MAHELPRA10 Clinical Studies for Public Health Nursing Students Course description

Language of instruction: Norwegian

This course focuses on the work of public health nurses at the population, group and individual level, using knowledge-based practice as its point of departure. The students will further develop their skills in planning, implementing and assessing adapted cooperation with service users at different levels. Interdisciplinary and inter-professional cooperation also form part of the course. The practical studies takes place over 11 weeks, one of which comprises teaching activities at the university and 10 of which are supervised practical training in a municipality or district. Practical training takes place in relevant arenas, at children’s health clinics, in the school health service and at young people’s clinics. The practical training periods are distributed over two semesters – four weeks in the second semester and six weeks in the third semester.

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 describe the public health nurse’s functions and areas of responsibility at the population, group and individual level

• can discuss the significance of public health nurses’ responsibility in interdisciplinary and interprofessional cooperation

• can critically assess and analyse scientific theories and methods related to children and adolescents aged 0–20 years and their families/caregivers

• can discuss ethics related to professional practice

Skills

The student

• can take an knowledge-based approach and work independently within the public health nurse’s areas of responsibility at children’s health clinics, in the school health service and at youth health centres

• can prescribe and administer contraceptives, including long-acting contraceptives, and identify the need for relevant guidance

• can use pedagogical methods and health communication at the population, group and individual level, and assess the use of different pedagogical approaches

• can apply relevant methods to map and assess children and adolescents’ health at the individual, group and society level, and implement measures as needed

• can contribute to quality improvement and patient safety work, including documentation and notification duties

• can use relevant digital solutions and work processes when providing guidance to and cooperating with children, adolescents and their families/caregivers  

General competence

The student

• can reflect on and deal with ethical dilemmas in professional practice at the population, group and individual level

• can analyse, reflect on and adjust their own practice based on current knowledge and guidance

• can identify the need for and initiate quality assurance and improvement in the public health nursing services

• can contribute to safeguarding the autonomy of children, adolescents and their families/caregivers and supporting them in making informed health choices at the individual, group and system level 

The course will use varied, student-active work methods. Work and teaching methods comprise supervised practical studies with adapted learning situations. Other teaching methods used are lectures, oral and written assignments (individually or in groups), seminars, skills training and self-study.

The following required coursework must be approved before a student can take the final examination:

• a minimum of 90 % attendance during practical studies

• the student must have prepared an individual plan for the practical studies based on the learning outcomes for the course

• written assignment of up to 1,500 words, individually or in groups of two to three students

Assessment of practical studies, with a midway and final assessment.

Not relevant.

Pass/fail.

An attendance requirement applies to practical studies. Students whose absence exceeds 10% will fail the course.

During the second period of practical studies, the student and the practical study supervisor will carry out a midway and final assessment. The lecturer from the university normally participates in the midway assessment and otherwise as necessary. If a student is at risk of failing the course, he/she must be notified at least three weeks before the final practical study period. The final decision on a pass or fail grade is made by the university.

100 % overlap with HELPRA1 Clinical Studies