General provisions

The course is offered in term 6 of the nursing programme. 4.5 credits of the course are theoretical studies: 2.5 credits Health sciences with focus on nursing and 2 credits Medical science. Clinical placement consists of 6 credits: 5 credits Health sciences with focus on nursing and 1 credit Medical science. The subjects are integrated.

The course aims to that the student will acquire advanced knowledge in specific and general nursing and medical science in geriatric care and care of older people. In addition, the student will acquire advanced knowledge and skills on professional and scientific approach.

Entry requirements

Passed courses from the terms 1, 2, 3 and 4 and passed clinical placement from term 5, 13.5 credits (total 133.5 credits).

For participation in National final clinical examination, passed courses up to term 4 and passed results are required regarding the course Nursing and medical science in surgical care and emergency care, 22.5 credits (total 142.5 credits).

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

On completion of the course, the student will be able to describe and concretise the meaning of

- physiological, psychological and social aging

- symptom, diagnosis, treatment and nursing in common geriatric diseases

- nutrition related to older people's nutritional needs, meals and eating

- drugs and older people regarding pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics

- the nurse's role in municipal old-age care

- the care team functioning and participation in geriatric and old-age care

- the rehabilitation process in older people

describe and concretise the implementation of

- quality - and nursing development work/improvement work

- nursing of older people in complex situations according to science and proven experience

describe

- older people's health problems, treatment of these as well as health promotion interventions

- the view of the aging based on cultural differences, gender perspective and ethics

- special needs of abused older women

- statutes and laws in the current field

Skills and ability

On completion of the course, the student will be able to independently

- be responsible for and apply relevant measures in general and specific nursing in older people based on available scientific knowledge and proven experience

- be responsible for and apply the nursing process in palliative care and care of older people in the final stage in geriatric and old-age care

- assess patients'/residents' nutritional status and take appropriate actions to meet optimum nutrient supply.

- based on patients'/residents' needs lead and formulate the nursing work in accordance with science and proven experience

- be responsible for nursing care planning meetings both administratively and educationally, in collaboration with other professional groups

- apply statutes and laws in geriatric and old-age care

- initiate and be responsible for ethics discussions in connection with the care of older people

- utilise colleague's views and suggestions, give feedback in a positive spirit and work up and structure ideas in order to develop and in cooperation improve the care

- initiate and carry out quality development work/improvement work

- be responsible for and participate to give support and guidance to patient/residents/families close relations to enable optimum participation in care and treatment and motivation to adherence to treatments

- perform and be responsible for drug administration and observation of effects/side-effects

- identify and analyse risks in the nursing regarding hygiene, drugs, falls, decubitus and confusions and take steps to develop quality and patient safety

- perform individualised nursing focused on quality and cost conscious manner

Judgement and approach

On completion of the course, the student will be able to independently

- communicate with and treat patient/residents in geriatric and old-age care in a respectful, sensative and empathetic way

- reflect on, analyse and evaluate the ethical, cultural issues and problems related to gender and violence in connection with the care of older people

- reflect critically on the drug treatment of older people

- evaluate quality development work/improvement work

- review and evaluate critically both implemented nursing and instructions and prescriptions

- be able to assess own ability and limitations

- review, analyse and assess critically scientific and empirical knowledge and information of significance to nursing

Content

HEALTH SCIENCES WITH FOCUS ON NURSING

The course consists of theoretical studies and clinical placement.

- the nursing process in geriatric diseases

- the geriatric patient's needs of nourishment and nutrient supply

- patient security regarding drugs, risk of falling, decubitus and confusion

- symptom relief in palliative care and care of older people in the final stage of life

- rehabilitation and functioning preserving measures in older people

- Family/close relations' role and situation

- home health care

- ethical aspects of caring for older people

- violence against older women

- organisation of the old-age care of the municipality

- information between health care providers

- supervising work, prioritisation, allocation and coordination of the nursing work in the team

- specific statutes and laws in the current field

- quality development and improvement work in geriatric and old-age care

- rehabilitation from a nursing perspective

- cultural aspects of the aging

MEDICALSCIENCE

The course consists of theoretical studies and clinical placement

- physiological, biological and social aging

- geriatric diseases, diagnosis and treatment regarding sight, hearing, skin diseases, oral health, type 2 diabetes, confusion, osteoporosis, dementia diseases, Parkinson's disease, stroke and heart failure

- older people's specific health problems and multi-morbidity

- nutrition and older people

- drugs and older people

- older people's health and health promotion

- rehabilitation from a medical perspective

Instruction

The student shall seek and apply knowledge based on science and evidence and in nursing - and treatment measures comply with current laws, statutes and ordinances.

WORKING METHODS

Lectures, work in cohort groups, individual work, seminars and web-based teaching, clinical/practical proficiency training. Clinical placement with organised supervision in geriatric and old-age care.

COMPULSORY PARTS

Introduction to course, scheduled cohort meetings, seminars, clinical/practical proficiency training, clinical placement, study assignments with written presentation and examination.

Assessment

Examination is continuous throughout the course in the form of written and oral assignments individually and in groups. The assignments during the current course are examined based on the guidelines (date and time), as stated by course coordinator/examiner. During clinical placement, examinations are carried out regarding clinical/practical skills, specific theoretical assignments, professional approach, treatment and co-operation ability. All parts must be approved in order to the course in its entirety will be regarded as passed.

NATIONAL CLINICAL FINAL EXAMINATION (NCFE)

In connection with the course Nursing and Medical science in geriatric and old-age care the NCFE takes place, including the whole nursing programme with written examination and practical test. For participation in the examination, it is required that student has passed results from all courses up to term 4 and from the course Nursing and Medical science in surgical care and emergency care, 22.5 credits in term 5.

In order to be allowed to accomplish the practical test it is required that the student has achieved passed results at half-time assessment of the clinical placement and has participated in the written examination.

Other regulations

Student who has failed examination may retake examination four times (=total five examinations). Student who has not passed clinical placement has the right to retake the clinical placement once.

Interrupted clinical placement

A student may fail and be forced to interrupt the clinical placement prematurely if there is a noticeable risk that the student due to incompetence may injure another individual or valuable property if he or she continues the clinical education.

An individual plan shall be decided for the student and given to him or her in writing. This plan, which has to be decided by the programme committee, must state the knowledge and skill shortages at hand, the support the student may receive from the department and also state how and when the control will take place. A student is entitled to a maximum of two control occasions, however no more than once a year. The student may not participate in the clinical placement again until the programme committee has controlled and accepted the required knowledge and skills.

Decisions on the individual study plan may be delegated by the programme committee to a student welfare committee or equivalent with student representation.