Postgraduate Specialization Degree in Medical-Surgical Nursing

OBJECTIVES OF THE DEGREE
The Postgraduate Specialization Degree in Medical-Surgical Nursing has the main purpose of training nurses who possess, in their area of study and within their professional competencies:
a)In-depth knowledge and understanding regarding the Nursing Bachelor’s Degree;
b)Basic knowledge and understanding for the initial development and/or application, namely in research settings;
c)The ability to apply knowledge and to understand and solve problems in new and unfamiliar situations, in broad and multidisciplinary contexts;
d)The ability to integrate sets of knowledge, deal with complex situations, develop solutions or make judgments in situations with limited or incomplete information, including reflections on ethical and social implications and responsibilities that may result in or condition those solutions and those judgments;
e)The ability to clearly and accurately communicate their findings, and their corresponding knowledge and reasoning, to specialists and non-specialists;
f)The competencies required to develop lifelong learning in a self-guided and autonomous way.


PROFILE OF INTENDED COMPETENCES
In accordance with the provisions of the Ordem dos Enfermeiros regarding the common competencies of nurses specialists (Regulation No. 122/2011, of February 18th) and the specific competencies of nurse specialists in the care of patients in critical condition (Regulation No. 124/2011, February 1th), at the end of the study cycle nurses are expected to be able to:
a)Develop a professional and ethical practice in their area of intervention;
b)Promote care practices respectful of human rights and professional responsibilities;
c)Mobilize the development and support of institutional initiatives and strategies in the area of clinical governance;
d)Design, manage and collaborate in programs of continuous quality improvement;
e)Design and maintain a therapeutic and safe environment;
f)Manage care, by optimizing the response from the nursing team and its collaborators, and the articulation with the interprofessional team;
g)Adjust and lead resource management to different situations and contexts, aiming at optimal care quality;
h)Develop self-knowledge and assertiveness;
i)Use solid, valid, and current knowledge standards in their specialized clinical practice;
j)Care for the person experiencing the complex process of a critical condition and/or organ failure.
k)Streamline the response to disaster or emergency situations with multiple victims, from intervention design to action;
l)Optimize interventions for the prevention and control of infection in the person in critical condition and/or organ failure, considering the complexity of the situation and the need to act in a timely and adequate way.


CURRICULAR STRUCTURE
The Postgraduate Specialization Degree in Medical-Surgical Nursing has 90 ECTS and is organized into three semesters which combine the theoretical, clinical practice, and research components.
In the first year, the first semester will include theoretical and theoretical-practical classes; in the second semester, students will complete two mandatory internships and two theoretical and theoretical-practical curricular units. In the second year, the semester will consist of an optional area which will one theoretical and theoretical-practical curricular and one internship. Students can choose the optional area among the 2 to 4 options made available by the coordination. The number of available options will depend on the number of students attending the study cycle so that each unit has a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 participants. The study plan complies with Regulations No. 122/2011 and No. 125/2011 and follows the matrix design by the Ordem dos Enfermeiros on: the topics addressed in Postgraduate Specialization Degrees in Nursing and in this Postgraduate Specialization Degree in Medical-Surgical Nursing; the required internships and corresponding minimum duration; minimum duration of the study cycle; and the Professional Title of nurses in charge of internships and CPLEER coordinators.

Table 1 describes the scientific areas and credits necessary to obtain the diploma.
Table 1 - Scientific areas and credits necessary to obtain the diploma

The Postgraduate Specialization Degree in Medical-Surgical Nursing, whose study plan is published in Decree No. 146/2016 of May 18th, aims at training nurses by providing them the resources necessary to the delivery of nursing care to people in critical condition and their families.
ORGANIZATION OF THE DEGREE
The Postgraduate Specialization Degree in Medical-Surgical Nursing is organized and managed by the SPU of Medical-Surgical Nursing of ESEnfC. However, to ensure high quality and topicality, the following lecturers will be invited to participate:
-Teachers from other scientific-pedagogical units of ESEnfC;
-Nurses specialist in nursing-surgical nursing, practicing in multiple clinical settings and with recognized whose in the specialty area;
-Nurse specialists in other specialty areas, whose contribution is relevant to the study cycle;
-Other health professionals whose contribution adds value to trainees’ scientific development.