MAKREPRA20 Clinical Studies in Cancer Nursing 2 Course description

Language of instruction: Norwegian

This course aims to help the students to develop action competence in cancer nursing in the municipal health service or in palliative units in the specialist health service. Emphasis is placed on the students gaining experience and encountering challenges of sufficient complexity to allow them to achieve the course’s learning outcomes. Through practical training, the students will acquire clinical experience needed to develop an immediate understanding of patient situations and what knowledge and action they require. A key aspect of the course is the cancer nurse’s function in prevention, rehabilitation and alleviation.

In general, the practical training is taken at institutions where cancer patients receive treatment and follow-up or end of life care. The students will primarily take their practical training in the municipal health service, but also in the specialist health service. The course comprises six weeks of supervised practical training with adapted learning situations, self-study and, if relevant, group work.

Completed the course MAKREPRA10 Clinical Studies in Cancer Nursing 1 and MAKRE4200 Theoretical Studies in Cancer Nursing 2.

Students must have completed the course MAKRE4100 Theoretical Studies in Cancer Nursing 1, 10 ECTS credits.

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 discuss the cancer nurse’s role in prevention, rehabilitation, treatment and alleviation within the limits of the cancer nurse’s function
• can analyse the importance of cooperation between the specialist and primary health services in the follow-up of cancer patients
• can assess cancer patients towards the end of life and their next of kin's experiences, reactions and needs
• can analyse problems relating to cancer nursing on the basis of the discipline’s history, traditions, distinctive nature and place in society

Skills

The student

• can analyse and take a critical approach to different sources of information and use them to structure and formulate argumentation in the field of cancer nursing
• can apply the principles of pedagogy and subject didactics when informing, teaching and providing guidance to patients and next of kin from different cultures, as well as to colleagues and others 
• can use relevant methods for development work in an independent manner
• can coordinate and carry out palliative nursing of cancer patients in cooperation with the individual patient, their next of kin and others in interdisciplinary cooperation
• can coordinate and carry out nursing of cancer patients during the final phase of life in cooperation with the individual patient, their next of kin and others in interdisciplinary cooperation
• can work independently on practical and theoretical problem-solving relating to the cancer nurse’s functions and areas of responsibility throughout the course of the illness:
  • can observe, assess, identify and evaluate a patient's general and special needs, resources and problems through communication and cooperation with the patient and their next of kin
  • can independently identify and assess different patient situations, and prioritise and act in a satisfactory manner to address the patient's needs
  • can practise cancer nursing with respect for patients’ autonomy, integrity and dignity
  • can cooperate with patients’ next of kin, show them respect and care, and address their needs and rights
  • can facilitate dying with dignity when treatment is unsuccessful
  • can critically reflect when making choices and act in an ethically and legally satisfactory manner
  • can prevent, reduce and relieve stress and suffering in cancer patients through communication and information and by promoting a secure and therapeutic environment
  • can observe, assess, identify and evaluate troublesome symptoms experienced by patients in connection with cancer and cancer treatment
  • can help the patient to acquire new patterns of behaviour to compensate for illness, negative consequences of cancer treatment or late effects of treatment
  • can contribute to new ideas and innovation processes in clinical practice
  • can ensure continuity in the follow-up of cancer patients by means of written and oral documentation throughout the treatment chain
  • can document, evaluate and quality assure their own work

General competence

The student

• has action competence in the field of cancer nursing
• can analyse relevant academic, professional and research ethics issues in cancer nursing based on relevant discipline, research, experience and patient knowledge
• can communicate with professionals and the general public about relevant problems, analyses and conclusions in cancer nursing
• can cooperate with members of their own profession and across professions in patient treatment
• can contribute to new ideas and innovation processes in cancer nursing

Supervised practical training with adapted learning situations. Teaching methods such as written and oral assignments, group work and self-study are also used.

Shifts

Practical training normally requires 30 hours’ attendance at the practical training establishment and one study day per week. A normal practical training day lasts for 7.5 hours. The students must plan their attendance, and the schedule must be approved by the lecturer and practical training supervisor. The students should, as far as possible, follow the shifts of the nurse supervising them in order to experience good learning situations.

The following coursework requirements must be met before a student can receive an assessment for the course:

• Specification of learning outcomes for the course
• A written assignment, individually or in groups if more than one student is taking their training at the same ward, with oral presentation. Scope: up to 2,000 words. The syllabus selected by the student must be used.

The students receive oral feedback from their practical training supervisor and/or from the lecturer.

Assessment of practical training.

The assessments are based on the learning outcomes for the course, the student's specification of the learning outcomes and the formative assessment made of the student during the course.

Students’ practical training can only be assessed if their attendance is sufficiently high.

• Less than 10% absence: The student can complete the practical training course as normal.
• 10-20% absence: If possible, the student can make up for the practical training missed. This must be agreed with the practical training supervisor and the supervisor at the university.
• More than 20% absence: The student must retake the whole practical training course.

Not relevant.

Pass/fail.

Summative assessment by at least one representative from the practical training establishment. The final decision on whether to award a pass or fail grade is made by the university.

The course overlaps 100% with KREFTPRA2 Clinical Studies in Cancer Nursing 2.