The implementation of a pathway for Romanian medical assistants to obtain the Italian nursing degree

AIMS: This article describes management and outcomes of an academic pathway for the transition from Medical Assistant Diploma to Bachelor Science of Nursing (BSN) of Padua University for a group of Romanian nurses. METHODS: The course, repeated for two academic years, (2004-05, 2005-06), was 15 months long and it was performed mainly in Timisoara. It was managed by a partnership of public and private Italian and Romanian institutions. RESULTS: Forty-three nurses attended to the full course and 42 obtained the BSN with good results. Lectures were delivered locally and via long distance courses. Students attended Italian wards for their practical training. CONCLUSION: This project was performed in the framework of an international cooperation project for academic nursing knowledge diffusion in East-European countries, and for recognition and integration of nursing studies.