EPN-V2

MAKLI4200 Practical Ethics Course description

Course name in Norwegian
Praktisk etikk
Study programme
Master's Programme in Health Sciences - specialisation in Physiotherapy for Children and Adolescents
Master's Programme in Health Sciences - specialisation in Physiotherapy for the older adult
Master's Programme in Health Sciences - specialisation in Rehabilitation and Habilitation
Master's Programme in Health Sciences - specialisation in Nursing; Clinical Research and Professional Development
Master's Programme in Health Sciences - specialisation in Physiotherapy for Musculoskeletal Health
Master's Programme in Health Sciences - specialisation in Occupational Therapy
Weight
10.0 ECTS
Year of study
2023/2024
Curriculum
SPRING 2024
Schedule
Programme description
Course history

Introduction

Language of instruction: Norwegian

This course is based on a humanistic view of life and fundamental values of nursing. Teaching covers ethical theories and key ethical problems that are important to relieving suffering and maintaining and protecting the patient’s dignity in vulnerable life situations. The course will give the students a more thorough understanding of how ethics form a part of patients' (and next of kin's) health in different clinical contexts. This topic will be related to cultural and social perspectives and be explored from a multicultural perspective.

The course also aims to highlight the importance of the nurse’s internalised values and ability to make decisions as a condition for practising ethically-founded patient care that safeguards the patient’s dignity. Among the topics discussed are dilemmas related to questions about life and death, prioritisation in the health services and increased use of welfare technology.

The course aims to bring the students’ argumentation and decision-making skills to an advanced level.

Recommended preliminary courses

Completed MAKLI4100 Clinical Research and Professional Development in Nursing.

Required preliminary courses

The student must have been admitted to the Master’s Programme in Health Sciences.

Learning outcomes

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

Knowledge

The student

  • can critically assess different ethical guidelines and theories
  • can assess values in nursing practice and the importance of their application in ethical practice
  • can discuss dilemmas related to care with respect to vulnerability, dignity, infringement, power and powerlessness
  • can assess and apply ethical principles such as autonomy, benevolence, non-maleficence and justice
  • can critically assess moral virtues, professional discretion, and capacity for moral judgment
  • can critically assess selected reflection and decision-making models within various ethical directions

Skills

The student

  • can argue for basic values and ethical thinking in assessments and decision-making processes in nursing practice
  • can identify patients and next of kin’s vulnerability in order to maintain their dignity, freedom and autonomy
  • can apply decision-making theory in ethical argumentation to identify and analyse complex ethical problems and dilemmas
  • can recognise moral stress in nursing practice and assess influences and preventive factors
  • can use research to support ethical argumentation
  • can communicate and argue on the basis of a professional ethical stance in interdisciplinary cooperation
  • can apply decision-making theory and work methods used in clinical practice and ethics committees

General competence

The student

  • can critically and independently reflect on ethical issues in a systematic manner
  • can address patients and next of kin’s vulnerability in the event of health deficits in an ethical manner
  • can see the importance of and reflect on values and their own personal formative education in ethical practice
  • can assess and contextualise matters such as legal frameworks and cultural and socially-specific factors that are significant to ethical assessments and decisions
  • can disseminate an independent work on ethical dilemmas and issues arising in their own clinical practice
  • can contribute to new thinking in ethical questions and recognise their responsibility for ensuring ethical decisions that are in the best interests of the patient, next of kin and staff

Teaching and learning methods

The course will use varied, student-active work methods. Work and teaching methods include lectures, group work, training and self-study.

Emphasis is placed on dialogue and reflection, and topics that the students themselves wish to discuss based on their own experiences will be highlighted.

Course requirements

The following must have been approved in order for a student to be permitted to take the examination:

  • Written assignment with oral presentation, carried out in groups of three to four students. Scope: 2,000 words (+/- 10%) Documentation of literature selected by the student: 350 pages. Oral presentation of the assignment to fellow students and lecturer(s). Peer assessment and feedback from the lecturer.

Assessment

Individual home examination over three days. Scope: 2,500 words (+/- 10%).

Permitted exam materials and equipment

All examinations are assessed by an internal and an external examiner.

Grading scale

Gradert skala A-F.

Examiners

All examination papers are assessed by two examiners. At least 20% of the examination papers will be assessed by an external examiner. The external examiner’s assessment should benefit all students.

Overlapping courses

10 ECTS overlap with MASYK4510, 10 ECTS.