Course Objectives

When students have completed major course unit 2 they will have knowledge of:

• The nurses health-promoting and preventative functions and tasks.
• Specific and/or environmental risk factors.
• Nutritional physiology, preventative nutrition and nutrition for children.
• The dissemination of illness and the reasons for the population’s state of health.
• The relationship between people’s health, illness and living conditions.
• The historical development of the organised nursing service.
• The nurse’s functions with regard to prevention of illness, treatment, pain relief and instruction.
• The most common somatic illnesses and medical treatment.
• How the basic needs of the individual are affected by illness.
• The importance of age, gender and cultural background in relation to health and loss of health.
• The patients and their families’ reactions to health problems, illness and death.
• Nursing in the case of somatic loss of health and illness.
• Research-based nursing practice.
• The scientific foundation for nursing in the special health service.
• The organisational and legal frameworks for nursing in the special health service.

Course Description

Course unit 6: Nursing, Science, Theory and Methods

10 ECTS

Course unit 6A Nursing’s scientific foundation

Course unit 6B Nursing’s natural science foundation

Course unit 6C Scientific theory and methodology

Objectives:

The student will:

Develop an understanding of research-based nursing practice

Acquire knowledge of scientific theory and fieldwork experience used as a research method.

Acquire knowledge of the historical development in preventative health measures and nursing in the special health service.

Develop his/her knowledge of anatomy and physiology.

Acquire knowledge of pathology and the theory of illnesses, and general pharmacology.

Acquire knowledge of pregnancy and childbirth.

Content:

The course unit includes topics related to research in general and nursing research in particular. Students will be given an introduction to scientific theory and research methodology with a focus on fieldwork methodology. The historical development of preventative health strategies and the development of the special health service will be discussed and teaching will be given in nursing care during pregnancy, childbirth and the post-natal period. Further, pathological conditions and people’s reactions to these will be covered. The theory of medication (pharmacology) and the effect on illnesses and the human body will be discussed.

Assessment methods:

Course unit 6 includes 1 assessment assignment and 2 documentation assignments.

Course unit code: 051HOEM2 DO1

Documentation assignment: On the basis of a research article chosen by the student, a brief paper will be completed and presented in the learning-groups. Individual assignment (700 words).

Course unit code: 051HOEM2 DO2

Documentation assignment: This assignment is a multiple-choice test on pathology and pharmacology which will be held online via the Internet. The test will measure the level of knowledge and will be used to plan further work on the subject, individually and in the learning-groups.

Course unit code 051HOEM2 2-1

Assessment assignment 2-1: Examination in anatomy and physiology.

The examination will be held at the university college, 3 hours with invigilation, graded mark (A-F), which counts for 30% of the course grade.

Course unit 7: Health, Living Conditions and Coping with Life – Fieldwork

12 ECTS

Objectives:

The student will:

Acquire knowledge of nursing’s health-promoting and preventative functions and tasks.

Develop understanding of the interaction between people, the environment, lifestyle, health and illness.

Further develop knowledge of the dissemination of illness and the reasons for the population’s state of health.

Acquire knowledge of preventative nutrition and nutrition for children and adolescents.

Acquire knowledge of the relationship between people’s health, illness, living conditions and coping with life; and culture and society.

Acquire knowledge of the importance of age, gender and cultural background in relation to health and loss of health.

Content:

The content includes topics on health policy and social conditions and the influence of these factors on people’s health, living conditions and coping with life. Health, living conditions and coping with life’s difficulties will be examined in the contexts of gender, age and cultural background. Instruction regarding nutrition will be given from a preventative perspective and with a special focus on children and adolescents.

Assessment methods:

Course unit 7 includes one assessment portfolio.

Course unit code 051HOEM2 2-2

Assessment assignment 2-2: Fieldwork

The fieldwork involves a group assignment which will be carried out over a continuous period of 5 weeks, in which the students are required to be 100% active. The fieldwork will focus on health, living conditions and coping with life. The student will develop competence in identifying professional health challenges in society, and identifying problem areas with relevance for nursing in the use of scientific methodology. The fieldwork will culminate in a 5000-word report. The result of the fieldwork will be presented to the class and each learning-group will act as an opponent for one of the other groups, providing a response for their oral presentation. The fieldwork will be given a grade (A-F) and will count for 40% of the course grade.

Course unit 8: Educational Methods and Practice

4 ECTS

Course unit 8A The challenges of learning together

Course unit 8B Written work I

Course unit 8C Advanced procedures and practical skills I

Course unit 8D Medication calculations

Objectives:

The student will:

Acquire knowledge and skills in communication and interaction.

Acquire knowledge of, and develop, strategies aimed at constructive cooperation.

Learn to use concepts related to the discipline and develop a repertoire of written forms of expression.

Become skilled in carrying out scientific literature searches and in finding research articles.

Develop skills in advanced practical procedures.

Develops the necessary skills in medication calculations.

Content:

This course unit will develop the student’s knowledge and skills in communication and cooperation. They will further develop the use of specialised vocabulary, and various written forms including a field report and an observation report. Students will be encouraged to develop the ability to evaluate subject/research articles; they will also develop their ability to critically evaluate the work of their fellow students by providing responses. Teaching and supervision in advanced practical skills relevant to professional practice will be given (attendance mandatory). Instruction and training in medication calculations will be given.

Assessment methods:

Course unit 8 includes 1 assessment assignment and 2 documentation assignments.

Course unit code: 051HOEM2 DO3

Documentation assignment: Students will write a brief description of individual and learning-group aims for the current academic year. Maximum 1000 words.

Course unit code: 051HOEM2 DO4

Documentation assignment: A report will be written on specific topics in order to evaluate the content and the learning-gains during the second year of study, which will lead to suggestions for improvements. The student will also propose his or her own learning aims for the coming year. 1000 words.

Course unit code 051HOEM2 2-3

Assessment assignment 2-3: Examination in medication calculations.

The 3-hour invigilated examination will be held at the university college. The examination must be 100% correct in order to receive a passing mark.

Course unit 9: Clinical Nursing, Cultural Understanding and Preventative Health Work

6 ECTS

Course unit 9A The nurse’s functions in the special health service

Course unit 9B Documentation of nursing

Course unit 9B Observation studies and preventative work

Objectives:

The student will:

Gain an understanding of the preventative, educational and administrative functions and tasks involved in nursing, as well as of treatment and the reduction of suffering.

Further develop their knowledge and understanding for the nurse’s functions and tasks.

Learn how the basic needs of people are influenced by illness.

Gain knowledge of the reactions of patients and relatives to health problems, illness and death.

Develop knowledge and skills in nursing documentation.

Acquire knowledge of the nurse’s responsibility in the management of medication.

Content:

Includes knowledge and understanding of the nurse’s tasks, especially, such as preventative measures, treatment and pain relief. During the observation studies there will be a focus on the nurse’s preventative function in relation to the nursing care of pregnancy, childbirth and the post-natal period, as well as the public health nurse’s preventative efforts aimed at children and adolescents. The nurse’s responsibility regarding medication management will be emphasised.

Assessment methods:

Course unit 9 includes 2 documentation assignments.

Course unit code: 051HOEM2 DO5

Documentation assignment: Registration of attendance at the childbirth/post natal ward and public health centre. The student must submit the signed attendance forms from the institutions where they have carried out their practical experience in order to have this documentation assignment approved.

Course unit code: 051HOEM2 DO6

Documentation assignment: A report from the clinical observation studies in preventative health work at a public health centre. Individual response. 1500 words.

Course unit 10: The Reflective Nurse in Health-Promoting Work

13 ECTS

Course unit 10A Ethical dilemmas

Course unit 10B Professional nursing challenges related to health, living conditions and coping

Objectives:

The student will:

Acquire knowledge of human rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Acquire knowledge of the principle of human dignity.

Reflect upon the ethical dilemmas related to pregnancy, childbirth, illness and death.

Reflect upon the nursing challenges in health-promoting work.

Content:

Includes deeper insight into ethical dilemmas, especially related to the nursing care of pregnancy and birth, and preventative measures aimed at children and adolescents. A focus will also be given to human rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child related to health-promoting and preventative perspectives.

Assessment methods:

Course unit 10 includes 1 assessment assignment and 1 documentation assignment.

Course unit code: 051HOEM2 DO7

Documentation assignment: A reflection note concerning an ethical dilemma related to preventative health work. Group assignment 1500 words.

Course unit code 051HOEM2 2-4

Assessment assignment 2-4: Final examination.

A home examination in which a time limit is stipulated; it involves a case assignment in which specific problems have to be solved. Individual response, 3000 words. The assignment will be given a grade (A-F), and counts for 30% of the course grade.

Learning Methods

The study programme will alternate between classroom teaching, studio teaching, observation studies, instruction and training in the practice department, learning-groups, portfolio activities and supervision.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean