MAKLI4100 Clinical Research and Professional Development in Nursing Course description

Language of instruction: Norwegian

In this course, the students will acquire knowledge and competence in clinical research and professional development, including in the critical assessment of nursing practice. Key areas of nursing research will be elucidated and the consequences of different concepts and forms of knowledge analysed on the basis of clinical practice. The relationship between theory and empirical data will be explored and discussed by examining different positions in science and research.

Students will acquire knowledge of the main approaches to evidence-based practice, and the relationship between clinical experience, user participation and research will be discussed. The student is expected to develop competence that enables them to perform independent and thorough literature searches on the basis of relevant topics. Critical assessment of sources and academic writing and argumentation are also emphasised in the course.

 The course also addresses educational and organisational challenges relating to the implementation of new practices on the basis of research and professional development. This includes highlighting key functions such as supervising and teaching colleagues and students, as well as initiating and leading professional change processes.

The student must have been admitted to the Master’s Programme in Health Sciences and hold authorisation as a general nurse.

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 describe nursing as a profession and a science
• can critically assess different views of knowledge and the importance of contextual relationships for research and professional development
• can analyse evidence-based practice and the values and perspectives on which such practice is based

Skills

The student

• can perform systematic literature searches, critically assess available knowledge and use findings to analyse clinical issues
• can analyse and take a critical approach to various sources of knowledge and use the sources in academic argumentation
• can use knowledge of educational approaches in supervision and dissemination

General competence

The student

• can initiate, participate in and conduct change and development work
• can create engagement in order to initiate research and professional development
• can analyse and critically reflect on issues relating to the field of nursing
• can communicate with colleagues and the general public about problems, argumentation and conclusions relating to the field of nursing

The course will use varied, student-active work methods. Work and teaching methods include lectures, group work, seminars with presentations of assignments and self-study.

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

• Written assignment with oral presentation.   Carried out in groups of three to four students. Scope: 2,500 words (+/- 10%). Documentation of literature selected by the student: 200 pages. Oral presentation of the assignment to fellow students and lecturer(s). Peer assessment and feedback from the lecturer.

Individual home examination over three days. Scope: 2,500 words (+/- 10%). 

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

Grade scale A-F.

All examination papers are assessed by two examiners. At least 20% of the examination papers will be assessed by an external examiner. The external examiner’s assessment should benefit all students.

The course overlaps 100% with MASYK/D4000 Clinical Research and Professional Development.