MAHEL4100 Public Health Work on Population, Group and Individual Level Course description

Language of instruction: Norwegian

This course focuses on the public health nurse’s health promotion and preventive work with children, adolescents and their families/caregivers at the population, group and individual level. This takes place in the municipal health service, at children’s health clinics (0–5 years), in the school health service and youth health centres (6–20 years), as well as in environmental health care, infection control and in the refugee health service. This course is based on key theories and methods in public health science. The academic field's history and current place in society are key aspects. The course is based on health policy guidelines, framework conditions and legislation that are crucial to the public health nurse’s professional practice. Knowledge-based practice (research, empirical data, and user perspectives in equal proportions) are key aspects of the course.

Language of instruction: Norwegian

The relationship between mental healthcare workers, users/patients and next of kin is very important when promoting health and providing care to people with mental health complaints. Practising mental health care requires a high level of relational skills, including ethical awareness and professional expertise.

The purpose of the course is to give the students a practical introduction to and training in relational skills when interacting with people with mental health complaints. Students will take practical training that will provide a holistic understanding of the relationship between the framework conditions for service provision and the practice of mental health care. Two different forms of practical training form part of the course. The course concludes with the submission of an in-depth assignment with emphasis on user-related challenges and/or phenomena related to practical mental health care.

The clinical training will normally be carried out in places affiliated with OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University through cooperation agreements. The student may apply to complete the clinical training elsewhere. If the application is granted, the students is responsible for covering any expenses relating to this. The clinical training cannot be completed in the students' own workplace, i.e. the student's own unit, ward or similar.

The whole course is taken together with students from the Advanced Programme in Mental Health Care. For further details, see the program plan in Advanced Programme in Mental Health Care.

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 analyse and critically assess key theoretical perspectives in health promotion and preventive work at the population, group and individual level
• can critically reflect on how variation in health literacy affects user groups’ coping skills, and how they understand, assess and use health information
• can explain the public health nurse's role in society
• can describe administrative levels and decision-making processes in society that are of relevance to professional practice and cross-sector public health work
• can critically assess the significance of different cultures for health promotion and preventive work
• can describe the rights of ethnic groups and indigenous peoples
• can discuss ethics in relation to inclusion and equality

Skills

The student

• can use a knowledge-based approach in systematic public health work
• can perform health promotion and preventive work with children, adolescents and their families, including in the refugee health service
• can plan, manage and develop the municipal public health nursing services in accordance with laws, regulations, framework conditions and local conditions
• can identify the need for, assess, initiate and carry out infection control work, including the Childhood Immunisation Programme

General competence

• can contribute to understanding and respect for people’s situations and conditions that affect their life choices, development and health
• can assess, communicate knowledge and demonstrate skills relating to the special needs of indigenous people, migrants and minorities, and take a culturally sensitive approach in their work
• can reflect on ethical dilemmas in the field of practice based on various ethical principles and theories
• can implement measures that help to reduce social health inequalities
• can analyse and critically assess key theoretical perspectives in epidemiology

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.

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 understand human reactions after challenging life experiences and crises, and the significance of these based on recognised mental health care theory
• can described the user/patient and next of kin’s legal rights, and health personnel and the health service’s obligations
• can apply relational and care theory to analyse how attitudes and communication affect relationships and care
• can explain existential dimensions related to hope and meaning in mental health care 

Skills

The student

• can apply relational knowledge to see things in light of the user/patient and next of kin’s life situation
• can facilitate targeted communication and cooperation with users/patients and next of kin
• can analyse the connection between treatment models and work methods to promote the mental health of users/patients
• can assess and discuss professional, legal and ethical aspects with users/patients, next of kin and their collaborative partners

General competence

The student

• can actively contribute to patient-oriented mental health care adapted to the individual, regardless of background, culture and nationality
• can support, guide and cooperate with users/patients and next of kin to enable targeted promotion of health and quality of life
• can analyse and adjust their own professional practice based on their preconceptions and new knowledge
• can contribute to expanding knowledge, insight and openness to promote mental health
• can actively contribute to more openness and less stigma associated with mental health complaints

The course will use varied, student-active work methods. Work and teaching methods comprise project-oriented training, supervised practical training with adapted learning situations, simulation, written and oral assignments and self-study.

The project-oriented training lasts approximately three weeks and will focus on the organisation of the mental health services from an improvement perspective. Students will work on the topic by completing a project in which they obtain knowledge and experience from a professional practitioner in a relevant field of practice.

Practical training, where the student develops professional skills and relational competence. Practical training runs over eight 30-hour weeks, with 240 hours in total.

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

• presentation based on project-oriented practical training (individual or in groups). Scope of about 30 minutes with an opponent 
• individual reflection note from practical training. Scope: 700 words (+/- 10%).

Grade scale A-F.

Two internal examiners will assess all exam papers. An external supervision sensor assesses the exam assignment and the sensor instructions.

Part 1) Not relevant.

Part 2) All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.