Nursing - Roma Azienda Ospedaliera Sant’Andrea

CARMINE SAVOIA

The final examination of the Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing is intended to verify that the student has achieved the learning outcomes defined by the professional profile of the nurse (Ministerial Decree 739/1994) and by the Dublin Descriptors.
Specifically, the graduate must demonstrate the following competences:
1. Knowledge and Understanding
Graduates are expected to demonstrate:
a solid knowledge of the theoretical and scientific foundations of biomedical, clinical, and nursing sciences;
understanding of the methodological and organizational principles of nursing care;
knowledge of ethical, deontological, and legal aspects regulating professional practice;
the ability to integrate theoretical and practical knowledge in the management of complex care problems.

2. Applying Knowledge and Understanding
Graduates must be able to:
plan, implement, and evaluate nursing care interventions based on scientific evidence and patient needs;
manage complex care situations autonomously, including emergency and critical settings;
collaborate effectively within multiprofessional teams;
demonstrate technical, relational, and educational competences consistent with the professional profile of the nurse.

3. Making Judgements
Graduates must demonstrate:
the ability to critically analyze clinical and care-related problems;
autonomy and professional responsibility in decision-making;
the capacity to assess the quality of care and propose improvement actions;
ethical awareness in professional practice.

4. Communication Skills
Graduates must be able to:
present and discuss their final thesis clearly and rigorously, using appropriate professional and scientific language;
explain and justify clinical and methodological choices during the discussion;
demonstrate effective communication skills with patients, families, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals.

5. Learning Skills
Graduates are expected to:
show autonomy in studying and in the continuous updating of professional knowledge;
use scientific literature, guidelines, and evidence-based nursing tools critically;
demonstrate an attitude toward lifelong learning and continuous professional development.

To be admitted to the final degree examination of the Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, students must have fulfilled the following formal and substantive prerequisites:
1. Curricular and Administrative Requirements
The student must:
have earned all university credits (ECTS) required by the study plan, for a total of 180 ECTS, including those related to professional training activities;
have passed all examinations and assessments required by the curriculum;
be up to date with university enrolment, tuition fees, and administrative obligations as established by the University.

2. Educational and Professional Requirements
The student must have:
successfully completed all clinical training placements, achieving the professional competences defined by the Professional Profile of the Nurse (Ministerial Decree 739/1994);
demonstrated the ability to act autonomously and responsibly in the main areas of nursing care;
acquired an appropriate level of ethical, professional, relational, and organizational maturity;
attended all mandatory courses concerning safety, ethics, and professional deontology as required by the study programme.

3. Final Thesis
The student must:
have prepared a written dissertation (final thesis) on a topic consistent with nursing competences and with the principles of evidence-based practice and research methodology;
submit the thesis according to the formatting and submission deadlines established by the Degree Programme;
demonstrate the ability to present, discuss, and critically analyse the contents of the thesis before the Degree Committee.

4. Specific Prerequisites for the Practical Examination
If the final examination includes a practical or applied test, the student must:
demonstrate the ability to plan, implement, and evaluate nursing care interventions in complex clinical settings;
apply technical and relational procedures appropriate to professional nursing practice;
adhere to the principles of safety, ethics, and professional responsibility.

The final degree examination in Nursing is designed to verify the student’s achievement of integrated theoretical knowledge, technical-professional skills, and ethical and relational competences, in accordance with the Professional Profile of the Nurse (Ministerial Decree 739/1994).
The programme includes the following areas of content, which form the basis for evaluation in the three examination components (written test, practical test, and thesis discussion).
1. Basic Biomedical Sciences
Anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of the main body systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, digestive, endocrine, nervous, musculoskeletal).
Fundamentals of genetics, immunology, and microbiology.
Principles of chemistry and biochemistry applied to vital processes.
Fundamentals of pharmacology and basic pharmacovigilance principles.

2. Clinical and Medical-Surgical Sciences
Acute and chronic diseases of medical and surgical interest.
Elements of internal medicine, surgery, neurology, psychiatry, and geriatrics.
Management of emergency and critical care situations: basic and advanced life support (BLS, ALS, PBLSD).
Prevention, monitoring, and management of main clinical complications.
Perioperative nursing and management of patients with medical devices.

3. General and Clinical Nursing Sciences
Theoretical concepts and models of nursing.
The nursing care process: assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
Management of fundamental human needs according to reference nursing models (e.g., Henderson, Gordon).
Patient safety and quality of care; clinical risk management and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
Evidence-Based Nursing (EBN) and critical use of clinical guidelines.
Continuity of care and transitions between hospital and community settings.
Nursing documentation and professional accountability.

4. Psychological, Relational, and Educational Sciences
Fundamentals of general, developmental, and health psychology.
Therapeutic communication and helping relationships with patients and families.
Management of grief, stress, and professional burnout.
Health education and promotion of healthy lifestyles.
Educational approaches and strategies for patient and community empowerment.

5. Legal, Ethical, and Deontological Sciences
Health legislation and the nurse’s professional responsibilities (civil, criminal, and disciplinary).
Ethical and deontological principles of nursing care; the Nursing Code of Ethics.
Protection of privacy, informed consent, and patients’ rights.
Occupational safety and biological risk prevention.

6. Organizational and Management Sciences
Organization of healthcare and social-health services.
Planning and management of human and material resources in nursing.
Teamwork and multiprofessional collaboration.
Accreditation systems and quality indicators in healthcare.
Nursing leadership, delegation, and supervision of support staff.

7. Research and Scientific Methodology
Fundamentals of research methodology in healthcare.
Data collection and analysis tools.
Critical appraisal of scientific literature.
Development of a research or literature review project for the final thesis.
Principles of descriptive and inferential statistics applied to nursing practice.

General Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of the degree programme and in preparation for the final examination, the student must be able to:
integrate theoretical and practical knowledge in patient care;
act autonomously, responsibly, and competently in various healthcare contexts;
communicate effectively and professionally;
apply a critical, reflective, and evidence-based approach to nursing practice;
adhere to the ethical, legal, and deontological principles of the profession.

Marco Di Muzio. Manuale di procedure infermieristiche basate sulle evidenze. Edises. 2021. Seconda edizione

Written test, practical test, and discussion of the thesis dissertation, as specified in the previous sections.

Mandatory

The final degree examination has licensing value, granting eligibility to practice as a Registered Nurse, and is composed of three distinct parts: written, practical, and oral (discussion of the final dissertation).
The overall assessment aims to verify the level of integration between theoretical knowledge, technical and professional competences, and relational, ethical, and critical abilities.
1. Evaluation of the Written Test
Objective:
To assess the student’s mastery of theoretical and scientific knowledge and the ability to apply it to clinical and nursing situations.
Structure and Evaluation Criteria:
The test may include multiple-choice questions, covering the main disciplinary areas of the degree programme, and may also involve the analysis of a clinical–nursing case, real or simulated, in hospital or community settings.
Each correct or adequate answer contributes to the final score, expressed in thirtieths (out of 30).
Outcome:
The test is passed if the student achieves at least the minimum score established by the Degree Programme Board.
Passing the written test is a mandatory prerequisite for admission to the practical examination.

2. Evaluation of the Practical Test
Objective:
To assess the student’s ability to apply theoretical knowledge to professional practice and to manage complex clinical–nursing cases autonomously.
Structure and Evaluation Criteria:
The assessment focuses on the following areas:
Technical performance and operational safety;
Relational and communication skills with patients, families, and the healthcare team;
Autonomy, responsibility, and professional ethics.
Evaluation is carried out using a structured assessment grid with predefined indicators and scoring criteria.
Outcome:
The practical test is considered passed if the student achieves the minimum competence threshold in all evaluated areas.
Passing the practical test is a necessary condition for admission to the final dissertation discussion.

3. Evaluation of the Oral Test – Discussion of the Final Dissertation

Objective:
To assess the student’s ability to present, argue, and contextualize a nursing-related topic in a rigorous, critical, and professional manner.

Structure and Evaluation Criteria:
The discussion takes place in a public session before the Degree Examination Committee.
Evaluation considers the following elements:
Clarity, completeness, and scientific rigor of the presentation;
Ability to synthesize and critically analyse the topic;
Command of professional language and scientific terminology;
Relevance and originality of the dissertation;
Ethical and professional maturity demonstrated during the discussion.
Outcome:
The Committee assigns an additional score (in one-hundred-tenths) to the base grade derived from the weighted average of academic exams and the results of the written and practical tests.

What are the main clinical features of septic shock?
Describe the nursing management of a patient with heart failure.
Explain how to correctly perform a standard 12-lead ECG.

• Integrated final examination consisting of a theoretical–practical test and the discussion of the final dissertation.
  • Books: See "Testi" section