MAHEL4200 The Health of th Family - Children 0-5 years Course description

Language of instruction: Norwegian

This course focuses on work with children in the age group 0-5 years and their caregivers at the population, group and individual level. The child’s development, family/caregivers and home, and other arenas that influence their childhood environment form an important part of the course. Relevant protection and risk factors related to children and their family/caregivers’ everyday lives are also addressed. The course emphasises resource-oriented and solution-oriented approaches. User participation and interdisciplinary cooperation are key components. Emphasis is also placed on key theories and methods that are essential in health promotion and disease prevention work, including pedagogical methods and health communication.

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 analyse and assess the public health nurse’s function, areas of responsibility and tasks in relation to young children and their families/caregivers at different levels
• can critically analyse and assess theories on young children’s physical, psychological, sexual and social development
• can critically assess the significance of protection and risk factors that influence on children’s development
• can describe key theoretical perspectives on attachment and interaction
• can describe the significance of following up children as next of kin in connection with crises, trauma and stressful circumstances
• can assess the significance of cooperation, and interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration for young children and their families/caregivers

Skills

The student

• can use relevant methods to independently map and assess children’s health, identify developmental abnormalities, illness and disabilities and implement measures where needed
• can assess children’s linguistic development and refer to other professionals as needed
• can identify, prevent and deter psychosocial strain in the children’s surroundings, including with regard to neglect, violence, sexual assault and substance abuse
• can identify and elucidate nutritional challenges and provide guidance on nutrition, breastfeeding and growth, and refer to other professionals as needed
• can use evidence-based methods to promote informed health choices, coping skills and quality of life among children and their families/caregivers
• can use relevant pedagogical methods and health communication when interacting with children and their families/caregivers
• can use knowledge of young children’s use of digital media to implement measures as needed

General competence

The student

• can analyse and apply knowledge-based methods in children’s health clinic work
• can analyse professional and ethical issues when interacting with children and their families/caregivers
• can analyse relevant professional issues in cooperation with health personnel and other professional groups, to contribute to appropriate health services for children and their families/caregivers
• can contribute to culturally sensitive approaches to children and their families/caregivers
• can contribute to creating a sense of security and trust when interacting with children and their families/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 or in groups), seminars, self-study and, where relevant, skills training.

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

• minimum attendance of 80 % in skills training, seminars and scheduled group work
• approved online breastfeeding course

Individual home exam over three days. Scope: up to 2,000 words.

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

Grade scale A-F.

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

10 ECTS credits overlap with HEL6210 Family health - children (0-5 years) for students graduated in 2016-2020.