Programme description for Master in Advanced Practice Nursing – Clinical Nurse Specialist (2025–2027)

Upon completion of the programme, students will have the following knowledge, skills and general competence:

• specialised nursing with a specialisation in anaesthesia, intensive, surgical nursing or paediatric nursing that ensures functional capacity and professionally sound specialist nursing for relevant patient groups
• research and development experience enabling them to participate actively in research and development in the field of specialised nursing

The various areas of competence covered by the learning outcomes are laid down in national regulations governing the specialisations. The regulations cover the following areas of expertise:

• Specialised nursing as a discipline and profession
• Clinical practice, observation, assessment, decision-making and action competence
• Technology and digital competence
• Professional management and interaction
• Quality and patient safety
• Scientific theory, research methods and knowledge-based practice
• Research, quality work and dissemination.

Knowledge

The student

• has in-depth knowledge of the specialist nurse's functions and responsibilities
• has advanced knowledge of medical and scientific topics and specialised nursing care for relevant patient groups
• has in-depth knowledge of how to observe, identify and assess the patient's general and special needs in the event of failure or threat of failure of vital functions
• has advanced knowledge of individual behaviour and reactions in connection with acute and/or critical illness and suffering related to age and cultural background (patient, relatives and healthcare professionals)
• have in-depth knowledge of technology and digital tools used in the health service
• have in-depth knowledge of management, organisation and change processes of interprofessional services relevant to specialist nursing
• have in-depth knowledge of how to identify various ethical dilemmas and how to reflect and act in difficult ethical situations
• have advanced knowledge of knowledge-based practice and quality work in the practice of specialised nursing
• have advanced knowledge of different scientific theories, designs and methodological approaches in clinical research
• have in-depth knowledge of non-technical skills, including situational awareness, decision-making, task solving and teamwork in addition to communication tools and what promotes and inhibits interprofessional interaction

Skills

The student

• is able to provide professionally sound specialised nursing care in accordance with the health legislation's requirements for professional practice, the knowledge and values of the profession and the specialised nurse's areas of function and responsibility
• can apply advanced knowledge of medical and scientific topics and specialised nursing through his/her clinical experience by demonstrating the ability to compensate fully or partially for impairments in the patient's vital functions
• can analyse the patient's and relatives' health competence and use this as a means of communication to promote user participation and customised services
• can apply advanced knowledge of individual behaviour and reactions in connection with acute and/or critical illness and suffering, related to age and cultural background (patient, relatives and healthcare professionals)
• can take responsibility for carrying out infection prevention work in relation to the patient, environment, equipment and personal hygiene
• can take responsibility for using medical technical equipment in a safe and responsible manner
• be able to critically analyse and apply different scientific theories, methodological approaches and designs
• can problematise and communicate the relationship between theory and empirical data
• is able to initiate and carry out an independent, limited research or development project under supervision and in line with applicable research ethics guidelines

General competence

The student

• is able to analyse professional issues and take an active role in discussions about the development of the profession and its place in the health service
• can analyse, assess and handle complex situations in accordance with health legislation and professional ethics

• apply specialised knowledge and skills to

  • make clinical judgements, priorities and decisions
  • carry out fully or partially compensatory treatment and care
• can analyse and apply knowledge in relation to the general and special needs of the patient and relatives

• Can apply and communicate knowledge-based practice in order to

  • ensure patient safety and quality improvement/service improvement
  • contribute to the development of the service
• is able to apply knowledge and skills by analysing and fully or partially compensating for impairments in the pasient's vital functions
• can analyse and apply knowledge and skills in specialist nursing in new areas and unfamiliar situations
• is able to analyse and apply knowledge and skills that contribute to coping and job satisfaction in an environment with high demands on quality and change
• can convey and communicate professionally sound specialised nursing with various specialists in the field and with the general public
• is able to communicate and convey their own values and attitudes and take an independent position on ethical dilemmas in professional practice
• is able to interact constructively in stressful and conflict-filled situations
• can communicate and present an independent, limited research or development project
• can contribute to new thinking and innovation

Requirements for admission to the master's programme in special nursing with the majors anaesthesia -, pediatric -, intensive care - or theatre nursing include possession of a bachelor´s degree in nursing (180 credits), and at least two years of practice as a fully employed authorised nurse.

Admission is given according to the University of Agder´s regulations for admission to master programmes and continuing education (http://www.lovdata.no/cgi-wift/ldles?doc=/sf/sf sf-20051214-1750.html) with supplementary rules for admission to the Master´s Programme in Special Nursing.

The purpose of the master's programme is to educate well-qualified professionals who can provide specialist nursing care to patients of all ages who are about to undergo surgery, have suffered an injury, are suffering from an acute and/or critical illness or have experienced a deterioration of a long-term illness and assist their relatives in a high-tech environment. The programme meets current requirements for specialist nursing and is in accordance with the health legislation's requirements for professional practice and the knowledge and values of the profession.

The programme will contribute to increasing theoretical, practical and research-based knowledge in specialist nursing and lay the foundation for the specialist nurse to use relevant research and contribute actively in direct patient contact, teaching and research and professional development work. Furthermore, the student will be qualified in critical analysis, reflection and research approach in the speciality nursing profession.

The programme consists of general courses and specialised major courses. The general courses will provide insight into qualitative and quantitative research traditions and methods that are particularly relevant to research, development and quality improvement initiatives in the health profession in general, and work with acutely or critically ill patients in particular. The major courses will provide insight into common themes such as experiences, reactions and coping strategies in being acutely and/or critically ill and subject-specific themes in relation to the practice of specialist nursing in the various specialisations. Clinical studies account for 45 credits of the programme and appear as separate subject-specific courses. The master's thesis is a central part of the programme and is an independent scientific work within specialist nursing, where the student must use relevant research and has the opportunity to contribute to research and professional development work.

The programme is based on the regulations on national guidelines for anaesthesia, paediatric, intensive care, surgical and cancer nursing, laid down by the Ministry of Education and Research.

Course booklets specifying the course content will be made available to students via UiA's learning platform.

The master's programme facilitates professional development so that students can develop professional competence and identity as a specialist nurse during their studies. The programme emphasises the integration of theoretical knowledge and clinical experience and emphasises varied forms of teaching and learning.

A wide range of learning and teaching methods are used for the acquisition of practical and theoretical knowledge, both in campus-based and clinical studies. Various forms of student-active teaching are used. This includes lectures, group work, simulations, exercises, supervision and the submission of assignments.

By meeting the students as responsible participants in their own learning, a learning environment is created that is characterised by a social and academic community between students, teachers and practice supervisors.

In clinical studies, the focus will be on functional ability and action competence in relation to the specialist nurse's area of responsibility. Students will develop expertise in conducting knowledge-based practice. The practical studies are supervised in the sense that each student is followed up by a practice supervisor at the practice site and a practice teacher from the university.

Varied forms of assessment are used to ensure coherence with the various courses' learning outcomes and working methods, and to ensure the integrity and quality of the programme. Theoretical courses are assessed through school exams, home exams and the master's thesis. All exams must be answered individually, with the exception of the master's thesis. This can be submitted individually or as a group assignment.

Clinical studies are assessed through formal discussions that are documented in an assessment form. The formaldiscussions are conversations between the student, teacher and practice supervisor. The purpose is to assess the student's clinical competence in relation to the applicable learning outcomes.

The Faculty of Health and Sports Sciences facilitates student exchanges in Europe through established mobility programmes such as Erasmus+ and Nordplus, but also through bilateral agreements with universities in countries outside the EU, such as Africa, Australia and the USA. Exchanges can take place in connection with the completion of the master's thesis, but exchanges can also be organised at other times. Students can participate in the international certificate programme: International Certificate of Learning (CIL).

The language of instruction is mainly Norwegian. In some courses, parts of the teaching will take place in English, and the courses include an English-language syllabus.

Exchanges, both for incoming and outgoing students, can take place in connection with clinical studies or work on the master's thesis.

Specialisation courses in the first semester and clinical studies in the first and second semesters must be passed before the students can start clinical studies in the third and fourth semesters. The course ME-439 Scientific theory and method must be passed before the student can receive supervision on the master's thesis. All courses except Clinical Studies III must be passed before the master's thesis can be submitted.

See the individual course description.

Specialist nurses specialising in anaesthesia nursing are qualified to work in hospitals in anaesthesia wards, intensive care units and emergency departments, and have a place in pre-hospital work and in the transport of acutely and/or critically ill patients.

Specialist nurses specialising in paediatric nursing work in neonatal, paediatric and intensive care units, outpatient clinics and adult wards with beds for children. Habilitation wards, the municipal health service and child and adolescent psychiatry will also be relevant work areas.

Specialist nurses who specialise in intensive care nursing primarily work in specialist hospital wards, i.e. intensive care, monitoring and post-operative wards. They may also work in neonatal wards, ambulance services, emergency medical services centres, emergency departments, dialysis departments and the transport of acutely and/or critically ill patients.

Specialist nurses specialising in surgical nursing are qualified to work in hospitals' surgical departments, day surgery units, surgical outpatient clinics, emergency departments/injury wards, out-of-hours services, disaster teams and sterilisation centres. Specialist nurses work independently and collaborate closely with other healthcare professionals such as surgeons, nurse anaesthetists and anaesthetists.

Specialist nurses specialising in cancer nursing can work within the specialist health service, the municipal health service, in rehabilitation institutions and various private companies.

Other relevant areas of work for specialist nurses include teaching, research, professional development in hospitals or scientific positions at universities and university colleges, as well as management positions. Specialist nurses are also qualified to work in the municipal health service. Specialist nurses are also qualified for international work, working with aid in humanitarian crises of various kinds globally.

The programme qualifies for admission to doctoral studies.

Students who complete the programme after 90 credits have completed further education in anaesthesia, paediatric nursing, intensive care nursing or surgical nursing and are qualified to work as a specialist nurse, as well as to contribute to the development of knowledge-based practice within their own area of responsibility.

Study programme evaluation is conducted annually in the programme committee in accordance with the Quality System, section 4.2. Before the meeting of the study programme committee, the student representative may obtain suggestions and ideas from fellow students.

• Theory teaching is divided between the Kristiansand and Grimstad campuses. The clinical studies are mainly held at Sørlandet Hospital HF (SSHF).
• Students must present a police certificate upon admission to the programme.
• In the programme, students are continuously assessed for suitability throughout the programme. This is part of an overall assessment of the student's professional and personal suitability to work as a healthcare professional. It is important that you as a student are aware of and familiarise yourself with this. You can find further information about suitability assessments here: https://www.uia.no/studier/for-studenter/administrer-dine-studier/skikkethetsvurdering.html
• All students at UiA are required to have their own portable computer (laptop) for use in teaching and examinations, cf. Regulations on Studies and Examinations at the University of Agder § 12d.
• Reservations are made for the start-up of all specialisations each year.