Investigation of the Specialist Nursing Programme

The investigation is led by Johan Dabrosin Söderholm, Senior Professor of surgery at Linköping University.

“The major quality review carried out last year showed that the Specialist Nursing Programme at Uppsala University, with its various specialisations, maintains a high standard. However, there are also issues concerning cost efficiency, and several of the specialisations are running deficits. This is particularly the case for some areas where clinical placement (VFU) is especially costly,” he says.

Johan Dabrosin Söderholm brings long experience to the task, having served for nine years as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Linköping University. He was also a member of the National Health Competence Council for five years.

“Moreover, I am a surgeon by training and have worked closely with specialist nurses for over 25 years. I have seen their skills and importance in health care first-hand, and I am determined that this investigation will lead to a good outcome. It is crucial for the future of Swedish health care.”

The purpose of the investigation is to propose concrete measures for how the programmes can be delivered in a financially sustainable way while maintaining quality.

“Exactly what measures we will propose remains to be seen when the investigation is complete, but we have already identified opportunities for increased collaboration, both within the university and with other higher education institutions. At this early stage, much of the work involves mapping the current situation and any problems experienced by the programmes themselves. Based on this, we will be able to present specific recommendations,” explains Johan Dabrosin Söderholm.

Interviews and document analysis

The investigation will result in a report to be submitted to the working committee of the Disciplinary Domain Board on 17 December.

“Until then, I will conduct interviews with heads of department, the undergraduate education committee, financial controllers, teachers, deans and others. Following the interviews, an interim report will be presented to the steering group in week 45. The work will then continue with greater focus on proposals and analysis of existing documents.”

What is the investigation ultimately expected to achieve?

“Finances are a central issue. The goal is for the programmes to be financially sustainable while maintaining the high quality identified in last year’s review. The challenge lies in the fact that each specialisation requires specific teaching expertise, while student numbers per specialisation are often low. This makes the programmes resource-intensive and rather vulnerable – a challenge that we see not only in Uppsala, but nationally.”

Shortages of qualified staff are also an important issue, notes Johan Dabrosin Söderholm.

“The requirement of at least two PhD-qualified teachers per specialisation is demanding. Here, we may need to consider new approaches, such as cooperation between departments and institutions, joint appointments and similar arrangements. Furthermore, there is a clear imbalance between the funding allocated to the programmes and their costs, and the deficits have been building up over several years.”

Clinical placement a key factor

A significant contributor to the financial deficit is clinical placement (VFU), which forms a substantial and vital part of the specialist nursing programmes.

“It is crucial for the quality of the programmes, but at the same time it is a very costly component. In the directive for this investigation, this is highlighted as an area requiring closer examination and where sustainable funding solutions must be found,” concludes Johan Dabrosin Söderholm.

Robin Widing