SYKP1410B Diseases and Health Deficits Course description

Knowledge of pathology and treatment, including pharmacology, are a precondition for the nurse’s assessment, action and decision processes. In this course, the students will acquire knowledge of the most common diseases in medicine and surgery among children and adults. You must also acquire knowledge of pharmacology. This is a preparatory course leading up to SYKK/SYKPPRA20 Nursing Patients with Acute, Critical and Chronic Diseases 1, taken in the second year.

Admission to the programme.

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

Knowledge

The student

• can describe the most common diseases that might require medical or surgical treatment, with a focus on symptoms and signs, phases of illness and treatment in children and adults
• can describe the most common tests and examinations used to diagnose disease
• can describe different types of medication, administration methods, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
• can describe different reasons for variations in the response to drugs
• describing different groups of drugs for the most common internal medicine diseases and conditions requiring surgery, with emphasis on effects, possible side effects and interactions

Skills

The student

• can use reference works such as Felleskatalogen and Legemiddelhåndboka

General competence

The student

• can reflect on how knowledge of the most common diseases and causes of health deficits are key to the practice of nursing

Self-study, lecturers, workshop, digital learning activities,. The flipped classroom is used as a teaching method for part of the course.

The following must have been completed and approved in order for a student to take the exam:

• 80 % attendance of timetabled activity marked.
• Multiple-choice assignment, 60% of the answers must be correct.

Supervised individual written exam.

• 4 hours.

Admission to the programme.

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

Knowledge

The student

• explain normal ageing processes
• describe how people's needs change with age and in connection with health deficits
• describe people's reactions in the event of crises and loss
• describe how to address fundamental needs and dignity in patients with extensive needs
• is familiar with patient records and how to keep records as a nurse
• is familiar with the role of nurses and other relevant professions in the field of practice

Skills

The student

• can assess deficit in patients’ own care resources and observe, assess and implement appropriate measures to relieve complaints and compensate for personal care deficits
• can describe and implement person-centred nursing to take care of the fundamental needs and resources
• can apply and justify hygiene principles
• can document, under supervision, nursing in the unit’s documentation system
• can communicate with patients and next-of-kin about their experiences
• can reflect on ethical difficulty situations by applying the SME model (systematic model for ethical reflection)
• can describe symptoms and signs that death is imminent and reflecting on death as a phenomenon

General competence

The student

• can integrate knowledge from relevant subjects when discussing the nursing discipline, based on the steps in evidence-based practice (EBP)
• can apply professional ethical guidelines for nurses
• can communicate and interact with patients, next-of-kin and other service providers based on respect, co-determination and integrity
• can understand what it means to be in need of help and dependent on others
• can reflect on power and dependency in the relationship between nurse and patient
• can reflect on his/her own communication and behaviour when dealing with patients, staff and fellow students
• can demonstrate accuracy and reliability in the performance of work related to practice
• can take initiative and show responsibility in planning and carrying out own practice in meetings with patients, next-of-kin and colleagues

Practical training consists of both practical training, activities along the way and supervised practical training that takes place during the practical training period. The practical training period (7 weeks) in the municipal health service takes place preferably in a nursing home supervised by a practical training supervisor and contact teacher. Other practical training and activities (3 weeks) can be, simulation and skills training, lectures and seminars with a contact teacher where relevant topics based on the learning outcomes are highlighted.

Part 1 Assessment of practical training

For practical training, there is a requirement for 80% attendance in theory, activities and practical training that is marked compulsory in the timetable, as well as 90% attendance during the practical training period itself. The student fills in the self-assessment for the start of the practical training, the rotating schedule during the first week of practical training and the self-assessment form no later than two working days before the agreed mid- and final assessment. Other compulsory assignments included in the overall assessment of the course are:

• Individual written assignment, scope of 1,500 words (+/- 10%).

Part 2 Individual test - practical skills in nursing (modified OSCE test):

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

• 80 % attendance of timetabled activity marked compulsory.
• Inspirational practical training, one-week, compulsory attendance of 90 % of practical training. Focusing on the nurse’s role and responsibilities. Supervised preferably by third year students. (take place in the autumn semester).