Master

Academic Collaboration

The I Level Master in Neonatal Nursing and Neonatal Intensive Care is offered by the Department of Life Sciences, Health, and Health Professions at Link Campus University in collaboration with professionals and experts from hospitals, universities, and leading scientific societies in the fields of neonatology and neonatal intensive care.

Purposes

The aim of the Master is to train nurses with advanced skills in caring for healthy, sick, and critically ill newborns. The program integrates clinical, care-related, educational, and interpersonal knowledge to enable evidence-based, safe care centered on the newborn and the family. Particular attention is devoted to care in Neonatal Intensive Care Units, continuity of care between the hospital and the community, and the development of specialized skills in the main areas of neonatal nursing.

Target Students

The Master is aimed at nurses who hold a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (Class L/SNT1) or an equivalent degree and are interested in acquiring skills in caring for healthy, sick, and critically ill newborns.

Educational Objectives

The Master aims to develop advanced skills in the nursing care of healthy, sick, and critically ill newborns, promoting an integrated, evidence-based care approach centered on the newborn and the family.

Upon completion of the Master, the candidates will be able to:

• manage nursing care for newborns across various levels of care intensity, including the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit;
• appropriately use the main technologies and monitoring systems employed in neonatal care;
• prevent, recognize, and manage the main clinical complications in newborns at an early stage;
• promote preventive interventions, health education, and support for the development of newborns and infants;
• apply the principles of Family-Centered Care, encouraging the active involvement of parents and supporting parenthood;
• ensure continuity of care between the hospital and the community through a multidisciplinary care team;
• apply the principles of evidence-based practice, quality, and safety of care;
• develop advanced competencies in specialized areas such as neonatal palliative care, transport of critically ill newborns, developmental care, neonatal skin care, and advanced nursing care.

Didactics

The Master, established pursuant to Ministerial Decree 270/2004, lasts 12 months and requires a total of 1500 hours, divided as follows:

• Synchronous lessons in a virtual classroom and in-person: to interact directly with instructors according to a scheduled calendar.
• Independent study and research activities: to independently explore and reinforce the content learned in the Master.
• Exercises and mid-term assessments: to evaluate learning progress and form part of the assessment process.
• Project work: to actively apply the content learned during the Master.

Master Qualification

The final exam consists of the preparation and presentation of a project based on a real-world case study, to be presented in person before an examination board. Upon passing the exam, the candidate will attain the Master Qualification.

Tuition

The annual tuition for registration to the Master is € 3500

Registration

Students wishing to enrol may request an appointment with the Postgraduate Office by calling +39 06 3400 6000.

Faculty

The teaching staff consists of university professors and professionals with proven, long-standing clinical and scientific experience in the disciplines covered by the master, ensuring a high standard of education and a consistent integration of research, teaching, and clinical practice. 

Didactic Direction

The Didactic Direction of the Master is responsible for the academic, organizational, and methodological coordination of the program, ensuring the quality of instruction and consistency among the Master’s learning objectives, academic content, and professional development activities.

The coordination of activities is entrusted to professors with extensive experience in healthcare professional education and nursing research, in collaboration with experienced professionals in the field of neonatology from leading institutions throughout the country. 

Direction of the Master

The Master is directed by Federica Dellafiore and Maddalena De Maria, Associate Professors of general, clinical, pediatric, obstetric-gynecological, and neonatal nursing sciences. 

Teaching Staff

The teaching staff consists of university professors, researchers, and professionals with recognized clinical, care, and scientific experience in the fields of neonatal nursing, neonatal intensive care, pediatrics, and related disciplines.

In addition, experts from IRCCS institutions, university hospitals, and national reference centers will participate to ensure high-quality training that is closely integrated with clinical practice and the latest scientific evidence.

PROGRAMME

The learning pathway is organized into progressive thematic modules that guide participants from learning the pathophysiological and clinical foundations of neonatology to developing advanced skills in the management of critically ill newborns and their families.

The Master includes the following courses:

• Fundamentals of Neonatology and Adaptation to Life Outside the Womb
• Neonatal Pathology and Clinical Management
• Neonatal Intensive Care and Supportive Technologies
• Advanced Nursing Care in Neonatology
• Family-Centered Care and Parenting Support
• Continuity of Care and Hospital-Community Integration
• Advanced Care and Specialized Areas in Neonatology

The learning pathway is completed by:

• Professional training workshops with clinical simulations;
• Project Work applied to clinical and care settings;
• A 500 hour professional internship in Neonatal Intensive Care Units, Neonatal Pathology Units, Neonatal Units, and Delivery Rooms within the Master’s program’s training networK
• Final exam involving the discussion of an original dissertation.

Each student will have the opportunity to supplement the educational program with the following training courses:

• Integrated Training on Neurodevelopment and the Neonatal Period (FINE)
• Neonatal Resuscitation
• AIMI Infant Massage—Nurturing Touch Approach
• IBCLC or UNICEF breastfeeding course.