functional correlates;
- the different human organs and how they form dynamically functioning systems or apparatuses, as well as the general mechanisms that control bodily functions in physiological conditions;
- the dynamics of individual and group behaviour, and the basic principles of behavioural analysis in children;
- the causes of diseases in childhood and the main pathogenetic and pathophysiological mechanisms;
- the most common diseases in childhood (considered in the broader context of human pathology) and the related medical, surgical and pharmaceutical treatment options;
- the main diagnostic methods in pediatrics, the provisions on radiation protection and the use of radiations laid down by EU directives (Italian Legislative Decree no. 187 of 26 May 2000), and the guiding principles for using biomedical technologies;
- rules and principles concerning hospital hygiene and infection prevention and control in hospital and community settings;
- tools and methodologies for reviewing and assessing the quality of care.