Study Guide

Descriptions

Nursing education leads to a Bachelor of Health Care, Nursing degree (in Finnish: Sairaanhoitaja AMK). The education meets the requirements set by the Act and Decree on Health Care Professionals as well as the Directive 2013/55/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the recognition of professional qualifications. According to the directive, the education for nurses responsible for general care must be at least three years long and include a minimum of 4600 hours (180 ECTS) of theoretical and clinical instruction, of which at least one-third must be theoretical instruction and at least half must be clinical instruction.

The Finnish nursing education (210 ECTS) also includes an additional 30 ECTS of nursing studies that deepen and broaden expertise in a work-oriented manner according to the needs of the region and the profile of the university of applied sciences. The language of instruction for the degree program is English. Additionally, Swedish classes will be offered for native Finnish students, while intensive Finnish courses will be provided for international students.

The curriculum of nursing education is based on broad areas of competence derived from the skills requirements of working life, i.e., competencies, and related learning objectives with evaluation criteria. Competencies are divided into common general work-life competencies for all education programs (Arene ry) and nationally uniform education-specific competencies (Eriksson et al. 2015, yleSharviointi 2019).

Common competencies are general work-life skills for different education programs, but their specific features and importance vary across professions and job roles. Common competencies provide the foundation for functioning in the workplace, collaboration, and the development of expertise. Common competencies include learning skills, ethical competence, workplace competence, innovation competence, and internationalization competence. The evaluation of common competencies is conducted alongside the assessment of education-specific competencies.

The sector-specific competencies of nursing education are based on the results of the "Future of Nursing Education" project (Eriksson et al. 2015). These competencies were updated in the yleSHarviointi project in 2019 (Appendix).

The competencies are:
Professionalism and Ethics, 2. Client-Centered Care, 3. Communication and Interprofessional Collaboration, 4. Health Promotion, 5. Management and Employment Skills, 6. Information Technology and Documentation, 7. Guidance and Teaching Skills and Supporting Self-Care, 8. Clinical Nursing, 9. Evidence-Based Practice, Research Utilization, and Decision Making, 10. Entrepreneurship and Development, 11. Quality Assurance, 12. Social and Health Care Service System, and 13. Patient and Client Safety.

Internationalization is integrated into the curriculum through the use of foreign language source materials in teaching and language studies. English-language instruction is also provided by teachers from partner institutions involved in international expert exchanges. Additionally, students participate in international exchanges and various domestic internationalization activities and events, as well as tutoring international students. To achieve internationalization goals, domestic internationalization is part of the studies, and students have the opportunity for at least a three-month exchange study abroad.

Structure of Nursing Education:
1) Basic and Professional Studies 115 ECTS, including Research, Development, and Innovation Methods 5 ECTS
2) Elective Studies 5 ECTS
3) Professional Practice 90 ECTS, including the Thesis 15 ECTS and Maturity Test

The goal of the basic and professional studies is for the student to learn broad practical foundational knowledge and skills, as well as the theoretical foundations to function in expert nursing roles in the workplace or as an entrepreneur, and to acquire the prerequisites for developing their professional skills and lifelong learning. In nursing education, the student can specialize in a specific area of nursing during the final semester. The goal of the studies is also for the student to master the language skills required by the University of Applied Sciences Decree (1129/2014, Section 7), which is stated in the degree certificate. When indicating language proficiency, the provisions of the Government Decree (481/2003) Sections 15-19 are taken into account. English language studies are included in two courses in the curriculum, where language learning is assessed. Swedish language studies are conducted in one course. Finnish communication skills develop throughout the education and are assessed annually in various courses (competence matrix).

The goal of elective studies is to deepen and complement professional and language skills. Elective studies can be carried out also in projects, project studies, and innovation activities. Elective studies may include courses from other education programs and other higher education institutions.

The goal of professional practice is to familiarize the student, under supervision, with the practical tasks essential to professional studies and the application of knowledge and skills in the workplace. Professional practice in the nursing degree comprises 90 ECTS.

During their studies, the student completes a thesis commissioned by working life. The thesis is written in English. The goal of the thesis is to develop the ability to apply knowledge and skills in a practical expert task related to professional studies. There is an opportunity for interdisciplinary and inter-educational collaboration in the implementation of the thesis.

In the curriculum, the student's learning process is described as the student's professional growth from a novice to a developer. The curriculum is built around semester-based courses and themes. The learning objectives of the courses and the contents of the themes describe the essential professional core competencies of the field. The annual and semester themes bring together studies from the perspective of professional growth progression.

1st Year - Novice in Nursing
The student familiarizes themselves with the basics of nursing and the social and health care service system and understands the importance of ethics and multidisciplinary knowledge as the foundation of professional competence.

2nd Year - Competent in Clinical Nursing
The student, under supervision, can plan, implement, and evaluate the comprehensive care of clients/patients together with the clients/patients and their relatives, guided by nursing values and principles. The student expands the multidisciplinary knowledge base required in nursing.

3rd Year - Practitioner in Nursing
The student operates in a client-centered manner according to a developmental approach in evidence-based nursing and health

4th Year - Nursing Developer
The student's professional decision-making is guided by a multidisciplinary knowledge base, and they are capable of developing evidence-based nursing practices. The student understands their responsibility in self-development and the development of the field, as well as in interprofessional and interdisciplinary communities. The student utilizes local decision-making influence channels to promote public health.