Clinical Practice

The Department of Clinical Practice involves students in professional healthcare contexts under the supervision of institutional faculty and healthcare professionals in Italy.

3 semester credits. This practice is designed to offer care services in Italy. This position provides students with valuable hands-on experience in providing direct care to non-self-sufficient individuals within their own homes. Students will gain practical skills and knowledge in areas such as personal care (bathing, dressing, toileting), and basic health monitoring. Providing companionship and social interaction, assisting with medication administration under the supervision of qualified professionals, and monitoring client health and reporting any concerns to supervising staff are also key responsibilities. The practice inserts students in a professional context, under the direct supervision and monitoring of a licensed professional. This course features unsalaried shifts ranging from Monday to Friday, although some organizations may require weekend hours. The practice lasts for a minimum of 150 hours which may include a preparatory training course. Hours also include research and projects such as classroom activity and writing assignments. Placements will vary depending on the student’s language and professional skills.

3 semester credits. This placement is offered to highly motivated students who seek a structured experience within the system of public healthcare in Italy. The Italian healthcare system has consistently ranked in the top categories worldwide (#2 in 2020 according to the WHO) for its equal access to medical care and health statistics, in particular overall life expectancy. Organizations such as the Italian Red Cross, Misericordia, and ANPAS support the public system through volunteer work for essential services. For example, in the region of Tuscany, all services involving the rescue and transportation of emergency patients are conducted by volunteers of the aforementioned associations. Student involvement in practice hours is an opportunity to actively engage within the local community and culture in connection to a healthcare perspective – achieved through ongoing tasks and clinical observations within a public healthcare context alongside licensed professionals and experienced volunteers. This practice is composed by hours in EMT observations for ambulance unit dispatches. The practice inserts students in a professional context, under the direct supervision and monitoring of a licensed professional. This course features unsalaried shifts ranging from Monday to Friday, although some organizations may require weekend hours. The practice lasts for a minimum of 150 hours which may include a preparatory training course. Hours also include research and projects such as classroom activity and writing assignments. Placements will vary depending on the student’s language and professional skills.

3 semester credits. This practice deals with geriatric, or gerontological healthcare within the Italian system, which is ranked in the top categories of healthcare worldwide (#2 in 2020 according to the WHO). The practice seeks to enable students to learn how to provide care to elderly individuals, focusing on the different approaches required to heal the ageing body through a high-quality and person-centered approach. The practice inserts students in a professional context, under the direct supervision and monitoring of a licensed doctor or nurse. This course features unsalaried shifts ranging from Monday to Friday, although some organizations may require weekend hours. The practice lasts for a minimum of 150 hours which may include a preparatory training course. Hours also include research and projects such as classroom activity and writing assignments. Placements will vary depending on the student's language and professional skills.

3 semester credits. This practice deals with medical-surgical healthcare within the Italian system, which is ranked in the top categories of healthcare worldwide (#2 in 2020 according to the WHO). Students identify how to assess, plan, and enact patient care plans in consultation with healthcare professionals, while providing direct care to all types of patients, from admission to discharge. The practice inserts students in a professional context, under the direct supervision and monitoring of a licensed doctor or nurse. This course features unsalaried shifts ranging from Monday to Friday, although some organizations may require weekend hours. The practice lasts for a minimum of 150 hours which may include a preparatory training course. Hours also include research and projects such as classroom activity and writing assignments. Placements will vary depending on the student’s language and professional skills.

NC. This preparatory course allows students enrolled in a Clinical Practice to understand the behaviors, rules, and best practices necessary to work in a clinical setting. The training incorporates safety measures and focuses on the main tools that students will come across during their shifts, with the aim of assisting the transition to the practical aspect of the health profession.

No credit. This course is designed to equip students with the comprehensive knowledge and hands-on skills needed to respond to emergency medical situations. Throughout the course, students will delve into the theoretical foundations of emergency healthcare, gaining a deeper understanding of the principles that guide first aid interventions. The curriculum places a strong emphasis on practical applications of these principles, with a specific focus on Basic Life Support and Defibrillation (BLS-D). Students will engage in practical sessions where they learn and practice BLS-D techniques, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). These skills are essential for providing immediate and effective assistance in critical situations, such as cardiac arrest. Moreover, the course explores the legal aspects surrounding emergency healthcare. Students will gain insights into the legal framework and ethical considerations which govern the provision of first aid.

3 semester credits. This practice deals with pediatric healthcare within the Italian system, which is ranked in the top categories of healthcare worldwide (#2 in 2020 according to the WHO). The practice seeks to enable students to learn how to provide care to neonates, infants, children, and adolescents, by allowing them to engage in clinical hours in pediatric hospitals of the highest order. The practice inserts students in a professional context, under the direct supervision and monitoring of a licensed doctor or nurse. This course features unsalaried shifts ranging from Monday to Friday, although some organizations may require weekend hours. The practice lasts for a minimum of 150 hours which may include a preparatory training course. Hours also include research and projects such as classroom activity and writing assignments. Placements will vary depending on the student's language and professional skills.

3 semester credits. This placement is offered to highly motivated students who seek a structured experience within the system of Italian healthcare in relation to Clinical and Health Psychology. The former focuses on assessment, therapy, consultation and clinical research within clinical psychology, with specific training in Abnormal and Personality Psychology. The latter explores diverse areas of health psychology, including neuropsychology, psycho-oncology, and stress management. Students will have a direct access to hands-on experience, while being guaranteed one-to-one supervision and heterogeneity in clinical setting and educational stimuli. The clinical practice inserts students in a professional context, under the direct supervision and monitoring of a licensed professional. This course features unsalaried shifts ranging from Monday to Friday, although some organizations may require weekend hours. The clinical practice lasts for a minimum of 150 hours, which include shifts and research projects, such as classroom activity and writing assignments. Placements will vary depending on the student’s language and professional skills.

3 semester credits. This practice is designed to offer social work services in Italy. Social work comprises many target groups with the intention of increasing their individual and collective well-being. The practice seeks to foster knowledge concerning the interrelation of human development and behavior with social, cultural, and economic factors. In this practice, students contribute actively in the Italian social fabric to meet the need of the individuals assisted in their position's facility. The practice inserts students in a professional context, under the direct supervision and monitoring of a licensed professional. This course features unsalaried shifts ranging from Monday to Friday, although some organizations may require weekend hours. The practice lasts for a minimum of 150 hours which may include a preparatory training course. Hours also include research and projects such as classroom activity and writing assignments. Placements will vary depending on the student's language and professional skills.

3 semester credits. This practice is designed to offer social work services in Italy. Social work comprises many target groups with the intention of increasing their individual and collective well-being. The practice seeks to foster knowledge concerning the interrelation of human development and behavior with social, cultural, and economic factors. In this practice, students contribute actively in the Italian social fabric to meet the need of the individuals assisted in their position’s facility. The practice inserts students in a professional context, under the direct supervision and monitoring of a licensed professional. This course features unsalaried shifts ranging from Monday to Friday, although some organizations may require weekend hours. The practice lasts for a minimum of 150 hours which may include a preparatory training course. Hours also include research and projects such as classroom activity and writing assignments. Placements will vary depending on the student’s language and professional skills.