Introduction

Nursing as a subject and profession is concerned with individuals and groups in society who are in need of care, nursing or treatment relating to failing health or illness. Nursing involves health promotion, disease prevention, rehabilitation and contributing to a peaceful death.

The Bachelor’s degree programme is based on the national curriculum and regulations for nursing education approved by the Ministry of Education on 25th January 2008; this curriculum applies to the 2012 student group, for both full-time and part-time studies.

Target Group and Admission Requirements

The Bachelor’s degree programme is intended for persons who are interested in nursing as a discipline and profession.

Applicants who do not possess general admission requirements, and who turn 25 during the year of enrolment, may apply for admission based on prior experiential learning.

At the start of studies students must submit a certificate of good conduct relevant to the nursing profession which is issued by the police.

Aim of the Programme

The study programme is designed to train informed and reflective nurses who put people at the centre of what they do and who are qualified to carry out nursing work in relation to all aspects of health care services, nationally and internationally. Respect for individual human life and dignity is a fundamental value in nursing. Other core values ​​are caring and solidarity with the weakest members of society. Through the study programme, students will develop ethical awareness, responsibility and independence and the ability to cooperate.

Learning outcome

The national curriculum for nursing describes action competence and planning competence. Action competence refers to possessing sufficient qualifications and skills, and being able to act independently as a nurse. Planning competence refers to areas where the study programme provides new graduate nurses with knowledge of the field, but does not give them sufficient experience and specialized professional practice. It means being able to demonstrate knowledge, skills and attitudes in basic nursing. The student will acquire expertise in the areas of health promotion and prevention; care and treatment; education and counselling of patients and their families; professional ethical attitudes and actions; professional development; quality assurance; research; organization and management and policies and legislation.

Students who have successfully completed the study programme and become qualified nurses will possess the following knowledge, skills and general competence:

KNOWLEDGE
Students will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of key themes, theories, issues and methods related to the nursing profession
• Demonstrate knowledge of research and recent developments in the field of nursing
• Update their knowledge in the theoretical and clinical aspects of nursing
• Explain the historical development of the nursing profession and tradition, the nature of the discipline and its social mandate

SKILLS
Students will be able to:

• Use subject-specific knowledge and research results in handling theoretical questions and clinical practice
• Reflect on their own professional practice and demonstrate the willingness and ability to make adjustments to this under supervision
• Clarify theoretical and clinical issues on the basis of systematic literature searches
• Perform basic and advanced clinical and practical nursing skills adapted to specific clinical situations with patients, relatives and colleagues
• Master the subject-specific terminology in theoretical studies and in clinical situations

GENERAL COMPETENCE

Students will be able to:

• Demonstrate professional commitment to professional and ethical issues in meetings with patients, relatives and colleagues
• Implement projects independently and in collaboration with others in accordance with ethical requirements and guidelines
• Discuss key topics orally and in writing
• Discuss professional views and assessments for the purpose of developing nursing as a discipline and profession
• Describe professional development and innovation processes in the nursing discipline and profession

Successful candidates will be awarded a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing which will qualify them to apply for certification as a nurse.

Successful candidates may also apply to enrol on specialization programmes and Master’s degree programmes.

Curriculum and structure

The Bachelor’s degree programme is organized into 17 courses, divided into three academic years of full-time study or four years of part-time study. Each course is awarded credits; the number of credits for each course corresponds to the scope of the teaching and curriculum. The clinical studies are designed to integrate knowledge from all the curriculum’s major course units (The Professional and Scientific Foundation of Nursing; Nursing’s Basic Medical and Natural Science Areas; and Basic Nursing and Social Sciences Perspectives).

Overview of the courses, target groups and nursing functions for each year of study:

*) All the functions of nursing are covered in the three years of study, but certain functions are emphasized more at certain times - these are marked with an *

Progression of studies
In order to sit the examinations in the second year of studies, students must receive passing marks in all their first year courses.
In order to sit the examinations in the third year of studies, students must receive passing marks in all their second year courses.
Students are permitted three attempts when taking examinations, tests, assessment assignments and skills tests during the course of the study programme. Two sittings will be arranged during the academic year.

The student is eligible for a third attempt when the next regular examination or text is held.

Detailed description of the assessment procedures and criteria are described in the individual course descriptions.

Internationalization

Telemark University College participates in international cooperation in relation to student and teacher exchanges, curriculum and course development and research. Nursing is an international profession and discipline and the Department of Health Studies endeavours to develop professionally relevant and high quality learning venues abroad. The Department has established exchange agreements with specific networks in the Nordic Council of Ministers’ educational programme, Nordplus, and with the EU system’s educational programme. Furthermore, the Department also has agreements of intention with nursing programmes in the US and Africa. Students who wish to complete parts of their studies abroad must demonstrate qualitatively good progression in their studies, as well as participate in obligatory courses in connection with cross-cultural nursing and cross-cultural communication. The Department also accepts students from other countries. More information is available on the college website.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The study programme focuses on creating a learning environment that develops students’ ability to reflect on and critically evaluate their own learning. Learning requires the active involvement of students and teachers, and students are responsible for their own learning. Values ​​such as openness, confidence, independence, respect and fellowship are emphasized. In the resource lectures and classroom teaching theoretical subject material will be presented and discussed, and examined, analysed and problematised in the light of related research and development work. Students will engage actively with the programme material through self-study and in learning groups, and on work with topics, assignments and project work. Students participate in learning-groups with appointed supervisors. In the Clinical Skills Centre (KFS), students will develop clinical skills and train in simulated nursing situations including the use of ICT-supported learning methods.

A significant part of the study programme takes place in the clinical field, where students further develop their knowledge, clinical skills and attitudes in real situations with the supervisor, patients, relatives and partners. Teaching and learning methods include demonstrations, practical training, individual guidance and counselling in groups. The aim will be to reflect on, actively engage with and analyze clinical experiences, and integrate theoretical knowledge, further develop understanding and their own attitudes.

Through written work in theoretical and clinical studies, students will develop the ability to describe and justify their actions, which is vital for the development of professional competence in nursing.

The use of ICT is an important tool in the studies. The web-based platform Fronter is used as a learning platform, information channel and for the submission of examination answers and required coursework.

The learning environment influences students’ learning processes and learning outcomes. The learning environment in the theoretical parts of the programme is promoted via the regular teaching programme, access to academic and personal supervision and guidance, the college’s user-supported IT systems, access to library and information services and opportunities for participation in democratic forums in the college.

The learning environment in the clinical parts of the study programme is influenced by the organization and structure of the practical training institutions, and promoted by the fact that there are clear agreements between the college and the institutions, open and inclusive working environments, and that the students are perceived as individuals, who are included in decision-making concerning teaching methods. It is also important that supervisors are committed, and have the willingness and ability to implement individualized and planned learning activities.

Theory and Practical Training

The Preparatory Studies for Practical Training (KFS) course comprises 15 ECTS credits and the clinical studies section comprises 75 ECTS credits of the study programme’s 180 ECTS credits. The clinical studies are organized as follows:

The various periods during the practical training include experience in preventive health care, prenatal and maternity care and paediatric nursing.

Assessment Methods

Telemark University College’s Regulations concerning Examinations and Admission Rights (15 December 2005) apply to all examinations and include all assessments that form the basis of a final course grade.

Various forms of assessment are used in the Bachelor’s degree programme, such as examinations, skills tests, practical training, take-home assignments and group assignments, etc.

Course requirements include assignments, participation and documentation of attendance (which must be submitted and approved before the student can sit the examination / be awarded credits for a course).

The compulsory parts of the study programme include clinical studies, skills training, and participation in group work, etc. (as described in detail in the individual course descriptions).

Participation in the university college’s official bodies and committees, as well as student organisations locally and nationally, and relevant national conventions, will not be not counted as unauthorized absence as long as documentation is submitted.

The course descriptions provide detailed descriptions of the assessment arrangements and criteria.

Assessment of clinical studies
Assessment is a continuous and obligatory part of clinical studies. The student is evaluated and assessed in relation to the course’s learning outcomes and the specific aims of the student. As a general rule, evaluation dialogues are held between student, practical training supervisor and instructor. The assessment given is pass / fail, and the university college is responsible for the allocation of the final grade. In clinical studies, students should complete an average of at least 30 hours of practical training per week.

If there is any doubt whether the student will receive a passing grade for clinical studies, the student should be notified in writing of this no later than three weeks before the completion of the period. The notice should specify what the student has not mastered, and what requirements must be met in order to pass the clinical studies section of the programme. If at the end of the period the student clearly demonstrates by actions/behaviour that there are no grounds for awarding a passing grade, the student may not be given a failing grade unless prior notice is given (§ 5 of the National Curriculum for Nursing, set January 25, 2008).

Students are given a single opportunity to retake the clinical studies section of the programme. The decision to fail a student’s period of clinical studies cannot be challenged, unless a procedural error has occurred. The course description provides a detailed description of the implementation, supervision, evaluation and assessment of the clinical studies section.

Suitability

Students are subject to the Suitability Assessment for Health and Social Studies, which came into force on 1st June 2006 (Ministry of Education). Students will receive ongoing assessment throughout the study programme with regard to their suitability; this is a comprehensive assessment that includes both professional and personal qualifications for working as a nurse.

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