MAKREPRA10 Clinical Studies in Specialist Health Service Course description

Language of instruction: Norwegian

The purpose of this subject is for the students to gain operational competence in cancer nursing and contribute to developing knowledge-based practice. Through the practical studies in the specialist health service, students gain experience in making clinical observations, assessments, decisions and taking actions regardless of treatment goals. Central to the subject is nursing aimed at the consequences of the treatment for the patient and relatives, especially the alleviation of symptoms that may arise. Furthermore, the students will gain experience in teaching colleagues and/or other healthcare personnel.

In general, the practical training is taken at specialist departments where cancer patient receives treatment and follow-up. The students will primarily have practical training at oncology departments, including children's oncology departments. The course normally comprises seven weeks of supervised practical training with adapted learning situations, as well as self-study.

Students should have completed the course MAKRE4100 Clinical Studies in Specialist Health Service/Theoretical Studies in Cancer Nursing 1, 10 ECTS credits.

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

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 assess the consequences of cancer, advanced cancer treatment and cancer nursing
• can assess how cancer treatment complications can be prevented and alleviated 
• can give an account of current guidelines, national guidelines and local procedures related to cancer treatment

Skills

The student

• can use relevant knowledge to independently plan, implement and evaluate nursing care for patients with cancer
• can independently carry out medicinal cancer treatment according to current procedures and routines to ensure patient safety, own health and the environment according to current legislation
• can independently apply therapeutic clinical communication skills models with patients with cancer and their relatives
• can analyze and systematically assess complex patient situations related to cancer and treatment
• can identify and critically assess acute and critical situations
• can independently implement relevant infection control measures aimed at the patient, the environment and the current context
• can apply knowledge and skills to assess and prioritize health care needs for exposed and vulnerable patient groups
• can organize a patient process to ensure quality and information flow across the service levels
• can apply and contribute to the development of professional guidelines, local procedures and standardization to ensure patient safety
• can apply relevant methods to assess the risk of adverse events and contribute to improvement and patient safety
• can analyze unwanted events and contribute to systematic learning
• can analyze clinical, professional and ethical relevant issues in cancer nursing and contribute to professional development and change work
• can use recognized pedagogical principles to teach colleagues
• can systematically use their knowledge to promote health, coping, hope and quality of life in patients with cancer and their relatives

 General competence

The student

• can evaluate and ensure the quality of cancer nursing through written and oral documentation
• can apply knowledge and experience to good and respectful communication with partners, patients with cancer and their relatives
• can mobilize and participate in binding interprofessional collaboration across service levels
• can contribute to the implementation of knowledge-based practice and contribute to quality in clinical work
• can acquire and apply knowledge to develop own competence and contribute to better patient safety and quality in clinical work
• can contribute to new thinking and innovation processes in clinical practice

Supervised practical training with adapted learning situations. Teaching methods such as written and oral assignments, group work and self-study are also used.

 Shifts

Practical training normally requires 30 hours’ attendance at the practical training establishment and one study day per week. A normal practical training day lasts for 7.5 hours. The students must plan their attendance, and the schedule must be approved by the lecturer and practical training supervisor. The students should, as far as possible, follow the shifts of the nurse supervising them in order to experience good learning situations.

The following coursework requirements must be met before a student can receive an assessment for the course:

• Specification of learning outcomes for the course. At the beginning of the internship period, the student must specify how they will achieve the learning outcomes for the subject based on their own learning requirements and the framework of the department where the subject is carried out. These must be concrete, relevant, realistic and measurable. This must be approved by the internship supervisor and internship teacher. This forms the basis for guidance and provides evidence for assessment.
• Written individual assignment with oral presentation in the practical training arena. Scope: up to 2,000 words. The syllabus selected by the student must be used. Written feedback on the written assignment to a fellow student.
• Participation in the practice sessions is compulsory.

Assessment of practical training. 

The assessment is 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.

Students’ practical training can only be assessed if their attendance is sufficiently high.

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

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

• More than 20% absence: The student must retake the whole practical training course.

Not relevant.

Pass/fail.

Summative assessment by one representative from the practical training establishment. The final decision on whether to award a pass or fail grade is made by the university.

10 ECTS overlap with KREFTPRA1.