Master’s Degree in Medical-Surgical Nursing in the area of Nursing Care to the Person in a Chronic Situation

General Objectives of the Course

Train for the acquisition of scientific, technical, and human skills for the delivery of specialized nursing care to the person in a chronic situation, family, and caregiver, which leads to problem-solving;
Train for the understanding and resolution of problems in complex and/or unpredictable situations, issuing judgments, and finding solutions that meet the person’s needs;
Establish a therapeutic relationship with the patient and the caregivers/family, providing support in the process of adaptation and transition associated with their clinical status;
Train for the leadership of teams and projects and the management of human and material resources;
Train for the transfer and dissemination of knowledge, assuming the expert’s role in the continuous improvement of the quality of care and a safe therapeutic environment;
Develop learning, autonomous training, and lifelong training skills, in the personal and professional domains, contributing to the development of the nursing discipline.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the master's program is open to:
a) Individuals with a bachelor's degree or legal equivalent in Nursing from a Portuguese higher education institution;
b) Holders of a foreign first-cycle degree in Nursing that complies with the Bologna Process;
c) Holders of a foreign degree recognized as equivalent to a Portuguese bachelor’s in Nursing by the School's Technical-Scientific Board;
d) Individuals with an academic, scientific, or professional curriculum in the scientific field of Nursing recognized by the School's Technical-Scientific Board as demonstrating the ability to complete the program.

Candidates should check the admission requirements available on this site, in addition to the information provided here.

Professional Goals

Not applicable.

Mode of Study

Full time

Teaching / Evaluation language(s)

Portuguese

Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

Assessment is an integral component of the teaching and learning process. It aims to evaluate the students’ knowledge and competencies, as well as their critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and proficiency in written and oral communication. The rules governing attendance, assessment, and classification are set out in the Academic Regulation of the University of Coimbra (RAUC). The grade awarded for each course unit is expressed as a whole number on a 0–20-point scale. A minimum final grade of 10 is required to pass a course unit. The final classification of the programme corresponds to the weighted arithmetic mean of the grades obtained in the course units. The weighting assigned to each course unit is equal to its ECTS credit value.

Learning Objectives and Intended Skills

The nurse specialist in medical-surgical nursing in the area of delivery of care to the person in a chronic situation is
expected to develop the following skills:
1- Develop an ethical and legal professional practice based on scientific evidence;
2- Develop high-quality practices, managing and leading continuous improvement programs;
3- Optimize the environment and therapeutic processes in the person and family/caregivers experiencing complex
medical and/or surgical processes resulting from chronic disease;
4- Analyze the risk associated with the provision of care, promoting the safety of environments, patients, and
professionals;
5- Care for the person, family, and caregivers experiencing chronic disease, promoting the patient’s adaptation to the
chronic situation and adherence to the therapeutic regimen;
6- Maximize the prevention, intervention, and control of infection and antimicrobial resistance.

Course Coordinator(s)

Amélia Filomena Oliveira Mendes Castilho
uc80133@uc.pt

Rogério Manuel Clemente Rodrigues
uc80164@uc.pt

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of prior learning is governed by the provisions set out in the Academic Regulation of the University of Coimbra (RAUC), Regulation No. 945/2025, and Article 45(1)(a) of the Legal Framework for Higher Education Degrees and Diplomas, approved by Decree-Law No. 74/2006 of 24 March, in its current wording.

Qualification Requirements and Regulations

DL No. 74/2006 of 24 March, as amended by DL No. 107/2008, DL No. 230/2009, Declaration of Amendment No. 81/2009, DL No. 115/2013, DL No. 63/2016, DL No. 65/2018, DL No. 27/2021, and DL No. 13/2022.

Graduation Requirements

Successful completion of the study plan, obtaining a total of 90 ECTS in the following scientific areas:

[723] - Nursing - 85
[345] - Management and Administration - 3
[226] - Philosophy and Ethics – 2

Access to Further Studies

The qualification of Master allows applying for the 2nd cycle of studies (Ph.D.) in accordance with section 8 of this supplement.

Study Programme

Despacho n.º 12790/2022, de 4 de novembro

Academic year
2026-2027

Course Type
2nd Cycle Studies - Advanced Specialisation Master Programme

DGES Code: MC77

Qualification Awarded: Mestre

Duration: 3 Semester(s)

ECTS Credits: 90.0

Category: Advanced specialization second cycle

Applications

Call for Applications

Accreditations

Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior: 2022-07-31 a 2028-07-31
Direcção Geral de Ensino Superior: Nº Registo: R/A-Cr 231/2022; 2022-10-21