Communication for leadership and interaction Programme description

The content and structure of the study programme (see below) are based on the following six competency areas defined in Section 3 of the Regulations on National Guidelines for Paramedic Science Education:

• Paramedic profession, ethics and health law
• Health, illness and injuries
• Operational ambulance work and emergency preparedness
• Communication, cooperation and decision-making
• Evidence-based practice, innovation and technology
• Quality, management and patient safety

The programme is divided into 11 compulsory courses and incorporates both practical and theoretical teaching at the university and clinical training in the health service. Each year of the programme has a scope of 60 credits.

The bachelor’s degree in paramedic science is comprised by basic medical sciences, clinical subjects and ambulance operative subjects. Skills training, simulation and periods of clinical practice placement are integrated parts of the programme and are to ensure that the learning outcomes are achieved. There should be progress in the student’s knowledge and skills over the course of the study programme. The courses build on each other with gradual progress both in terms of theoretical and practical knowledge to achieve the required skills and independence.

The first year of study is divided into four courses. In the first semester, the students are introduced to the paramedic profession, among other things by focusing on the topics patient safety, culture, law and ethics. The students are then given a general introduction into the basic medical sciences. The second semester comprises the course Assessment and Treatment of Sick and Injured Patients (Part 1), which focuses on introductory knowledge about emergency medicine and traumatology.

The second year of study includes three courses. In the third semester, the students have their first period of clinical practice placement in the ambulance service. In the fourth semester, the focus is on operational work at the accident scene and on mental health, challenging communication, substance abuse and prevention of conflict escalation.

The third year of study comprises four topics. The fifth semester starts with clinical practice placement in the primary and specialist health services, after which the students start working on their bachelor’s thesis. Work on the thesis continues at the beginning of the sixth semester. After the bachelor’s thesis comes the course Assessment and Treatment of Sick and Injured Patients (Part 2), focusing on issues relating to complex and challenging emergency medical treatment and patient groups with special needs. In the final course of the programme, the students have their second period of clinical practice in the ambulance service.

All courses conclude with a final assessment.

The academic year is 40 weeks long, and the expected workload is 40 hours per week. The number of hours includes both organised teaching as stated in the timetable, students’ self-study, coursework requirements and exams.

INTERACT - Interprofessional Teaching Programme Shared with Other Professional Education Programmes at OsloMet

INTERACT (Interprofessional Interaction with Children and Youth - INTER1100, INTER1200, and INTER1300) is an interprofessional teaching programme at OsloMet, where students from both health and social sciences and teacher/early childhood education programmes meet in interprofessional groups. The aim is to ensure that students gain the competence to meet society’s demands for better coordination of services affecting children and youth. The teaching programme is based on pedagogical principles of interactivity and spiral learning, with extensive use of digital learning and assessment tools to support learning. The teaching programme is conducted at the beginning of January each academic year. For more information, see: https://www.oslomet.no/forskning/forskningsprosjekter/interact

Participation in INTERACT (INTER1100, INTER1200, and INTER1300) is required and must be approved to be awarded a diploma.

Study progress

The following progress requirements apply to the programme:

• Students must have passed the first year of the programme before they can start the second year*
• First and second-year students must have passed the second year of the programme before they can start the third year.

* Exception from the progress requirement:

• The drug calculations exam in the course PMED1300 Pharmacology and Drug Calculations is exempt from the progression requirement but must be passed before the student can can start the third year.