Bachelor's Programme in Nursing

Higher Education Entrance Qualification or Prior learning and work experience as well as an average of a minimum grade of 3.0 in Norwegian (393 hours) and 3.0 in mathematics (224 hours).

The nursing education at the University of Agder (UiA) is an overall, integrated professional education. The study program qualifies candidates for practicing caring and professionally sound nursing based on up-to-date knowledge, professional suitability, and respect for human autonomy and participation. It means being able to attend to the basic needs of human beings, promote health, prevent and treat illness, relieve suffering and ensure a worthy death. The study program qualifies candidates to collaborate cross-professionally, interact across levels of health care, and contribute to the development of equal, patient-safe and knowledge-based services.

The study structure ensures coherence, progression, and integration between theory and practice in a way that supports the descriptions of the learning outcomes. Each academic year contains theory studies and practical placement studies. The courses are structured so that they collectively cover the areas of knowledge in the Regulation on National Guidelines for Nursing Education:

• Health, illness and nursing
• The nursing profession, ethics, communication and interaction
• Science theory and research method
• Professional management, quality and patient safety
• Service development and innovation
• Technology and digital expertise

The study program is a three-year, integrated bachelor's program, cf. Regulations on Studies and Examinations at the University of Agder, § 6 (1).

The study is based on

• Regulations on a Common Framework Plan for Health and Social Science Education, as laid down by the Ministry of Education and Research, announced 6.9.2017
• Regulations on the National Guideline for Nursing Education, established by the Ministry of Education, Science, announced 1.4.2019
• Regulations on Fitness Assessment in Higher Education, as laid down by the Ministry of Education and Research, announced 6.7.2006 

It is expected that the candidate after completing his bachelor's degree program:

Knowledge

• Demonstrates broad knowledge of health and disease-related conditions that underlie the needs of both individuals and groups in nursing
• Demonstrates broad knowledge of the approaches and methods which nurses employ to meet different nursing needs
• Demonstrates broad knowledge of key values ​​and concepts in nursing
• Demonstrates knowledge of inclusion and gender equality and helps to ensure equal services for all groups in society
• Demonstrates knowledge of user interaction methods
• Demonstrates knowledge of the tools and methods to lead innovation processes
• Demonstrates knowledge of technology, information security and digital solutions in the services
• Demonstrates knowledge of science theory and research methods
• Demonstrates knowledge of health and social policy, management and organization

Skills

• Is able to apply knowledge of health and illness to systematically observe, assess, decide on, implement and document appropriate nursing measures
• Is able to use knowledge to take measures in subacute and acute events, measures that promote good mental health and measures to ensure the participation of children and young people
• Is able to to master medical technical equipment, technology and digital solutions
• Is able to reflect on and handle ethical issues
• Is able to apply knowledge of the health and welfare system, laws and regulations
• Is able to reflect on existing service routines and methods, and initiate changes
• Is able to use relationship, communication and guidance skills in meeting with users, patients and relatives
• Is able to apply scientific knowledge in theoretical and practical issues

General competence

• Is able to plan and implement nursing care for acutely and critically ill, chronically ill and people with comprehensive and complex needs in primary and specialist health care
• Demonstrates knowledge on measures to preserve life and health in major accidents and in crisis and disaster situations
• Demonstrates knowledge about the connections between health, education, work and living conditions and is able to apply this in their service
• Is able to lead and prioritize tasks in the nursing service
• Demonstrates insight into matters that affect quality and patient safety and is able to plan and execute quality development work
• Is able to plan and execute targeted collaborative processes with patients, relatives and other service providers
• Demonstrates knowledge on global health challenges and nursing practice from an international perspective
• Is able to communicate key subject matter, plan and execute projects
• Demonstrates insight into the development and use of technology and digital solutions at the individual and system level in the services

The study program prepares for professional and personal development so that during the course the students may develop professional competence and professional identity. Students will develop the ability to apply knowledge and skills, master challenges and critically evaluate and analyze the issues they face. By meeting the students as responsible participants in their own learning, a learning environment is prepared for which is characterized by social and academic fellowship between students, teachers and practice supervisors. There is an exchange between learning based on specific situations and experiences and learning where one starts with general principles or theory. A wide range of learning and teaching methods are used for the teaching of practical and theoretical teaching material in both campus-based and practical placement studies.

Campus-based studies

On campus, there is time and space to think, train and reflect, both individually and in collaboration with fellow students and teachers. To take advantage of this opportunity, learning and teaching methods such as self-study, lectures, seminars, team-based learning, skills learning and simulation are planned. Various digital learning resources are used. In some courses, students are divided into groups that are followed by a teacher over time, as well as across learning activities and courses. Such team-based learning partnerships allow for interaction, reflection and discussion. This helps students reach advanced levels of understanding and develops the ability for analytical problem solving and critical thinking.

Practical placement studies

The health services provide the opportunity for learning in real and complex situations in direct interaction with patients and health professionals. In order to ensure that students gain experience from the breadth of the Norwegian health service, the students are placed in the specialist and municipal health services. The practical placement courses have a duration that gives the student the opportunity to develop academic competence. The practical placement studies are guided in the sense that each student is followed up by the practice supervisor at the practice site and the practice teacher from the university. Simulation on campus and systematic reflection on experiences along the way are included in all practice subjects.

Significant parts of the teaching program are compulsory.

The language of instruction is Norwegian, but for some courses or parts of courses the language is English.

The study program has varied forms of assessment. Sometimes there is a clear distinction between learning and assessment, at other times assessment is to a greater extent part of the learning process. In some contexts, the student is actively drawn into the assessment of himself or her fellow students.

In the campus-based courses various types of exams are used such as school exams, home exams, folder submission and bachelor's thesis. Assessment terms are graded and pass / fail. The practical topics are assessed to pass / fail.

The courses often have exam requirements that must be approved before the student can sit for the exam. There may be compulsory attendance, written assignments and oral presentations, individually or in groups. In the course SY-121 The anatomy, physiology and biochemistry of the body are national exams.

The nursing profession and nursing science are to a large degree international something which is reflected in the knowledge base in the education. Topics of an international nature are addressed in all three years of study.

In some of the courses, the teaching is offered in English only. Parts of the teaching in other courses may also be in English. Several of the courses include English language literature. The program also offers a course in global health.

The program offers student exchange agreements with many countries in Africa, Australia, USA, Europe and the Nordic countries. The program has a special offer of exchange for incoming students in the fourth and fifth semesters.

Students can participate in the International Certificate Scheme; International Certificate of Learning (CIL).

Students in the program may travel on exchange during the practice placement periods in the fourth, fifth and sixth semesters. In addition, it is possible to take the entire fifth semester abroad at one of our partner institutions. The bachelor thesis may also be written in connection with exchange.

In the fifth semester, entering exchange students can take the courses SY-321-1 Global health (5 credits) or SY-322-G Innovation in nursing (5 credits) and SYP321 (SYP322, SYP323, SYP324) Practice Studies - Complex and Composite Conditions I (15 credits). It will also be possible to facilitate other practice placement exchanges for incoming students.

•  The courses SY-121 The body's anatomy, physiology and biochemistry, SY-120 Basic nursing, SY-123 Medication and SYP120 Practical studies in basic nursing in the first year must be passed in order to start on the practice placement in the third semester.
• All courses in the first year of study and the courses SYP220 Skills and procedures and SY-220 Nursing in various diseases - Work methods and technology must be passed to start on the course SYP225 Practice studies - Interaction in the fourth semester.
• Practice placement courses in the second year must be passed in order to start on the practice placement courses in the third year.
• All courses in the first and second year of study must be passed in order to start on the SY-323 Bachelor's project in nursing.

See other prerequisites in the information about each course.

Completed studies qualify for authorization as a nurse, and provide the basis for a varied and diverse professional life in all parts of the health care system.

The program qualifies for a number of studies at the master's degree and further education level at colleges and universities, both in nursing and interdisciplinary areas.

The program leads to the Bachelor of Nursing degree.

• Students may be placed in practice placement all over Agder, and must therefore count on travel time in connection with the completion of practice placement. See more information here: https://www.uia.no/om-uia/fakultet/fakultet-for-helse-og-idrettsvitenskap/praksis-paa-sykepleie-bachelor
• Students must fully or partially cover travel and accommodation expenses in connection with the practice placement studies. Furthermore, there may be expenses for the purchase of some educational material, such as for instance work attire.
• Students must present police certificates upon admission to the program. Comments on the police certificate may result in the applicant being excluded from practice placement subjects in the study.
• In connection with semester registration, the student must comply with the duty of confidentiality.
• Students must meet medical requirements. More information on this is provided here: https://www.uia.no/om-uia/fakultet/fakultet-for-helse-og-idrettsvitenskap/medisinske-krav-og-vaksinasjon
• Students in the bachelor's program in nursing are subject to regulations on suitability assessment in higher education. Ongoing suitability assessment takes place throughout the study period. Students who receive comments regarding doubts about suitability should be followed up specifically.
• The syllabus is approx. 10000 pages. The university may make changes to the syllabuses during the course of study.