Intensive Care Nursing, Continuing Education

Study programme code ISPL90

ECTS credits 90

Admission requirements The applicant must be an authorized nurse and have a minimum of two years of clinical work experience. Relevant work experience and other education are also important.

General description and profile of the programme The objective of the programme is to educate highly qualified intensive care nurses, who can give specialist care to patients and assist their relatives in an advanced technological environment. The programme is based on "Rammeplan for Videreutdanning i intensivsykepleie, KUF, 2005" (the national curriculum for continuous education in intensive care nursing). A more detailed plan of this study programme will be handed out in the beginning of the semester. Contents The main subjects in Intensive Care Education Programme: Advanced nursing skills and topics within social science Topics within medical and natural sciences Intensive Care nursing - theory and practice Throughout the course theory and practice will alternate. Fifty per cent of the study programme is clinical studies. The three main subjects (also mentioned in the national curriculum) will be part of both the clinical and theoretical studies.

Learning outcomes After having completed the programme the student will be able to carry out intensive care nursing in accordance with the health legislation concerning practice, professional knowledge and the values of the profession. Furthermore the specialist nurse will be able to apply relevant research and contribute actively in developing the profession.

Teaching methods Various work methods will be used including lectures, problem based learning (PBL), role play, demonstrations of practice, seminars, group work, practical studies (including training of skill and quantity training), supervision and evaluation, tutorials, written and oral reflection and self-study. The clinical studies are compulsory. Attendance in tutorials, containing students, student contact and qualified supervisor, is compulsory and is counted as part of the clinical studies. Requirements for compulsory attendance and specific examination requirements are described in the course descriptions. Language of instruction: Norwegian

Assessment methods The students will be assessed as follows: with graded portfolio assessment and a graded written individual exam. The clinical studies will be evaluated mid-term and at the end of term. These studies will be assessed as pass or fail. The dissertation may be written in groups or individually and it will be graded.

Requirements for continuing in the study programme Clinical Studies 1st Year ( SYP408), along with Intensive Care Nursing - Theory and Practice SY-406) and Topics within Medical and Natural Sciences SY-407) must be passed before Clinical Studies 2nd year ( SYP409) can be assessed and Specialist project in Intensive Care Nursing SY-414) may be handed in. For more details please see course description.

Occupational profiles of graduates and access to further studies Intensive care nurses primarily work in special departments in hospital; that is intensive care departments and post-operative wards. They can also work in the paediatric wards, the ambulance services, the emergency centres, casualty wards and dialyses departments. This continuous education forms the basis for master studies at universities and university colleges.