MAHEL4300 The Health of the Family - School Children and Adolescents 6-20 Years Course description

Language of instruction: Norwegian

This course focuses on work with children and adolescents in the age group 6-20 years, particularly their physical, mental and social growth and development at the population, group and individual level. Emphasis is placed on protection and risk factors and what contributes to health and coping skills in the different arenas where they grow up.  

Resource and solution-oriented approaches are emphasised. User participation and interdisciplinary cooperation are important aspects of the course. Emphasis is also placed on relevant theories and methods, as well as teaching that is essential in health promotion and prevention work, including pedagogical methods and health communication. Students who pass the course are authorised to prescribe contraceptives.  

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 children, adolescents and their families/caregivers at different levels
• can discuss the significance of children and adolescents’ physical, psychological, sexual and social development and health
• can critically assess appropriate educational methods, health communication and relationship building aimed at children, adolescents and their families/caregivers
• can describe the significance of supporting children and adolescents as next of kin in connection with crises, trauma and stressful circumstances
• can assess knowledge on children and adolescents’ protection and risk factors
• can discuss the importance of inclusion and equality
• can describe the significance of cooperation, and interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration for children, adolescents and their families/caregivers
• can describe guidance of, ordering and administration of contraceptives, including long-acting reversible contraceptives

Skills 

The student

• can apply relevant methods of health promotion and preventive work at different levels, with children, adolescents and their families/caregivers
• can use relevant methods to independently assess children and adolescents’ physical and psychological health, identify developmental abnormalities, illness and disabilities and implement measures as needed
• can contribute to preventing, identifying and averting psychosocial stress in children and adolescents’ environments
• can provide guidance on nutrition and growth, and refer to other professionals as needed
• can use knowledge of children and adolescents’ use of digital arenas to be able to implement measures as needed
• can apply different forms of communication and pedagogical methods when interacting with children, adolescents, and their families/caregivers

General competence  

• can analyse and apply knowledge-based methods in the school health service and young people’s clinics
• can analyse and apply ethical principles to reflect on dilemmas in professional practice relating to children, adolescents and their families/caregivers
• can analyse professional issues and assess the need for measures, employ interdisciplinary methods and refer to other professionals as needed
• can contribute to a culturally sensitive approach to children, adolescents and their families/caregivers
• can contribute to a sense of security and trust when interacting with children, adolescents 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 and in groups), seminars, skills training and self-study. 

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
• compulsory attendance at teaching related to extended prescription rights for contraceptives for Health Nurses
• a written assignment of up to 1,500 words in groups of up to five students, with an oral presentation of the assignment

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 each exam papers. An external programme supervisor will evaluate the examination questions and examiner´s guide.

100% overlap with HEL6320 Family health - school children and adolescents (6-20 years) for students graduated in 2016-2020.