Supplementary education for nurses educated outside the EU/EEC Programme description

In 2017, OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University, on assignment from the Ministry of Education and Research, developed a complementary education programme for persons with a refugee background who have an education in nursing from a country outside the EU/EEA.

Nurses without refugee backgrounds can also be accepted to the programme if there are vacant places. The students must have a decision from the Directorate of Health stating that they must complete the programme in order for their education to be deemed equal to Norwegian nursing education. The program contains all additional requirements that are required for authorization as a nurse. https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2016-12-19-1732

The complementary education is intended to compensate for these shortcomings so that those who have taken a nursing education can be granted authorisation and thereby use their expertise and find work faster.

This programme description is based on the National Curriculum for Nursing Education (2008) and is intended as a framework that other universities and university colleges can use in order to offer complementary nursing education.

When developing the programme description, we reviewed what was available of education documents from relevant countries outside the EU/EEA. We have seen that the subjects included in the national curriculum's main topic 1 - the nurse's technical and scientific basis, and main topic 4 - the nurse's social sciences basis, stand out as being inadequate in relation to Norwegian nursing education. We also see that practices in care services for the elderly, home nursing and mental health are inadequate as regards both scope and content.

The programme description consists of courses that we deem necessary for persons who have taken their education outside the EU/EEA in order to bring their education on a par with the Norwegian education. Organisation, learning outcomes, work and teaching methods, coursework requirements, assessments and literature in the courses can be adapted to suit courses that are already run at the universities/university colleges in Norway.

All teaching, coursework and assessments will be in Norwegian.

Målgruppen for studiet er primært for personer med fluktbakgrunn med oppholdstillatelse og som har sykepleierutdanning fra land utenfor EU og EØS. Studiet vil også kunne være aktuelt for sykepleiere uten fluktbakgrunn, med utdanning fra land utenfor EU/EØS, dersom det er ledige studieplasser. Målgruppen må ha fått avslag på sin søknad om norsk autorisasjon i sitt vedtak fra Helsedirektoratet og fått beskjed om å gjennomføre kompletterende utdanning for sykepleierutdanning, som en del av et kvalifiseringstiltak for å kunne få norsk autorisasjon.

Admission requirements:

• Administrative decision from the Directorate of Health dated after 1 June 2015 stating that complementary education must be taken in order to achieve a corresponding nursing education as a measure towards being granted authorisation as a nurse in Norway.

• Meet Norwegian language requirements (B2) as stipulated in the Regulations concerning Admission to Higher Education

http://www.samordnaopptak.no/info/utenlandsk_utdanning/sprakkrav/krav-til-norsk-og-engelsk-for_hoyere_utdannning/index.html

In the event of competition for places on the programme, applicants with documented refugee backgrounds from outside the EU/EEA area will be given priority. Applicants are then ranked in accordance with the provisions set out in the Regulations relating to Admission to Studies at the university.

Applicants who are admitted to the programme must submit a transcript of police records, cf. the Regulations concerning Admission to Higher Education Chapter 6.

The use of clothing that covers the face is incompatible with taking the programme. During the programme's periods of clinical training, the students must comply with the clothing regulations in force at all times at the establishment where their practical training is taking place.

Students taking the programme have taken nursing education at a higher level in a country outside the EU/EEA. The Directorate of Health considers what learning outcomes applicants need to complete in order to reach the Norwegian nursing education standard. This assessment forms the basis of admission qualification.

After completing and passing the complementary education for nurses who have completed an education outside the EU/EEA, the candidate is expected to have achieved the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge:

The student has knowledge of

• the importance of science and history to general nursing knowledge
• discipline criticism and research ethics
• various methods of collecting and processing data
• ethical theory and different views on values, perspectives on humanity and philosophies of life
• professional ethical values and principles
• communication between professionals and users
• intercultural communication
• the health and social welfare sector and decision-making processes at the municipal, regional and national levels, health and socio-political priorities and the relationship between public and private healthcare
• laws, regulations and agreements that regulate matters that fall under the health and social welfare sector, case processing and funding of services
• cultural diversity in the Norwegian health services
• drug administration
• disorders and illnesses relating to different groups of patients in different contexts

Skills:

The student is capable of

• using knowledge of ethical dilemmas to practise ethical reflection
• applying interdisciplinary cooperation and communication in groups and organisations, including patients, next of kin and employees from other cultures
• reading research reports and making use of research results in professional practice
• observing, assessing, planning, conducting, evaluating and documenting the provision of care to patients and next of kin
• responsible drug administration
• informing, teaching and providing guidance to patients and next of kin about problems that arise in connection with illness, suffering and death
• teaching and providing guidance to colleagues and students
• reflecting on how legislation is applied in the health services

The programme is taken as a full-time course of study over one year. The first theory course 'The Profession of Nursing and Social Science' must be taken first. The order of the other courses can be changed according to which clinical training places are available.

The students are placed in a separate class but will be taught and take some of the courses together with the other students where appropriate. This applies particularly to the courses 'Drug Calculations', 'Clinical Studies, Mental Health and Substance-Related Disorders' and the Bachelor's Thesis, which overlap 100% with the courses taken on the Nursing Programme at Pilestredet campus.

The students will also receive follow-up and supervision throughout the year in connection with the courses.

The course SKOMP2110/SYBA2110 Drug Calculations, 1 credit, is equivalent and affiliated to the bachelor's programme in nursing at OsloMet. It is also possible for the students to take other courses from the bachelor's programme if the decision from the Directorate of Health provides more specific guidelines as to what must be complemented to be granted Norwegian authorisation as a nurse. This will in such case be considered on an individual basis after admission.

Lectures

Lectures are primarily used to introduce new subject matter, give an overview and highlight main elements and links between different topics, and also to communicate relevant issues.

Written assignments

Through written assignments, students will learn discipline knowledge and develop skills in using and referencing sources, analysis, discussion and written communication. The primary purpose of this is to develop their ability to critically reflect, see elements of nursing in context and develop a deeper understanding of a topic. Written assignments are prepared individually or in groups. The written assignments are often designed as a case and the students will apply theoretical subject matter to practical nursing issues.

Group work/Study group

Group work is used as a teaching method to encourage cooperation between students, support the learning of subject matter and provide training in cooperation and interaction skills. In the groups, students will discuss each other's contributions and share knowledge and perspectives.

Supervision

The purpose of supervision is to improve the student¿s learning process. Supervision can be given before, during and/or after an academic work. The supervision is rooted in the individual student¿s need for advice, clarification and academic discussion. The students will also receive follow-up and supervision throughout the year in connection with the courses. Supervision can take place individually or in groups.

Workshops

Workshops are a work method where small groups of students work together on given assignments on a specific topic. The lecturer also attends. The results are presented to fellow students.

Seminars The purpose of seminars is to stimulate each other¿s learning processes and clarify the students¿ own understanding of the discipline through analysis, critical assessment and presentation of subject matter. Small groups of students, or individual students, present a topic for discussion to a bigger group of students and the lecturer. The students are responsible for leading and running the seminar together with the lecturer, and for delegating responsibility for presenting the subject matter, and acting as opponents and observers.

Self-study

The students' own activities outside formal teaching activities are an important part of their study effort throughout the programme. These activities normally take the form of individual work, but also include cooperation with fellow students, either online and/or by meetings in person.

Methods include preparation for and follow-up of lectures, reading the literature on the reading list and other relevant literature, using different forms of E-learning resources, assignments, blog posts, discussion forums or other websites, practising practical skills etc.

Students will need their own computer tools and internet access. E-learning tools are used for communication, information, knowledge acquisition, knowledge development and assignment submissions.

Simulation and skills

The simulation and proficiency unit (SF unit) aims to enable students in the nursing profession to learn and train different skills and procedures to be prepared to meet practice - both as a student and as a fully qualified nurse. To achieve this goal, it is important that you as a student follow the regulations that apply to the unit.

Students are expected to prepare ahead of each clinical training period. In preparation for each period, teaching sessions will be held at the university. The preparatory theory for this group of students in particular will emphasise:

• Communication in clinical training with patients, next of kin and colleagues

• Training and supervision at the university¿s simulation and skills centre

• How the learning outcomes for the clinical training can be specified

Supervision Clinical training is supervised. This means that a supervisor from the university follows up the student throughout their clinical training in cooperation with a supervisor from the professional field.

Specification of learning outcomes In the course of the first few weeks of each clinical training period, the students must specify the learning outcomes for the clinical training period/course in relation to their own preconditions for learning and the framework at the clinical training establishment in question. This must be approved by the clinical training supervisor and supervisor at the university. These learning outcome descriptions must be concrete, relevant, realistic and measurable.

Written assignments and logs During the course of the clinical training period, the students must write two assignments, as well as logs or equivalent methods of reflecting on their clinical training. The assignments and logs are submitted in the electronic learning platform to the supervisor at the university and form the basis for supervision meetings. The students will receive written or oral feedback. The assignments and logs are an integrated part of clinical training and form part of the assessment of the student¿s knowledge/competence.

Shifts Attendance at clinical training totals an average of 30 hours a week. Shifts are to be planned for these periods. Study days must be evenly distributed over the course of the clinical training period. Depending on the clinical training establishment and period, the student should do shifts during the day, evening, night and weekend during the period, and he/she should primarily follow the clinical training supervisor's shift arrangements, where possible. The shift plan functions as a contract and cannot be changed without the approval of the supervisor at the university and the clinical training supervisor.

Compulsory attendance and absence from clinical training

Students' clinical training can only be assessed if their attendance is sufficiently high. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that their absence from clinical courses does not exceed the permitted amount. The rules are as follows:

• Less than 10% absence: The student can complete the clinical course as normal.

• 10 - 20%: If possible, the student can make up for the clinical training missed. This must be agreed with the clinical training supervisor and the supervisor at the university.

• More than 20% absence: The student must re-take the whole clinical training course.

Illness during clinical training periods If students fall ill and their absence from a clinical course exceeds 20%, a medical certificate is required for all days of absence in excess of 10%. The absence will then be deemed to be valid, and the student will have to re-take the clinical course in its entirety. This will lead to delayed progress in the programme.

Absence without a valid reason If the student does not have a valid reason for absence, the clinical course will be registered as failed and count as an attempt. Students who fail a practical course twice will normally have to leave the programme.

Coursework requirements are all types of work/activities/compulsory attendance that are conditions for being permitted to take the exam. The course descriptions specify which coursework requirements apply to each course. The deadline for submitting coursework is set by the person responsible for the course or lecturer.

The purpose of the coursework requirements is to:

• promote progress and academic development in the programme
• encourage students to seek out and acquire new knowledge
• facilitate cooperation and communication on nursing issues

Coursework requirements and compulsory activities in clinical training

All clinical training have different mandatory activities and tasks in the implementation. See chapter on Clinical training. In some clinical courses, there may also be requirements for work requirements and activities that must be approved before a final assessment of the subject can be made.

Assessment of coursework requirements

The required coursework is assessed as approved/not approved by the person responsible for the course/lecturer. Fellow students can also participate in providing feedback on some of the coursework.

Validity of required coursework

If more than one academic year passes between when a student¿s required coursework is approved and the exam in the course in question, the faculty can require the student to retake the coursework before being permitted to take the exam.

Not approved coursework

Normally, students are given three attempts to have coursework approved. If a piece of required coursework is not approved, this may lead to delayed progress in the programme.

As far as possible, the second attempt will be given before the ordinary exam, unless otherwise stated in the course description. The student must agree with the person responsible for the course/lecturer in each individual case.

If a second attempt is impossible due to the nature of the coursework requirements (e.g. attendance requirements or taking a first aid course that is only held once), the person responsible for the course/lecturer will consider whether alternative coursework can be set.

Such alternative work has in the past been set in the form of a written assignment, a video recording or similar to demonstrate that the student possesses the knowledge specified in the coursework requirement.

A third and final attempt is normally given before resit and rescheduled exams.

Valid absence documented by e.g. a medical certificate does not exempt students from meeting the coursework requirements.

The assessments are carried out in accordance with the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges, the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations, and the guidelines for appointment and use of examiners at the university.

Course SKOMP2110/SYBA2110 Drug calculations, 1 credit, taken from the bachelor's programme in nursing.

Exam papers and coursework must be written in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language.

Assessment The grades used are pass/fail or a grade scale with letter grades from A to F, where A is the highest grade, E is the poorest pass grade and F is a fail. In connection with group exams, all students in the group are awarded the same grade.

Transcript of grades

All grades will be included in the transcript of grades. An overall grade will not be awarded. The test in practical skills in nursing must be passed in order to pass the education of 61 credits.

Resit and rescheduled exams Resit and rescheduled exams are carried out in the same manner as the ordinary exam unless otherwise specified in the course description. In special cases, resit and rescheduled exams in courses with group exams may be held as individual exams.

Appeals against grades Grades awarded for written exams can be appealed. It is not possible to appeal the grades awarded for oral and practical exams. In connection with group exams, the result of an appeal will only have consequences for the candidate(s) who submitted the appeal. The other students will keep their original grade.

Suitability assessment Suitability assessments of all students are carried out on a continuous basis throughout the study programme. A suitability assessment is a comprehensive assessment of the student¿s academic and personal qualifications for work as a healthcare or social worker. A student who represents a potential threat to the life, physical or mental health, rights and security of patients is not suited to the profession. Students who are deemed unsuitable for the profession will be excluded from the programme.

Approved by the Academic Affairs Committee at the Faculty of Health Sciences

15 January 2017

Last amended by the Vice-Dean on 23. January 2019