Ateneo - UPO

Regulatory legislation and organizational and assistance models of the nursing profession

Required Reading:

• L. Benci, “Legal Aspects of the Nursing Profession”, 8th edition, 2019, McGraw-Hill.
• Photocopies of the regulations and legislation analyzed in class.

Recommended Reading:

• C. Calamandrei, “Management Manual for Healthcare Professions”, 5th edition, 2025, McGraw-Hill.
• A. Pennini, “Organizational Models in the Hospital Setting”, 2015, McGraw-Hill.

To make students acquire the essential knowledge regarding the specific legislation for the nursing profession, related to aspects of planning, organization and management of material and human resources in the public and private socio-health context.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects

The learning test will be conducted in an integrated manner with the other disciplines pertaining to the integrated course of "Organization and Management of Care Processes." The test consists of 60 closed multiple-choice questions of which only one is correct and 2 open-ended questions The Ethics and Bioethics part includes 12 closed questions in which knowledge will be assessed and 2 open questions in the form of a case, in which students will have to identify The ethically questionable behaviors enacted and apply The contents of the Code of Ethics. The exam is considered passed if students correctly answers at least 60% of the closed questions for each discipline and expresses The required contents in the open questions. In this regard, the docents have formulated a specific correction grid. If students achieves a total of 95% correct answers, thay will be graded with 30/30, keeping the minimum threshold of 60% unchanged. If students does not exceed this threshold they repeat the exam in its entirety, taking the test again including questions from all disciplines. Students have 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete the test.

Regulations on professional practice:

1. Ministerial Decree No. 739 of 14 September 1994
2. Law No. 42 of 26 February 1999
3. Law No. 251 of 10 August 2000
4. Law No. 1/2002 (conversion into law, with amendments, of Decree-Law No. 402 of 12/11/2001)
5. Law No. 43 of 1 February 2006
6. Law No. 24 of 1 April 2017 (Gelli Law)
7. Law No. 3 of 15 February 2018 (Lorenzin Law)
8. Ministerial Decree (DM) 77/2022 regarding healthcare services organization
9. Clinical governance and process management tools (e.g., guidelines, care pathways, clinical audit, risk management).
10. The Nursing Service and the role of the Health Professions Manager within healthcare organizations.
11. Overview of professional roles, functions, and profiles (competence profiles, nursing consultation).
12. The evolution of care delivery organization: from task-oriented models (technical model) to 1st and 2nd generation professional models.
13. Nurse support staff and their evolution.
14. Continuing Medical Education (CME / ECM).

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

Knowledge and understanding:

• List the main Italian laws defining the nursing role and boundaries (Professional Profile, Law 42/99, etc.).
• Distinguish between different ways of organizing nursing shifts and work (task-oriented vs. Primary Nursing).
• Know the basic difference between hospital services and community care (e.g., Community Houses).

Applying knowledge and understanding:

• Properly assign care tasks to social-health support staff (OSS) according to legal boundaries.
• Follow basic clinical risk management and patient safety rules during daily shifts.

Making judgements:

• Recognize risky legal situations or unethical behaviors in clinical practice and daily ward routines.

Communication skills:

• Use correct technical and healthcare terms when communicating with colleagues, doctors, and nurse coordinators.

Learning skills:

• Autonomously look up official guidelines or legal regulations to stay updated, utilizing the CME (Continuing Medical Education) system