Foundation of Nursing Care in Health and Illness, 24 credits

Admission to semester 2:
Part 1: Research methodology, 3 credits and completed field studies in the course Nurse's profession and nursing as science (1SJ010) as well as Component 3: Clinical skills in the course Anatomy and physiology (1SJ019).

A student who has failed his or her clinical placement or its equivalent due to serious deficiencies in knowledge, skills or attitudes such that patient safety or patients' trust in health care or community care has been jeopardised, is qualified for a new clinical placement only when the student's individual action plan has been completed.

The course's general aim is that students acquire and develop knowledge of essential nursing skills, evidence-based nursing, nursing theories and nursing concepts in order to be able to identify, assess, plan and meet the nursing needs of individuals. The student should also be able to reflect on ethical issues, patient and family participation, the implications of technology for nursing care, and care of patients on equal terms. Additional aims are that student should acquire knowledge in pharmacology and microbiology in order to be able to plan and implement nursing that ensures patient safety.

Part 1: Basic hygiene, microbiology and immunology

Knowledge and understanding On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• describe microorganisms and their living conditions, structures and basic functions
• use basic concepts in immunology to explain the immune system's nonspecific and specific defences
• explain basic hygiene principles in healthcare and how infection and disease transmission can be prevented in different (care) environments

Skills and ability On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• explain and apply basic hygiene principles in order to ensure patient safety as well as suggest improved hygiene procedures where needed
• explain and apply principles of common microbiological testing

Judgement ability and approach On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• identify future knowledge needs in order to develop competence in the fields of hygiene, microbiology and immunology.

Part 2: Pharmacology and drug processing

Knowledge and understanding On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• explain the preparation and administration of pharmaceutical drugs
• explain how pharmaceutical drugs are absorbed, metabolized and secreted from body
• explain how pharmaceutical drugs work in the body explain how pharmaceutical drugs work at the level of the cell, organ and whole person
• understand how factors including age and organ function influence dosage and choice of pharmaceutical drugs
• explain the risks of treatment with pharmaceuticals and how pharmaceutical-related problems arise and should be treated
• describe the regulatory frameworks that regulate the handling of pharmaceutical drugs
• explain how to conduct pharmacological testing for the concentration or pharmaceutical drugs and their effects

Skills and ability On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• acquire relevant information about different drugs and its handling

Judgement ability and approach On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• analyse and discuss the risks and quality aspects of different methods for handling, treating with and testing for phamaceutical drugs to ensure patient safety

Part 3: Nursing responsibilities in health and illness
Knowledge and understanding On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• explain how the nursing process constitutes a basis for nursing care
• explain methods and reasons for health promotion in nursing
• understand and explain the laws and regulations regarding patient safety as well as patient and family rights to participation and care on an equal footing

Skills and ability On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• maintain systematic medical records of nursing care
• search for, critically evaluate and summarize scientific studies of health promotion that can be applied in evidence-based nursing care
• plan, carry out, lead, and evaluate peer learning

Judgement ability and approach On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• analyse the relationship between ethical values and health promotion nursing strategies
• analyse and critically review the meaning of healthcare for all on equal terms
• reflect on dignified nursing at transitions and at life's end
• reflect on the implications of technologically-mediated nursing

Module 4: Clinically integrated learning: clinical skills

Knowledge and understanding On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• explain the importance of following evidence-based guidelines, laws and regulations in connection with examination, testing and treatment of patients

Skills and ability On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• apply clinical proficiencies with proper consideration of patient safety and patient autonomy and participation

Judgement ability and approach On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• reflect on patient participation and the need for respecting patient integrity in connection with examination, testing and treatment

Part 5: Clinically integrated learning: placement

Knowledge and understanding On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• Explain the reasons for person-oriented nursing
• Explain the importance of interprofessional teams for care that ensures patient safety

Skills and ability On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• apply the nursing process and person-oriented nursing in patient care
• apply nursing methods in accordance with ethical principles, evidence-based nursing and patient safety guidelines
• demonstrate the ability to communicate in speech and writing in the context of nursing care
• apply medical technology in way that ensures patient safety
• adapt the nursing environment for health promotion and person-oriented nursing

Judgement ability and approach On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• identify and analyse ethical values and dilemmas in nursing

Course include five components:

Part 1: Basic hygiene, microbiology and immunology
Part 2: Pharmacology and pharmaceutical drug processing
Part 3: Nursing responsibility in health and illness
Module 4: Clinically integrated learning: Clinical skills
Part 5: Clinically integrated learning: placement

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The teaching is based on a problem-oriented and collaborative approach to learning in which the tasks provide opportunities for students to take active responsibility for their learning. Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, workshops, project work, group assignments, laboratory sessions, study of scientific literature, proficiency training and clinical placements. Participation in seminars, group assignments, laboratory sessions, proficiency training and the clinical placement is compulsory.

The course's components are integrated in order to support students'self-directed and collaborative learning and to train students in a scientific approach based on active knowledge acquisition, problem-solving and critical reflection.

The course director assesses if and if so how a student can compensate for absence from a compulsory course activity. Until the student has participated in the compulsory parts (or compensated any absence with assigned tasks in accordance with instructions from the course director) the final study results can not be reported. Absence from a mandatory course activity could mean that the student can not make up for the missed activity until the next time the course is offered.

Distance learning uses IT and is based on independent and collaborative learning. Different course activities include individual study assignments, project work, work in groups, virtual discussions, seminars, workshops, lectures and student portfolios Teaching support is given via IT-based learning management system. ´The number of physical course meetings on campus is limited to at most 2 days per 7.5 credits.

The 6-week clinical placements are at workplaces of relevance to the course's focus on health and illness. The course includes about 40 hours/week (full-time studies) of which approximately 32 hours/week are in clinical settings where the student will receive individual or group advising. The clinical placements can involve daytime, evening, night and weekend hours, and even occasionally take place on holidays. Student are not allowed to shorten the clinical placement.

If the course has ceased, changed considerably in content, or substantially changed its reading list, the student may take three additional tests (excluding regular test) on the earlier contents or the previous literature for up to one year after the course changes have been made.

The course evaluation will be conducted according to the guidelines that are established by the Committee for Higher Education.