[A proposal for a nursing sciences curriculum in the general nurse 1st level degree in Italy]

This article describes a proposal for a nursing curriculum in general, clinical and paediatric nursing sciences (this scientific area is named MED/45 in Italian legislation) at the first cycle of higher education for general nurses in Italy (level 6 according to the European Qualifications Framework). Future change in university syllabus, need to revise nursing curriculum starting from specific competences acquisition, lack of professional national nursing standards, and uncertain evolution of a scientific academic sector for nurses in Italy, led to this work. It consists in evaluation and revision of what has been implemented in a nursing pre-registration degree at University of Insubria. Key principles orienting nursing sciences educational activities revision of this degree course has been the following: centrality of the person in the curing process, choice of a conceptual nursing model to guide personalisation of care, development of therapeutic relationship skills, and adherence to professional principles and values. Aims, educational objectives, and educational activities planned to teach nursing discipline in the three year course, are presented in this paper. Nursing discipline has been articulated into four knowledge areas: general nursing, nursing methodology, clinical nursing (general and applied), advanced nursing practice. Evaluation of this curriculum, implemented since 2000 and modified in 2008, helped the students to acquire a clear professional identity. Further comments are added in the conclusion on matching educational objectives to didactic units, identification of four knowledge areas for nursing sciences, and choice to deal with advanced nursing practice during the third year of the degree course.