Nursing Care and Postgraduate Education of Nephrology and Dialysis Nurses in Italy

Abstract

Introduction. Patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing renal replacement therapy have complex care needs. To address this, nephrology and dialysis nurses must possess expertise in advanced specialist and disciplinary skills. The aim of this review is to analyze post-graduate academic training pathways and clinical-care training in the field of nephrology and dialysis nursing in the Italian context. Methodology. A narrative review of the literature was conducted in May 2024, using databases such as CINAHL and Medline-PubMed, with a selection criterion limited to primary and secondary studies published in Italian and English. To supplement the search, particularly within the Italian context, grey literature sources were consulted. Results. Post-graduate nephrology nursing education in Italy is mainly offered through First-Level Masters, as well as Second Level Masters and specialization courses, which are provided at various academic institutions. Analysis of the educational programs revealed the presence of common "core" teachings across all pathways, covering renal disease pathophysiology, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and dialysis nursing care, alongside significant heterogeneity in other proposed teachings. Clinical-care training emerged as a fundamental aspect in both post-graduate education, professional integration for newcomers, and continuous professional development. Conclusions. The growing healthcare need for specialist skills suggests the necessity of integrating field-based training with standardized post-graduate academic pathways, possibly in collaboration with relevant Nursing Scientific Societies. This synergy would not only promote the enhancement of nursing competencies but also ensure a high quality of care delivery.

Keywords: dialysis; nephrology; postgraduate education; university education.