A nurse with a master's degree is a health professional who deals with assistance to the sick from different points of view and according to a scientific approach. He is able to analyze the patient's needs, plan, design and manage interventions, he is able to do and evaluate scientific research in his own field of expertise. It carries out its activity in the field of prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, both in public and private health facilities. He can be a freelancer or an employee and is also active with regard to home care. It is also able to fill a wide range of managerial and operational positions, manage complex units and teams of nurses. It can be a trainer, a teacher and a tutor for new recruits. Education is university-based and at the end of the course of study, which also includes a certain number of hours of training, the nurse will be a doctor with a degree in "Nursing and Midwifery Sciences". Read on if you want to know how to become one.
Steps
Step 1. Get your Bachelor's Degree in Nursing
In order to enroll in the two-year master's degree program, you must first become a licensed nurse. To obtain this title, you must successfully follow and pass the planned course of study, which lasts three years and provides for the obtaining of 180 educational credits.
- Qualifications obtained abroad and recognized as suitable are also considered valid.
- In most Italian universities there is an admission test to the master's degree course in Nursing and Midwifery Sciences. Find out about the times and methods of this test on the website of the university you want to attend; exam simulations are often available online that may be useful for your preparation.
Step 2. Take a bachelor's degree to increase your knowledge after your bachelor's degree in nursing
It is a scientific study and advanced training course in specific areas (critical area, geriatrics, pediatrics, mental health, public health, nursing management, etc.).
A master's degree allows you to obtain greater and more in-depth preparation in certain aspects of the nursing activity. Not only will you be a professional with greater job opportunities, but you will offer your patients better care
Step 3. Follow and successfully pass the two-year specialist degree course
During this time you will have to pass several theoretical and practical exams. You will have to focus on medical but also management topics, since your figure includes managerial duties. Nor will the legal, ethical and deontological aspects of the profession be neglected. Given the fact that a nurse with a master's degree must be able to carry out and interpret scientific research, it is also necessary to pass statistic, computer science and English exams.
- At the end of the course of study you will have to take a final exam with discussion of your degree thesis.
- Each University organizes, while respecting the terms set by the Ministry, slightly different study plans depending on which areas of expertise it prefers or wishes to develop.
Step 4. Take a second level master's degree to make your education even more solid
You can decide whether to specialize further in the management, clinical or educational field of your profession.
Since a nurse with a master's degree has the opportunity to perform a wide range of duties within a health facility, it is a good idea to find the area of expertise that best matches your personal skills and inclinations
Step 5. If you are interested in a university or research career, enter a PhD
This provides you with the necessary skills to carry out research and high qualification activities at universities, public bodies or private entities.
Step 6. Once you have finished your studies, you are ready to enter the world of work as a nurse with a master's degree
You have the opportunity to take care of the assistance to the sick, to become a nurse in the operating room, nurse in charge, but also to manage public and private health facilities (subject to competition, if applicable) and teach at university level (always following a competition, if necessary).
