SYKPPRA60B Nursing for Patients with Complex Health Challenges Course description

In this course, nursing of patients in the context of care and rehabilitation is a key area. The course covers the nursing of patients with complex health challenges on short-term or long-term stays in different institutions. Students will gain experience of communicating and interacting with patients and next-of-kin related to long-term health challenges. Mapping of loss of function, challenges related to key patient phenomena and cognitive deficits will be part of the course. Emphasis is also placed on attention to the patients’ background as a basis for nursing. Management, organisational competence, ethics and work on the nurse's pedagogical function are also included.

Passed course:

• SYKP/SYKP1000 Theoretical Foundations of Nursing, 13 credits

• SYKK/SYKP1100 Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, 12 credits

• SYKK/SYKP1200 Microbiology and Infection Control, 5 credits

• SYKK/SYKP1300 Pharmacology and Drug Administration, 5 credits

• SYKK/SYKP1400 Diseases and Health Deficits, 10 credits

• SYKK/SYKPPRA10 The Fundamentals of Nursing, 15 credits

• SYKK/SYKPPRA20 Nursing Patients with Acute, Critical and Chronic Diseases, 20 credits

• SYKK/SYKPPRA30K Decision-making in Nursing and Patient Safety, 10 credits

or equivalent

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge The student is capable of

• explaining dementia and other age-related diseases and treatment

• assessing the patient’s existential needs, and central phenomena such as loneliness, meaning, faith and reconciliation

• explaining what promotes and impedes well-being and a sense of belonging in the event of long-term health deficits

• discussing how the nurse can contribute to health promotion and maintain the physical and cognitive function and resources of the individual patient

• stating the grounds for how health and social care policy can set the guidelines for quality development in the municipal health service

Skills The student is capable of

• observing, assessing and making clinical decisions in complex nursing and treatment processes, and documenting the patient’s situation and needs for nursing in the patient records in a concise and structured manner

• identifying patients’ health resources and – in cooperation with relevant resource persons – developing targeted measures to improve the patient’s functional level, active participation and quality of life

• observing effects, side effects and interactions of polypharmacy

• reflecting on the meaning of good care pathways for elderly people and chronically ill patients and how these can contribute to ensuring a coordinated, holistic and cohesive service

• using knowledge of dementia and patient-centred nursing when encountering challenging behaviours

• carrying out prioritised patient safety measures and discussing how this is exhibited in the nursing and care services

• leading, delegating and following up work tasks, and guiding colleagues in a team

• applying knowledge about learning, mastering and change processes in counselling and teaching of the patient’s next-of-kin, students and relevant personnel

Competence The student is capable of

• reflecting on patient-centred nursing in complex and complicated conditions, and planning and carrying out targeted cooperation processes with patients, next-of-kin and other practitioners

• reflecting on different ways of organising and leading the nursing services and how this impacts on the quality of the services

• reflecting on what can prevent and resolve conflicts

• identifying and reflecting on relevant ethical issues and dilemmas at the individual, group and society level

• reflecting on the significance of social relations and the role the patient’s next-of-kin have in nursing homes and/or residential care homes

Practical training over the course of nine weeks in the municipal health service, including self-studies, lectures, digital learning resources and theme-based seminars with presentations.

The following must have been approved in order for the student to take part 2 of the exam:

• Supervision, planning and carrying out supervision for a group of first year students in cooperation with the practical training supervisor and contact lecturer (inspiration practical training).

• Academic in-depth assignment, on the topic of management and quality development. Groups of 3–4 students. An academic question is formulated based on the course’s learning outcomes. Methods for systematic improvement work are applied. Main findings are presented in a written summary of 1,500 words (+/- 10%). Oral presentation for fellow students, colleagues and the lecturer. Feedback from fellow students based on given criteria is part of the assessment of the required coursework.

Combined assessment and exam

Part 1 Assessment of practical training.

The assessment takes its point of departure in given criteria based on learning outcomes for the course, the continuous assessment and compulsory activities carried out by the student throughout the practical training. Students’ clinical training can only be assessed if their attendance is sufficiently high (90%). For more information, see the general part of the programme description about assessment in practice.

Part 2 Supervised individual written exam

• Four hours

Part 1 and part 2 can be taken independently of each other. The student must have obtained a pass on both parts in order to pass the course as a whole and earn the credits.

Part 2 One A4 sheet of paper with the student’s own notes on both sides. The notes can be written by hand or on a computer, but must not include copies/photos from books/literature.

Part 1 Pass/fail. Part 2 Grade scale A–F.

Grade scale stated on diploma.

Part 1 Contact lecturer approves grade after recommendation from practical training supervisor. The final decision on whether to award a pass or fail grade is made by the university. Part 2 Two examiners assess the exams. At least 10% of the exam papers will be assessed by an external examiner. The external examiner’s assessment shall benefit all students.

SYKKPRA60 and SYKPRA60 overlap 100 %.