Nursing and Midwifery Sciences

The objective of the Doctoral Program in Nursing and Midwifery is to develop and enhance the contribution of nursing and midwifery in the broad field of health sciences. To achieve this goal, by the end of the program, a doctoral candidate should have acquired:

1. Advanced knowledge of the ontological, epistemological, axiological, and methodological assumptions underlying research in nursing and midwifery in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed approaches.
2. The ability to independently conceptualize, design, and conduct a nursing and midwifery research project using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods according to the highest ethical and scientific standards.
3. The ability to use the most suitable approaches and tools for producing scientific evidence in the field of nursing and midwifery research.
4. The ability to interpret and communicate research results and discuss their implications.
5. The ability to identify, critically evaluate, select, and actively participate in writing competitive grants to attract funding for the development of nursing and obstetric research.
6. Advanced knowledge of the chosen research area.
7. The ability to communicate nursing and midwifery science to different stakeholders and in different contexts, including a logic of public engagement.
8. The ability to exercise proactive nursing and obstetric leadership to influence local, regional, national, and international health policies and develop nursing and midwifery practice by promoting accessibility, inclusivity, and equity in healthcare.

Some of the main research areas:

For Nursing Sciences: social determinants of self-care, self-care in chronic diseases, perception and management of symptoms and interoception, adherence to pharmacological therapy, nursing care in intensive care, rehabilitation, and palliative care, personalized care models to support emerging vulnerabilities, mutuality in the nurse-patient/caregiver relationship, nursing management, and nursing education.

For Midwifery Sciences: physiological childbirth, quality of the childbirth process, issues related to stillbirth, and midwifery education.
 

Considering the multidisciplinary scientific skills acquired, Doctoral graduates can access a significant range of occupational opportunities, including:

1. Universities and Academic Institutions,
2. Research and health protection organizations,
3. Regional socio-health service structures in roles related to research and development of health professions, epidemiology services, Risk Management services, quality of care services, and health documentation, basic and post-basic training of health professions,
4. Institutes for Research and Healthcare, and University Teaching Hospitals. Within these institutions, Doctoral graduates in Nursing and Midwifery Sciences can hold roles in both clinical research (clinical research nurse/midwife) and research and development of health professions (nurse/midwife researcher),
5. Contract Research Organizations,
6. Biomedical companies.

Doctoral courses are based on the fundamentals of subjects relevant to Nursing and Midwifery Sciences and focus on methodological/scientific areas consistent with the doctoral program. 

Competencies are acquired through frontal teaching activities, exercises, laboratories, experiences in Italy and abroad, and through the active participation of doctoral students in conceptualizing, designing, and conducting relevant and significant research projects in the fields of nursing and midwifery sciences. 

The doctoral course is structured into teachings articulated in the following areas: 

1. Ontological, epistemological, axiological, and methodological assumptions underlying research in nursing and midwifery, 
2. Methodology of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed research applied to nursing and midwifery sciences, 
3. Systematic reviews and Guidelines, 
4. Valorization and dissemination of results, 
5. Fundamental principles of ethics, gender equality, and integrity, 
6. Nursing and midwifery leadership