Ateneo - UPO

The integrated course focuses on advanced clinical and nursing management of adult, neonatal and paediatric critically ill patients in anaesthesia, intensive care and emergency settings. It explores assessment processes, advanced monitoring, emergency management, life support, medication safety and planning of complex nursing interventions. Particular attention is given to multidisciplinary approaches, effective communication and the role of nurses in high-complexity care situations.

Attendance at lectures and study of the teaching material provided by lecturers are sufficient for examination purposes. Suggested references for further study include:

Weiner G.M., Manual of Neonatal Resuscitation, Antonio Delfino Editore, 2022.
Urbino A.F., Emergency Pediatrics, Biomedia.
Bagnasco A., Scelsi S., Silvestro A., Critical Care Nursing, 3rd edition, McGraw-Hill, 2020.
Rouichi Y., Prudhomme C., The Nurse in Intensive Care.
Comisso I. et al., Intensive Care Nursing. Principles of Basic and Advanced Care.
Goodman & Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 13th edition.
Italian Pharmacopoeia XII edition.

The integrated course aims to develop advanced nursing competencies in the management of critically ill patients, providing theoretical and practical tools for assessment, monitoring and implementation of complex interventions in anaesthesia, intensive care, neonatal and paediatric critical care.

Students will acquire the ability to integrate clinical, pharmacological, technological and organisational knowledge aimed at patient safety, emergency management, multidisciplinary collaboration and improvement of care quality.

Basic knowledge of physiology, pathology, pharmacology, internal medicine, nursing care and critically ill patient management acquired during the undergraduate nursing programme.

Interactive lectures, multimedia presentations, clinical case discussions, group activities, clinical simulations and analysis of complex care scenarios.

Clinical simulation activities may be organised to support the practical application of acquired competencies in adult, neonatal and paediatric critical care management.

Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) or Special Educational Needs (SEN) may request dedicated learning support according to university procedures.

Learning assessment will be performed through a written multiple-choice examination. The assessment will evaluate theoretical knowledge, the ability to recognise critical clinical conditions, application of nursing and medication safety principles and the ability to plan appropriate nursing interventions.

Systematic approach to critically ill patients according to clinical priorities.
Advanced respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological and renal assessment and monitoring.
Airway management, oxygen therapy, non-invasive and invasive ventilation.
Principles of general and locoregional anaesthesia and perioperative care.
Assessment and management of acute and chronic pain.
Management of shock conditions and major emergencies in adults, neonates and children.
Advanced life support and resuscitation procedures.
Advanced haemodynamic monitoring and management of invasive devices.
Sedation and analgesia management in critically ill patients.
Medication safety in intensive care, high-risk drugs, antidotes, controlled substances and antimicrobial therapy.
Critical patient transport and burn patient management.
Interprofessional communication, teamwork, ethical issues and family support.

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

understand the principles of advanced management of adult, neonatal and paediatric critically ill patients;
apply advanced clinical assessment and monitoring methods;
recognise clinical instability and define nursing priorities;
apply medication safety principles and safe care procedures;
integrate clinical, technological and organisational knowledge in care planning;
communicate effectively with patients, families and healthcare professionals;
contribute to multidisciplinary decision-making processes;
develop autonomous lifelong learning skills.