Advanced Programme in Theatre Nursing Programme description

The Advanced Programme in Theatre Nursing is based on the national curriculum for further education in theatre nursing and the regulations relating to the national curriculum for further education in theatre nursing 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 theatre nursing; see the requirements set out in the national curriculum for further education in theatre nursing with pertaining regulations.

About theatre nursingTheatre nursing is special expertise in nursing acutely and/or critically ill patients undergoing surgical examination and/or treatment. The theatre nurse plays an important role in the work of organising and coordinating surgical activities, attending to the patient¿s nursing needs and taking part in surgical examinations and/or treatment. The goal of theatre nursing is to fulfil the patient's basic needs through preventive, therapeutic, pain and stress relief and habilitation/rehabilitation measures.

Theatre nursing consists of providing healthcare for acutely and/or critically ill patients of all ages undergoing surgical examination and/or treatment. This will be patients who:

• are admitted for planned surgical examination and/or treatment
• have suffered an injury/accident
• suffer acute onset of illness
• experience an acute exacerbation of a long-term illness
• have chronic conditions/diseases, and where surgical examination and/or treatment will temporarily put them in an acute and/or critical condition

The target group for theatre nursing includes patient's next of kin.

Relevance to working lifeThe Advanced Programme in Theatre Nursing 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.

Theatre nurses 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 theatre nurses 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 theatre nurses. Society requires theatre nurses 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. Theatre nurses shall be capable of analysing and taking a critical approach to existing theories and methods in advanced medical treatment and theatre nursing. 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 theatre nursing. Theatre nurses are qualified to take greater responsibility for evidence-based theatre nursing of acutely and/or critically ill patients in and outside a hospital setting.

Most theatre nurses work in surgical hospital departments, day surgery units/surgical outpatient clinics, accident and emergency departments, municipal emergency medical services, emergency response teams, central sterile services departments, offshore and in war and disaster areas.

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, theatre nurses will also be in demand in the municipal health service.

The Master's programme in Universal Design of ICT (MAUU) aims to meet the growing need of society for knowledge and expertise in universal design of ICT solutions such as web and mobile applications, e-services, e-commerce and self-service machines. With an emerging e-society, it is becoming essential that all electronic information and services are accessible for all, regardless of the device, the situation, or the abilities of the user.

In Norway and many other countries, it is becoming a legal requirement that ICT solutions can be used by as many people as possible, including people with disabilities, so that all citizens can take an active part in social activities, education and employment. This poses great challenges for competent ICT professionals and society's ICT infrastructure and services. This Master's Programme provides a specialisation in Universal Design of ICT, which goes beyond the current Bachelor programmes in engineering, including electronics, computer science, information science and applied computer technology.

The full time Master's programme is intensive. Combining the full time Master's programme with other courses or employment is not recommended.

The Master's programme targets individuals who wish to qualify as specialists in universal design of ICT solutions. It is relevant for those with competences in human-computer interaction, as well as interaction designers, software engineers, related professionals in public sectors, non-profit organizations and private sectors, and those who are interested in further studies at doctoral level.

After completing the Advanced Programme in Theatre Nursing, the student is expected to have achieved the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

The candidate

• has advanced knowledge within a theatre nurse¿s functions and areas of responsibility
• has in-depth knowledge about surgical examination and/or treatment of acutely and/or critically ill patients
• has advanced knowledge of infection medicine
• has knowledge of scientific theory and research methods
• has in-depth knowledge of the experiences, reactions and needs of patients and next of kin in connection with acute and/or critical illness in an age-related and multicultural perspective
• is capable of analysing problems relating to theatre nursing on the basis of the discipline¿s history, traditions, distinctive nature and place in society

Skills

The candidate

• is capable of analysing and taking a critical approach to different sources of information and using them to structure and formulate theatre nursing argumentation
• is capable of analysing and taking a critical approach to existing theories and methods in advanced medical treatment and theatre nursing
• is capable of preventing complications in connection with acute and/or critical illness, advanced medical treatment and theatre nursing
• is capable of carrying out infection prevention work relating to patients, the environment, equipment and personal hygiene
• is capable of checking and using medical equipment in a correct and sound manner
• is capable of reducing stress, pain and discomfort in connection with surgical treatment and/or examinations and theatre nursing
• is capable of applying pedagogical and subject didactics principles when informing, teaching and providing guidance to patients and caregivers from different cultures, as well as to colleagues and other members of the healthcare team
• is capable of independent work on practical and theoretical problem-solving relating to the theatre nurse¿s functions and areas of responsibility
• is capable of practising theatre nursing in accordance with ethical principles and healthcare legislation

Competence

The candidate

• has action competence in the field of theatre nursing
• is capable of carrying out wholly or partly compensatory theatre nursing in the event of serious self-care deficits in relation to a patient's fundamental needs
• is capable of analysing relevant ethical issues in theatre nursing based on relevant discipline knowledge, research, experience and patient knowledge
• is capable of applying his/her knowledge and skills to new fields to carry out advanced tasks and projects in theatre nursing
• is capable of communicating extensive independent work and masters the forms of expression used in theatre nursing
• is capable of communicating about issues, analyses and conclusions in theatre nursing, both with specialists and the general public
• is capable of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary cooperation in patient treatment
• is capable of contributing to new ideas and innovation processes in his/her own professional practice

The two-year programme consists of 120 ECTS credits.

• 50 ECTS compulsory courses
• 10 ECTS advanced and elective courses
• 60 ECTS Master's Thesis

The following table shows the overall structure of the full-time programme:

Semester 1

MAUU4100 Academic Writing, 10 ECTS

MAUU4200 User Diversity and ICT Barriers, 10 ECTS

MAUU4300 Universal Design of Interactive Systems, 10 ECTS

Semester 2

MAUU4400 Research Methods and Research Ethics, 10 ECTS

MAUU4500 Interaction Styles and Technologies for Accessibility, 10 ECTS

MAUU5910 Master's Thesis Project phase I

Semester 3

Elective course, see course descriptions (1) MAUU5010 / MAUU5020 / MAUU5030, 10 ECTS

MAUU5920 Master's Thesis Project phase II

Semester 4

Master's Thesis Project phase III Final exam MAUU5900 Master's Thesis (60 ECTS)

The Master project counts 60 ECTS credits, starts in the 2nd semester, and is distributed over three semesters. The 4th semester is dedicated solely to the Master project

(1) Please note that the elective courses will only be offered if enough student are registered for the course.

The following table shows the overall structure of the part-time programme:

Semester 1

MAUUD4100 Academic Writing, 10 ECTS

MAUUD4200 User Diversity and ICT Barriers, 10 ECTS

Semester 2

MAUUD4400 Research Methods and Research Ethics, 10 ECTS (only one course in 2nd semester)

Semester 3

MAUUD4300 Universal Design of Interactive Systems, 10 ECTS

MAUUD5910 Master's Thesis Project phase I

Semester 4

MAUUD4500 Interaction Styles and Technologies for Accessibility, 10 ECTS

MAUUD5910 Master's Thesis Project phase I

Semester 5

MAUUD5920 Master's Thesis Project phase II

Semester 6

MAUUD5920 Master's Thesis Project phase II

Semester 7

Elective course, see course descriptions (2) MAUUD5010 / MAUUD5020 / MAUUD5030, 10 ECTS MAUUD5900 Master's Thesis Project phase III

Semester 8

Master's Thesis Project phase III Final exam MAUUD5900 Master's Thesis (60 ECTS)

The Master project counts 60 ECTS credits, starts in the 3rd semester, and is distributed over six semesters. The 5th, 6th and 8th semesters are dedicated solely to the Master project.

(2) Please note that the elective courses will only be offered if enough student are registered for the course.

This programme is suitable for incoming exchange students in the first semester taking these courses; MAUU4100, MAUU4200 and MAUU4300, totalling 30 ECTS.

Students affiliated with the programme have two opportunities to apply for doing parts of the programme abroad.

1. In the 3rd semester, students who choose to take the elective course MAUU5030 / MAUUD5030 Globalization of Technology 10 ECTS, may apply to carry out a course project abroad for one to four weeks.
2. In the 3rd or 4th semester, students may apply to carry out parts of their master projects and proceed to write their Master's Thesis abroad. This must be based on a "professor-to-professor" arrangement, with an agreement between the student's appointed supervisor and a professor at a higher educational institution abroad, who collaborate with the Universal Design of ICT research group. The agreement is required to ensure that the master project is of mutual interest for all parties, and for establishing necessary supervision abroad. The student's supervisor will be able to continue giving remote supervision from Norway via email and video/conference-calling.

Requirements:

• An average grade C in previously completed courses.
• Acceptance from a receiving professor or institution to an exchange-stay with the necessary academic relevance. Per November 9, 2016 we have no agreements with receiving institutions or professors, but are working towards establishing this.
• Applications for going abroad must be sent by e-mail to studie-tkd@hioa.no

Deadlines: One month prior to alternative 1) and one semester prior to alternative 2).

Students submit the Master's Thesis for assessment to, and get their ECTS from, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences.

Please note that it is not currently possible to combine this programme with the ordinary HiOA programmes for exchange and study abroad.

The field of practice is an important qualification arena for developing action competence in theatre nursing and evidence-based practice. Professionally sound theatre nursing practice must be learned in direct interaction with patients. This is the only way in which students can gain experience and encounter challenges of sufficient complexity to allow them to achieve the programme¿s learning outcomes. When nursing acutely and/or critically ill patients, decisions must often be made quickly, and through practical training, students acquire the practical experience needed to develop an immediate understanding of the patients¿ situation and the knowledge and action required.

Practical training in the programme is organised as three courses. When calculating the practical training, we assume that 5 days in practice is a week. Theory and / or study days are not included in the calculation of scope out in practice.The practical training must make up no less than 50% and no more than 60% of the programme, and at least 90% of the practical training must involve patient contact; see the requirements set out in the national curriculum for further education in theatre nursing.

Clinical Studies in Theatre Nursing

· First semester: OPERAPRA10, 20 credits (13 weeks - about 65 days of practical training)

· Second semester: OPERAPRA20, 15 credits (10 weeks - about 50 days of practical training)

· Third semester: OPERAPRA3, 10 credits (7 weeks - about 35 days of practical training)

The practical training is organised such that on completion of the programme, the student will have gained experience of and developed theatre nursing action competence in relation to all common conditions, important forms of treatment and different patient situations.

The practical training must include specialist departments where the patient¿s vital functions are threatened or failing. Students should primarily take practical training in the following areas at the surgical department: 

· gynaecology and obstetrics

· gastrointestinal surgery

· endocrine surgery

· orthopaedic surgery

· thoracic surgery

· vascular surgery

· neurosurgery

· urological surgery

Supervision 

Practical training will be supervised, and the student is guaranteed supervision by a nurse with advanced training or a master's degree in theatre nursing.

Operationalisation of learning outcomes 

The student shall specify the learning outcomes for each course based on his/her own preconditions for learning and the framework conditions at the unit where the course is taken. This must be approved by the practical training supervisor and lecturer. These learning outcome descriptions must be concrete, relevant, realistic and measurable. They must describe observable behaviour, for example actions, performance or skills, or results of an unobservable mental behaviour such as a change in attitude. They are intended to help to clarify what the student needs to learn and which learning situations are required to achieve this. This provides a direction for the supervision/instruction required and indications for use in the assessment.

A conversation between the student, the practical training supervisor and the lecturer will take place within the first two or three weeks of a practical training course. The purpose of this conversation is to maintain continuity and progress in the student's learning and development. The lecturer and practical training supervisor must have received the student¿s specification of the learning outcomes in advance so that the conversation can be as constructive as possible.

Shifts 

The practical training courses comprise approx. 32 hours per week. Students must expect to work a certain number of evening shifts during the programme. The student prepares a shift plan for each course for approval by the university and the department where the student is taking the practical training. Continuity in supervision is a goal when preparing the shift plan, and the student should therefore follow the practical training supervisor¿s shift arrangements where possible.

Compulsory attendance at practical training

Attendance is compulsory in areas that are important for achieving action competence as a theatre nurse and where the student cannot acquire knowledge through self-study. This means that attendance is compulsory during practical training courses. In order to pass a practical training course, the student must have attended at least 90% of the planned activities in each course. Students must make up for absence exceeding 10% by agreement with the lecturer and the practical training establishment. If a student¿s absence exceeds 20%, he/she will fail the course. Absence is calculated on the basis of the programme overview/practical training plan for each course.

Elective practical training 

Students have the opportunity to organise a total of 1¿5 weeks of elective practical training in the course of the programme. The elective practical training must be completed at a practical training establishment relevant to the target group and/or functions of theatre nurses. The student must contact the practical training establishment him/herself and submit a written application for elective practical training for the university¿s approval. Such approval will not be granted if the student is at risk of failing a practical training assessment. In addition, the student must have passed all previous exams in the programme. Elective practical training must be funded by the student.

Provisions governing examinations are laid down in the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and  the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences . Please refer to student.hioa.no.

Assessment methods vary between courses. They includes written reports, oral presentations, portfolio assessments and oral examinations. The Master's project will be assessed based on the thesis and an oral presentation and examination. The grading scale ranges from A (highest) to F (lowest) where A to E are pass grades and F is a fail grade. Both part of the examination need to be passed (i.e. minimum E grade in both parts) in order to pass the exam as a whole. Further details on assessment methods can be found in the individual course descriptions.

A portfolio assessment provides an overall assessment awarding one grade for the whole portfolio. Students may only appeal against the determination of the examination grade awarded for the whole portfolio. Any information on weighting of grades must be considered as supplementary information in connection with the final grade. If the portfolio consists of elements such as an oral presentation, practical work etc., the examination result can not be appealed against. The right to appeal is stated in the individual course descriptions.

If the examination in a course consists of more than one part, all parts of the examination must be passed in order to pass the course.

Normally each course have two internal examiners to assess students' work. Each semester one course will be chosen to include an external examiner, thus the students' work will be assessed by one external and one internal examiner. The Master's thesis is assessed by the student's supervisor and one external examiner.

External programme supervisors

External programme supervisors are a part of ensuring the quality of the individual study programmes. An external programme supervisor is not an examiner, but someone who supervises the quality of the study programmes. All study programmes at Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences are supervised by an external programme supervisor. However, how the external programme supervisors are used may vary. Reference is made to Guidelines for Appointment and Use of Examiners at HiOA (available in Norwegian only).

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 to/or providing guidance to patients, nursing students, theatre nurse and fellow students
• specifying learning outcomes for practical training 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.

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 grading system in use is 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.

Resit and rescheduled examsResit 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 gradesGrades 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 answer papers for ABIO6100 and OPERA6100, 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 theatre nurse¿s functions and areas of responsibility.

Theoretical knowledge:           

The work must demonstrate knowledge in the independent and delegated functions of the theatre 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 practical training course:

• The student must submit at least two written self-assessments per practical training course.
• The practical training supervisor submits written assessments of the student from days or periods of supervision.

Students are expected to show progress through the three 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 theatre nursing 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 theatre nursing. On completion of the final practical training course, Clinical Studies in Theatre Nursing, Level 3, the student is expected to have achieved theatre nursing 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.

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 corresponding 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).