Course Objectives

When students have completed major course unit 4 they will:

• Be able to document, assure the quality and evaluate their own nursing practice.
• Act in such a way as to strengthen the patients and society’s confidence in the profession and their respect for nursing services.
• Further develop their ability to observe and evaluate the condition of the patient, symptoms, how the patient experiences illness, personal resources and his/her ability to cope with circumstances.
• Initiate and follow up prescribed treatment and examinations.
• Handle medication in a responsible manner.
• Have insight into professional challenges in international health work.
• Be able to relate to alternative treatment and pain-relief models.
• Be able to identify and further develop their own attitudes and values with respect to people of different cultural backgrounds.
• Further develop their ability to empathise, care for and interact with sick people in the mental health care and home nursing services.
• Show care and respect for patients and their families.
• Have knowledge of measures that promote health and prevent illness.
• Be able to inform, supervise and instruct patients, families and co-workers in mental health care and home nursing services.
• Be able to participate in cross-professional and inter-departmental cooperative efforts.
• Reflect upon ethical dilemmas in mental health care and the home nursing services, and be able to explain their views.
• Have insight into organisational and legal frameworks for nursing in mental health care and the home nursing services.
• Further develop understanding of research-based nursing practice.
• Further develop an enquiring and critical approach to knowledge and learning.

Course Description

Course unit 16: Nursing Theories, Models and Phenomena

2 ECTS

Objectives:

The student will:

Develop critical and analytical skills with respect to the knowledge base of the nursing profession.

Acquire knowledge and understanding of mental illnesses.

Content:

The course unit covers topics related to mental health work and mental illnesses and the consequences to the patient. Further, it will focus on the development and understanding of the knowledge base of nursing by examining the application of theoretical nursing models in the planning and execution of nursing care.

Assessment methods:

Course unit 16 has one documentation assignment.

Course unit code 051HOEM4 DO1

Documentation assignment:

A reflection paper which focuses on a patient situation in a mental health work context. The account should be presented in the reflection group with the supervisor present. The student revises and relates theoretical approaches and current research to the description after the reflection group meeting. Individual response, 1500 words.

Course unit 17: Health Challenges in Globalised Modern Society

5 ECTS

Course unit 17 A: Health Challenges in Modern Society

Course unit 17 B: Laws and Frameworks Relevant to the Health service

Course unit 17 B: International Health Work

Objectives:

The student will:

Acquire knowledge of the legal system as a framework factor, and the scope of action in mental health work and municipal health service.

Gain insight into the steering roles of the welfare state in relation to the elderly and mentally ill.

Gain insight into professional challenges in national and international health work.

Gain knowledge of, and practice skills in, culturally-sensitive nursing.

Identify and further develop his/her own attitudes and values with regard to people from different cultural backgrounds.

Content:

The course unit includes a presentation and discussion of the body of laws that regulate the organisation and work within mental health care and the municipal health service. Emphasis will be given to challenges in national and international health work. The nursing profession will be examined in a multicultural perspective and students’ attitudes and values concerning people with different cultural backgrounds will be challenged.

Assessment methods:

Course unit 17 has 1 documentation assignment.

Course unit code 051HOEM4 DO2

Documentation assignment:

A reflection paper from the period of practical experience in the home care service. The account will be presented in the reflection group with the supervisor present. The student revises and relates theoretical approaches and current research to the description after the reflection group meeting. Individual response, 1500 words.

Course unit code 051HOEM4 4-1

Assessment assignment 4-1: Final examination

The assignment is a home examination (limited time allowed) in the form of a case that focuses on culturally-sensitive issues. Individual response, 3000 words. Graded A - F, and counts for 30% of the course grade.

Course unit 18: Action Competency and Nursing

2 ECTS

Course unit 18 A: Interdisciplinary Cooperation

Course unit 18 B: Written work – Bachelor's Thesis

Course unit 18 C: Organisation and Leadership

Course unit 18 D: First Aid and Leadership in the Cases of Accidents and Catastrophes

Objectives:

The student will:

Acquire knowledge of organisation and leadership.

Gain insight into the importance of cross-professional and inter-departmental cooperative efforts.

Be able to evaluate research-based literature critically.

Be able to manage and lead work in the case of accidents and catastrophes.

Content:

Instruction will be given in the concepts, organisation and leadership including a focus on various leadership models. Cross-professional and inter-departmental cooperative efforts will be emphasised. Experience of interaction in the learning-groups and the clinical studies will establish the foundation for the development of this type of cooperative skills.

Further study in the review of literature in general and research articles in particular in connection with the Bachelor’s thesis. Skills related to first aid further developed in light of the organisation and management of accidents and disasters.

Assessment methods:

Course unit 18 has 3 documentation assignments.

Course unit code 051HOEM4 DO3

Documentation assignment:

A project plan for the Bachelor's thesis, which will include proposals for project questions, relevant literature/recognised research in the field, describe the relevant methodology, sketch possible ethical questions and provide a time and work schedule for the completion of the project. Individual response, maximum 1500 words.

Course unit code 051HOEM4 DO4

Documentation assignment:

Required attendance, and demonstration of skills related to first aid in the case of accidents and catastrophes. Individual assignment.

Course unit code 051HOEM4 DO5

Documentation assignment:

A report will be written on specific topics in order to summarise and evaluate the content and the learning-gains during the fourth year of study, as well as the whole study programme. The learning group will draft the report which will lead to suggestions for improvements. Group response, maximum 1500 words.

Course unit 19: Clinical Nursing in Mental Health Work and Home-Based Services

24 ECTS

Course unit 19 A: Nursing Interventions in Mental Health Work and Home-Based Services

Course unit 19 B Decision-Making Processes and Documentation II.

Course unit 19 C: Clinical Nursing in Mental Health Work

Course unit 19 D: Clinical Nursing in Home-Based Services

Objectives:

The student will:

Acquire knowledge and understanding of mental diseases.

Participate in cross-professional and inter-departmental work.

Be able to identify and evaluate the patient’s need for nursing.

Be aware of the nurse’s responsibility with regard to interacting with individual patients and groups of patients, and understand the complex issues involved.

Demonstrate attitudes that safeguard human integrity.

Be able to evaluate research-based literature critically in relation to one’s own professional practice.

Demonstrate critical and analytical abilities in relation to their own professional practice.

Content:

The course unit, through the clinical studies, provides students with the opportunity to further develop their competence in observing and evaluating patients’ state of health, symptoms, how they experience their own illness, resources and their ability to cope with a difficult situation. The integrity of the individual patient will be focused on, including the patient’s right to participate in decision-making and their right to be treated with respect.

Assessment methods:

Course unit 19 has 2 assessment assignments and 2 documentation assignments.

Course unit code 051HOEM4 DO6

Documentation assignment:

A practice report composed during the period of practical training in mental health care that will be presented in the reflection group with the supervisor present. Individual response, maximum 2000 words.

Course unit code 051HOEM4 DO7

Documentation assignment: Individual plan / Notes relating to experience of either 1) leadership, 2) quality systems or 3) deviation will be drafted and include relevant research during the practice period in home-based services. It will be presented in the reflection group with the supervisor present. Individual response, maximum 1500 words.

Course unit code 051HOEM4 4-2

Assessment assignment 4-2:

Clinical studies in mental health work, 240 hours

The student will be supervised and evaluated through the clinical studies and assessed on a pass/fail basis.

Course unit code 051HOEM4 4-3

Assessment assignment 4-3:

Clinical studies in home-based services, 240 hours

The student will be supervised and evaluated through the clinical studies and assessed on a pass/fail basis.

Course unit 20: The Reflective Nurse, Professional Development and Research 12 ECTS

Course unit 20 A: Ethical Dilemmas in Mental Health Work, in National and International Health Care.

Course unit 20 B: Challenges Related to the Nurse’s Professional Development and Research.

Objectives:

The student will:

Reflect upon knowledge and experience and develop an understanding of the nursing profession’s complex issues.

Be aware of the nurse’s responsibility regarding professional development and research.

Content:

The course unit will attempt to provide various perspectives of the nursing profession. The nurse’s responsibility regarding professional development and their own professional practice will be emphasised.

Assessment methods:

Course unit 20 has 1 assessment assignment.

Course unit code 051HOEM4 4-4

Assessment assignment 4-4:

Bachelor's Thesis

The student will complete a Bachelor's thesis which is described in the project plan; give an account of the topic related to the relevant literature and recent research; present the assignment question and give an account of why it was chosen; give an account of the methodology chosen and discuss the assignment question in relation to the collected data, relevant literature and the chosen theoretical perspective. During the course of the work the student will present his/her work in a joint seminar. Individual response, 10,000 words. A graded mark will be given (A-F), which counts for 70% of the course grade.

Learning Methods

The study programme will alternate between classroom teaching, instruction and training in the practice department, clinical studies, work in reflection groups, individual supervision sessions, and work in learning-groups involving portfolio assignments and supervision.

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