MAHEL4300 The Health of the Family - School Children and Adolescents 6-20 Years Course description

Language of instruction: Norwegian

This course has a focus on school children and adolescents in the age group 6-20 years and their growth and physical, mental and social development at the population, group and individual level. Emphasis is placed on protection and risk factors and what contributes to health and mastery in the different arenas where they grow up.

Resource and solution-oriented approaches are in focus, while user participation and interdisciplinary cooperation are important aspects of the course. Emphasis is also placed on relevant theories and methods, and guidance and teaching that are essential in health promotion and prevention work. Students who pass the course are authorised to prescribe contraceptives.

The student must have been admitted to the Master’s Degree Programme in Health Sciences - Specialisation in Public Health Nursing.

After completing the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence: 

Knowledge 

The student

• can critically assess the public health nurse’s function, areas of responsibility and tasks in relation to school children, adolescents and their caregivers at different levels
• can analyse children and adolescents’ physical, mental and social development and health and the environments in which they grow up
• can analyse and discuss knowledge about guidance and communication aimed at relevant users
• can critically assess topics related to the extended authorisation to prescribe contraceptives

Skills 

The student

• can apply relevant methods of health promoting and preventive work at different levels to children and adolescents aged 6-20 years and their caregivers
• can analyse and assess children and adolescents’ development and needs and implement evidence-based measures related to their health and quality of life
• can analyse and assess the need for measures and interdisciplinary cooperation, and if necessary provide referrals
• can assess and give grounds for different ways of providing guidance and educational methods when interacting with children, adolescents and their caregivers
• can order and administer contraceptives

General competence  

• can analyse and assess evidence-based methods in the school health service and the youth health centres  
• can analyse and apply ethical principles to reflect on dilemmas in professional practice
• can apply a culturally sensitive approach to children, adolescents and their caregivers

The course will use varied, student-active work methods. Work and teaching methods used in the course include lectures, oral and written assignments with presentations (individually and in groups), seminars, skills training and self-study. The student will receive one hour of supervision during the first week of the project examination.

Individual coursework requirement related to the right to prescribe contraceptives.

A project examination in groups of two to three students, over 14 days. Scope: up to 3,000 words.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

Grade scale A-F.

All examinations are assessed by an internal and an external examiner.

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