Advanced Programme in Nurse Anaesthesia Programme description

The Advanced Programme in Nurse Anaesthesia is based on the national curriculum for further education in nurse anaesthesia and the regulations relating to the national curriculum for further education in nurse anaesthesia adopted by the Ministry of Education and Research on 1 December 2005 and meets the requirements stipulated in these documents. The programme has a scope of 90 credits, and is taken as a full-time course of study over one and a half years. After completing the programme, the students will have action competence in the field of nurse anaesthesia; see the requirements set out in the national curriculum for further education in nurse anaesthesia with pertaining regulations.

Nurse anaesthesia

Nurse anaesthesia consists of practising nursing and anaesthesiology activities in connection with surgery, procedures and examinations and in acute situations in and outside a hospital setting. Nurse anaesthesia is a form of independent professional practice that takes place in close collaboration with other members of the healthcare team, in particular anaesthetists. The anaesthesiology activities are delegated by a doctor. Anaesthesiology work comprises general and regional anaesthesia and observing patients under e.g. sedation. Many of the patients are moved from a familiar environment into a hospital ward characterised by high-tech equipment, many personnel groups with clearly defined functions and a high degree of efficiency. The patient target group comprises people of all ages who:

• are admitted for planned surgery or examination
• have suffered an injury/accident
• suffer acute illness
• experience an acute exacerbation of a long-term illness
• are in a condition where their vital functions are threatened or failing
• end up in a state of physical, mental, social and/or existential crisis due to the illness they experience
• need pain relief due to acute and/or chronic illness

All these groups of patients can have additional diseases or conditions that also require the special expertise of a nurse anaesthetist.

Relevance to working life

The Advanced Programme in Nurse Anaesthesia is intended to help to cover society¿s increasing need for specialist nursing skills, primarily in the specialist health service, but also in the municipal health service.

Nurse anaesthetists are in high demand, as they are key personnel in the specialist health service when it comes to providing professionally sound healthcare to acutely and critically ill patients. The specialist health service seeks nurse anaesthetists who practise their profession in a sound manner and on a scientific basis. Today, we can treat many diseases and injuries that could not be treated in the past. Also, the patients admitted to somatic hospitals are sicker than they used to be. This development makes new and stricter requirements of nurse anaesthetists. Society requires intensive nurse anaesthetists to work in an evidence-based manner where their nursing practice is based on knowledge gained from research and experience, in addition to patient knowledge. Nurse anaesthetists shall be capable of analysing and taking a critical approach to existing theories and methods in advanced medical treatment and nurse anaesthesia. Moreover, they shall be able to contribute to new ideas and innovation processes in their own practice, and make independent use of relevant methods for quality-related work (professional development, quality assurance or quality control work) in the field of nurse anaesthesia. Nurse anaesthetists are qualified to take greater responsibility for evidence-based nurse anaesthesia in relation to acutely and/or critically ill patients in and outside a hospital setting.

In hospitals, nurse anaesthetists work in anaesthesia departments, surgical departments, postoperative units, accident and emergency departments, examination and treatment rooms, pain clinics and radiology departments. The nurse anaesthetist plays an important role in prehospital work, call-outs and transport of acutely and/or critically ill patients. Other potential workplaces are enterprises that require a high degree of emergency preparedness and the ability to work independently in acute situations, for example in offshore activities. Traditionally, nurse anaesthetists have also engaged in different forms of international aid work.

The municipal health service is also experiencing a growing need for specialist nursing skills. The Act relating to Municipal Health and Care Services, etc. (the Health and Care Services Act) has given the municipalities a greater role in the treatment of acute-onset illness, exacerbation of chronic illness and in follow-up care for patients whose hospital treatment is finished. Therefore, nurse anaesthetists will also be in demand in the municipal health service. The Norwegian Association of Nurse Anesthetists describes the special function and role of nurse anaesthetists in its code of ethics, standards of practice, monitoring and education for nurse anaesthetists (¿Grunnlagsdokument for anestesisykepleiere¿) (https://www.alnsf.no/alnsf/grunnlagsdokument).

After completing the Master¿s Programme in Nurse Anaesthesia, candidates will have action competence in the field of nurse anaesthesia, but will also be qualified to initiate and implement development projects and participate in research work within their own organisation. Candidates are qualified to take greater responsibility for evidence-based nurse anaesthesia in relation to acutely and/or critically ill patients in and outside a hospital setting.

Relevance to further studies

The Advanced Programme is identical to the first three semesters of the Master¿s Programme in Nurse Anaesthesia at OsloMet ¿ Oslo Metropolitan University. Students who complete the Advanced Programme in Intensive Care Nursing in accordance with this programme description, will only have to write the master¿s thesis to be awarded the degree of Master of Nurse Anaesthesia, provided that they meet the admission requirements for the master's degree programme.

Målgruppa for studiet er kandidater med bestått bachelor i idrett, friluftsliv og helse (180 studiepoeng) som kvalifiserer til å være faglærer i kroppsøving og idrettsfag.

Bestått bachelor – faglærerutdanning i kroppsøving og idrettsfag (180 studiepoeng) eller bachelor i idrett, friluftsliv og helse (180 studiepoeng) med valgretning faglærerutdanning i kroppsøving og idrettsfag.

Søkere med bachelor – faglærerutdanning i kroppsøving og idrettsfag eller bachelor i idrett, friluftsliv og helse fra OsloMet – storbyuniversitetet (tidligere Høgskolen i Oslo og Høgskolen i Oslo og Akershus) får 10 tilleggspoeng ved opptak. Hver kandidat kan kun tas opp én gang til studieprogrammet. Ønsker kandidater ytterligere fagbredde, må de søke opptak til ordinær videreutdanning på ordinære vilkår.

Etter fullført studium har kandidaten følgende læringsutbytte definert som kunnskap, ferdigheter og generell kompetanse:

Kunnskap

Kandidaten

• har kunnskap om fagspesifikke emner og temaer knyttet til innholdet i valgt fag
• har fagdidaktisk kunnskap til å gjøre overveielser knyttet til planlegging, undervisning og læring i valgt fag
• har kjennskap til læreplan for valgt fag, slik det framkommer i Læreplan for kunnskapsløftet 2020

Ferdigheter

Kandidaten

• har ferdigheter i utøvelse av fagspesifikke emner og temaer knyttet til valgt fag
• kan ut fra et bredt didaktisk grunnlag legge til rette for elevenes læring i valgt fag
• har ferdigheter i vurdering med og uten karakter i valgt fag
• har ferdigheter i å analysere læreplan for valgt fag

Generell kompetanse

Kandidaten

• kan arbeide selvstendig og sammen med andre for å identifisere, analysere og løse problemer knyttet til elevers læring og utvikling i valgt fag
• har innsikt i relevante fag- og yrkesetiske problemstillinger i valgt fag
• har god innsikt i relevante fag- og yrkesetiske problemstillinger

Studiets arbeids- og undervisningsformer framkommer i de enkelte fagenes emne- og fagplaner.

Arbeidskrav skal være levert/utført innen fastsatt(e) frist(er). Gyldig fravær dokumentert med for eksempel sykemelding, gir ikke fritak for å innfri arbeidskrav. Studenter som på grunn av sykdom eller annen dokumentert gyldig årsak ikke leverer/utfører arbeidskrav innen fristen, kan få forlenget frist. Ny frist for å innfri arbeidskrav avtales i hvert enkelt tilfelle med den aktuelle læreren.

Arbeidskrav vurderes til "Godkjent" eller "Ikke godkjent". Studenter som leverer/utfører arbeidskrav innen fristen, men som får vurderingen "Ikke godkjent", har anledning til maksimum to nye innleveringer/utførelser. Studenter må da selv avtale ny innlevering av det aktuelle arbeidskravet med faglærer.

Nærmere informasjon om arbeidskrav og undervisning med krav om deltakelse fremkommer i de enkelte fagenes emne- og fagplaner.

Veilednings- og vurderingsordningen skal tjene de verdier, det læringsutbytte, de emner og arbeidsformer som er sentrale innen det emnet den enkelte student følger undervisning i. Hovedformålet med vurdering og veiledning er å stimulere den faglige utviklingen hos den enkelte student og bidra til et læringsmiljø som er trygt, men samtidig utfordrende.

For nærmere informasjon om vurderings- og eksamensformer, sensorordninger og vurderingskriterier, se den enkelte emne- og eller fagplan.

Pensum

Pensum-/litteraturliste framkommer i OsloMet sitt pensumlistesystem (Leganto).

• Godkjent av studieutvalget 7. desember 2015.
• Redaksjonelle endringer foretatt 21. februar 2020.

Gjeldende fra vårsemesteret 2021

Required coursework is all types of work and tests that are conditions for being permitted to take the exam. In this programme, the required coursework comprises:

• written assignments
• documentation of literature selected by the student
• teaching/providing guidance to patients and/or fellow students
• specification of learning outcomes for clinical courses

The main purpose of coursework requirements is to promote the students¿ progress and academic development in the programme, stimulate students to seek out and acquire new knowledge, and facilitate cooperation and communication in relation to professional issues.

FeedbackThe students receive written and/or verbal feedback from the lecturer and/or fellow students on their written assignments based on the criteria of relevance, theoretical knowledge, in-depth study, ethical reflection, independence and how the assignment is presented (see Assessment of written work in the Assessment chapter of the programme description).

ApprovalRequired coursework is assessed as approved/not approved. Required coursework that is not approved must be improved before re-submission. If the work is not approved on re-submission, the student cannot take the ordinary exam. Students are entitled to a third attempt before the resit/rescheduled exam. If the third attempt at a coursework requirement is not approved, the student cannot take the resit/rescheduled exam and will have to wait until the ordinary exam for the following year. The student will then be entitled to three new attempts with the new class.

Students will encounter different forms of assessment during the programme. The forms of assessment are intended to ensure a continuous process towards a twofold objective: to promote learning and document the competence achieved by the students as sufficient in relation to the applicable learning outcomes. By giving the student qualified and frequent feedback in relation to both processes and products, the information about the competence achieved can motivate the student¿s further efforts and show whether the forms of learning should be adjusted.

Each course concludes with a summative assessment. The assessment is based on the learning outcomes for the course, and what is assessed is whether the student has achieved the stipulated learning outcomes.

The assessments are carried out in accordance with the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges, the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet, and the Guidelines for Appointment and Use of Examiners.

AssessmentThe 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 lowest pass grade and F is a fail. In connection with group exams, all students in the group are awarded the same grade.

Resits/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 a group exam, 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.

Assessment of written work

Written work, such as the required coursework and exam papers for AABIO6100 and ANEST6100 is assessed on the basis of the criteria of relevance, theoretical knowledge, in-depth study, ethical reflection, independence and how the work is presented.

Relevance:                                     

The work must have a frame of reference that is relevant to the discipline and show that the student has applied theoretical and practical knowledge of relevance to the issue at hand. It must be linked to the nurse anaesthetist's functions and areas of responsibility.

Theoretical knowledge:           

The work must demonstrate knowledge in the independent and delegated functions of the nurse anaesthetist nurse (medicine). It must contain relevant documentation from the course literature and other relevant literature and research.

In-depth study:                            

The student must elaborate on and discuss different factors that have an effect on the issue at hand and discuss how the knowledge produced can be applied in a clinical setting. Experience from practical work and literature should be used as a basis for discussing the assignment. The work must answer the issue in question.

Ethical reflection:                        

Ethical factors relating to the issue must be discussed.

Independence:                             

The work must demonstrate independent assessment, and its content must be objective, critical and analytical with discussions of positions and claims.

How the work is presented:  

The assignment must be well-organised with good written presentation, clear and unambiguous language with use of specialised terminology, and adhere to the prescribed structure and form.

Students are only entitled to feedback if their work is completed within the deadline stipulated.

Assessment of practical training

Students are subject to formativeassessment (continuous assessment) on a continuous basis throughout all the practical training courses. The assessment is intended to provide advice and guidance by determining progress, helping to improve strengths and drawing attention to areas the student needs to continue to work on. It should take account of the student's preconditions for learning, framework conditions at the practical training establishment, the learning outcomes in the course, the student¿s specification of the learning outcomes and the content of the supervision.

Both the student and the practical training supervisor shall prepare written assessments for each clinical course: 

• The practical training supervisor must submit written assessments of the student from days or periods of supervision.

Students are expected to show progress through the practical training courses. The student is expected to demonstrate clear progress, take responsibility and, to an increasing extent, demonstrate the ability to make independent analyses and assessments in nurse anaesthesia practice. The requirement for an increasing degree of independence is expressed in the learning outcomes through the use of the expressions ¿under supervision¿, ¿with some supervision¿ and ¿independently¿. The progress in the student¿s learning is also manifested in the expectation that students should master an increasing number of areas in nurse anaesthesia. On completion of the final practical training course, Clinical Studies in nurse anaesthesia, Level 3, the student is expected to have achieved nurse anaesthesia action competence.

The summative assessment (product assessment) takes place at the end of each practical training course. The assessments are based on the learning outcomes for the course, the student's specification of the learning outcomes and the formative assessment made of the student during the course. The purpose of these assessments is to:

• check that the student has achieved the learning outcomes for the course
• discuss the possibilities and limitations that the student has encountered at the practical training establishment
• clarify strengths and weaknesses and the changes that have to be made in order for the student to achieve the learning outcomes when a student has failed the course

The lecturer plans the assessments together with the practical training supervisor. The student writes his/her own assessment based on the programme¿s assessment form. This assessment, together with the assessments from the lecturer and the practical training supervisor, forms the basis for the decision on whether or not the student has passed the clinical course. Students who fail a period of practical training must retake the whole training period.

External programme supervisor

An external programme supervisor scheme exists for the programme. The duties of the external programme supervisor are to:

• supervise the standard of the results in the programme compared with the standard of the results in comparative programmes
• assess the connections between the programme description's learning outcomes, teaching and types of assessment
• give the academic environments/faculties feedback and advice that can be used in the ongoing work on programme quality.

The reading list totals approx. 6,000 pages, of which approx. 1,000 pages are chosen by the student. The syllabus selected by the students should be related to the in-depth assignment and the written assignments that make up the required coursework (1,000 pages).