Nursing Care of Pain in Children and Adolescents, 7.5 credits

Qualification as a nurse certified by the National Board of Health and Welfare. Alternatively, current enrollment at the Specialist Nursing Program at Karolinska Institutet.

The general aims of the course are that the student, on completion of the course, should have achieved skills to be able to meet children's and youth's specific needs in nursing for pain, with a professional approach. On completion of the course, the student should be able to: - explain the development, structure and function of the pain sense - analyse and evaluate psychological and cultural aspects on pain experience - understand and explain current paediatric pharmacology and treatment principles in acute and chronic pain conditions - identify and analyse the specific nursing needs that occur in different pain conditions - identify, analyse and be able to apply non pharmacological and psychological treatment - identify and apply different pain estimation instruments - evaluate and document pain conditions at different genesis

The course contents are based on the following themes with a focus on children and youths: - Pain physiology - specific nursing of patients in pain - treatment at different pain conditions

The course is carried out as distance education, half-time studies. The pedagogics is based on a problem-oriented student active learning. The distance education is IT-based and is characterised by independent and collaborative learning. Different working methods such as individual study assignments, work in groups, virtual discussions and seminars, and lectures are used.

This course is examined through individual written examination, together with oral presentation. The compulsory parts in the course are seminars on campus, discussions in PingPong and certain lectures. In case of absence from compulsory parts, turn to the course director.

Course evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines established by the Board of Education.