Italian nursing workforce and education initiatives

In late July 2026, Italy expanded efforts to reinforce its nursing sector through new educational and professional development initiatives. On July 21, the University of Pisa announced three new two-year master’s programmes for nurses and midwives—covering intensive-care and emergency nursing, primary-care and community nursing, and obstetrics—each admitting 25 students. This announcement coincided with research by nursing graduate Elisabetta Brescia, whose thesis, “Violence against nurses in critical care: the state of the art”, highlighted the need for greater awareness regarding physical and psychological aggression in the profession.

Three days later, the Fondazione Infermieri, an AGENAS-accredited provider, launched a catalogue of free, accredited online courses. These cover topics such as clinical decision-making, transcultural care, violence prevention, digital health, and gender-based violence. These courses aim to support the workforce as the health system adapts to an ageing population. Concurrently, Francesco D’Ambrosio, president of the Siena Order of Nursing Professions, called for greater recognition of advanced competencies and career pathways that reward merit to address chronic shortages.

By mid-August, the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) released decrees establishing admission procedures for the 2026/2027 academic year, with entrance exams for three-year degrees scheduled for mid-September 2026. Furthermore, a significant reform starting in October 2026 will introduce three new clinical specialization tracks alongside existing master’s programmes. At the local level, institutions like the University of Eastern Piedmont have also reported increases in available spots for health profession courses.