Master's Programme in Nursing - Clinical Research and Professional Development Programme description

In order to be able to register for the exam, the student must have the following approved work requirements:

Students have to hand in written assignments by set deadlines during the semester. The scope of the assignment (number of pages) varies depending on the nature of the assignment. If the assignment is not approved, the student will be given one opportunity to submit an improved version. The lecturer will inform students of deadlines for submission.

The target group for the master's degree programme is nurses who wish to specialise in the nursing field, with an emphasis on scientific thinking, research, professional development and research methods.

The target group for the alternative course of study is nurses who have passed the Advanced Programme in Cancer Nursing or Public Health Nursing Education at master's degree level (60 credits).

Reference is made to the Regulations relating to Admission to Studies at OsloMet.

The basis for admission is a three-year bachelor's degree or equivalent in nursing and Norwegian authorisation as a registered nurse.

Admission to all master's degree programmes at OsloMet requires an average grade of C or better (numerical grades: 2.7 or better) from the bachelor's degree.

Additional points are also awarded for professional clinical practice as a nurse after completing the bachelor's degree in nursing, as well as for relevant education over and above the minimum admission requirement. By relevant education is meant higher education in the health and social studies field.

There is no requirement for clinical practice after completing the Bachelor's degree program in order to apply for admission to this Master's program and thirty per cent of places on the programme are reserved for applicants competing for admission on the sole basis of minimum admission requirements (without additional points).

The elective courses can also be taken as individual courses. Special requirements apply to admission to individual courses; see the individual course descriptions.

Applicants who have completed the Advanced Programme in Cancer Nursing or Public Health Nursing Education at master's degree level

Candidates who have completed the Advanced Programme in Cancer Nursing (60 credits) or Public Health Nursing Education (60 credits) must apply for admission to the master's degree programme in accordance with the ordinary application procedure. These candidates' education may be recognised in full or in part on application.

Other relevant further education/courses at master's degree level may be recognised after admission.

After completing the master's programme in Nursing - Clinical Research and Professional Development, the candidate is expected to have achieved the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

The candidate

• has advanced knowledge of clinical research and professional development in the field of nursing
• has advanced knowledge in selected clinical areas of specialisation
• has advanced knowledge about the relationship between theory and empirical data in clinical research and professional development
• has advanced knowledge of theory of science and research methods

Skills

The candidate is capable of

• analysing and taking a critical approach to different sources of information and using them to structure and formulate argumentation in the field
• analysing clinical issues as a basis for research and professional development in nursing
• initiating research and professional development in practice by means of relevant research methods
• carrying out an independent, limited research or development project under supervision and in accordance with applicable standards of research ethics
• developing patient care by implementing research and engaging in professional development

Competence

The candidate is capable of

• assessing the strengths and weaknesses of specific research methods and arguing in favour of a method for solving a specific research problem
• contributing to new ideas and innovation processes in the specialist and municipal health services
• disseminating knowledge about nursing as a profession and as a science

The programme is offered as a full-time course of study over two years or a part-time course of study over three to four years. It consists of a combination of compulsory and elective courses and a master's thesis.

Students who have previously completed the Advanced Programme in Cancer Nursing or Public Health Nursing Education will pursue an alternative course of study commencing in January.

Several courses, both compulsory and elective courses, are organised as joint lectures with students from several other master's degree programmes at the department. Some teaching activities may take place at the university's campus in Kjeller.

Compulsory courses

MASYK/D4000 Introduction to Clinical Research and Professional Development The course is worth 10 credits and covers fundamental topics and issues relating to nurses' responsibility for clinical research and professional development.

MASYK/D4050 Theory of Science and Research Methods Theory of science is an important part of the basis for understanding scientific activity and different research paradigms. The course provides an overview of methodology and presents approaches to knowledge acquisition and systematic development of the profession, as well as in-depth knowledge of the research process.

MASYK/D4060 Research Methods, Quantitative Approach The course provides an introduction to the design of quantitative studies and analysis and assessment of quantitative data. Students will receive a practical introduction to basic statistical concepts and key statistical methods. Computer exercises using the statistics program SPSS will make up part of the course.

MASYK/D4070 Research Methods, Qualitative Approach

The course provides an introduction to qualitative methodology, enabling students to read and understand scientific articles. Students will also be introduced to how to prepare, plan and conduct a research project based within the framework of a qualitative study design.

Specialisation through elective courses

Students must choose two elective courses in the course of the programme. Students taking the alternative course of study must choose one elective course. Elective courses can come from both the programme's own portfolio and other master's degree programmes. All elective courses have a scope of 10 credits. Different elective courses are offered each year. The elective courses are intended to help the students to acquire special expertise through in-depth study of a specific topic. Students will develop analytical competence and further develop their clinical understanding and assessment skills in their chosen topic.Students who are granted an application for a semester on an exchange will carry out an additional 30 credits of specialisation through elective courses.

From the programme's portfolio of master's degree courses:

• MASYK4100/MASYD4100 Clinical Examination and Approach - Systematic Clinical Assessment and Use of Standardized Instruments
• MASYK4200/MASYD4200 Pain and Pain Alleviation
• MASYK4300/MASYD4300 Suffering, Dignity and Vulnerability
• MASYK4400/ MASYD4400 Quality of Life
• MASYK4500/MASYD4500 Clinical Ethics
• MASYK4600/MASYD4600 Communication and Health Counselling
• MASYK4800/MASYD4800 Health, Body and Lifestyle

For the 2019/2020 academic year, the following elective courses are offered:

• MASYK4400/ MASYD4400 Quality of Life (Autumn 2019)
• MASYK4300/MASYD4300 Suffering, Dignity and Vulnerability (Spring 2020)

Master's thesis

This course concludes the programme and is an independent, delimited research or development project. The scope of the thesis is 30 or 60 credits. Students with a recognised Advanced Programme in Cancer Nursing or Public Health Nursing Education will write a thesis worth 30 credits. The same applies to students who choose to carry out a pre-approved exchange stay. The quality requirements/assessment criteria are the same, but the scope of the data used in the thesis is more extensive for a master's thesis worth 60 credits.

Progress requirements

All compulsory and elective courses in the programme must be passed before the student can submit their master's thesis for assessment.

An internal and an external examiner will grade the exam.

A selection of at least 25% of the exam papers will be assessed by two examiners. The grades awarded to exam papers assessed by the external and internal examiner will be used to determine the level of all exam papers.

Applied Statistical Methods, Corporate Finance and Financial Markets.

The course covers the following topics:

• The need for risk management
• Risk in selected markets: currency, commodity, financial securities
• Methods to measure and quantify risk
• VaR, stress testing, simulation and other methods
• Risk management: neutralisation, diversification, insurance

Students will encounter different forms of assessment during the programme. The forms of assessment used have a double purpose: to promote learning and to document that the students' competence is adequate in relation to the applicable learning outcomes. By giving the students qualified and frequent feedback, in relation to both processes and products, the information about the competence achieved can motivate them for further efforts.

Each course concludes with a summative assessment. The assessment is based on the learning outcomes for the course and on whether the examiners agree that the student has achieved the planned 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, and the guidelines for appointment and use of examiners at the university.

The final assessment for each course and the title of the master's thesis will be entered on the master's degree diploma.

Assessment

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

See Universitets- og høgskolerådets description https://www.uhr.no/_f/p1/i4bfb251a-5e7c-4e34-916b-85478c61a800/karaktersystemet_generelle_kvalitative_beskrivelser.pdf

Resit and rescheduled exams

Resit and rescheduled exams are conducted 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 group exams, 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.

External programme supervisor

An external programme supervisor scheme exists for the programme as required by the guidelines for appointment and use of examiners at the university. The duties of the external programme supervisor are to:

• supervise the assessments given and assessment processes for each of the courses in the master's programme
• evaluate exam questions and assessment criteria for grading in two courses per year
• assess the connections between the programme description's learning outcome descriptions, teaching arrangements and types of assessment
• give the academic environment feedback and advice that can be used in the ongoing work on quality of education

The syllabus of the study comprises approx. 8,000 pages.

The master¿s degree programme is based on student-active learning methods. Students will therefore have great freedom of choice in relation to the literature linked to elective courses.

Establishment approved by the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT): 27 April 2005 Programme description approved by the Academic Affairs Committee at the Faculty of Health Sciences: 17 August 2012

Last amended by the Vice-Dean: 6 April 2018