Opetussuunnitelmat
Degree Programme in Nursing
| Credits: | 210 |
| Type: | Bachelor's Degree |
| Degree Programme: | Degree Programme in Nursing |
| Title: | Bachelor of Health Care |
The aim of the degree programme is to produce highly skilled and globally competitive nurses primarily in the Finnish Social and Health Care System. The education programme is structured according to the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council and prepares nurses to become Registered Nurses under the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health in Finland (Valvira). Graduate nurses of the programme will become experts in primary and tertiary healthcare settings who can professionally perform nursing tasks according to the highest standards of quality care. These nurses render promotive, preventative, curative, and palliative services across the lifespan to individuals, families, groups, and communities in the society supported by evidence-based practice.
In response to the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health's National Safe Pharmacotherapy Guideline, the degree programme aims to prepare nurses to become competent in delivering safe and effective medication administration by ensuring competencies in pharmacotherapy in preparation for the work-life as an independent nurse. In addition, nurses are trained to use modern technologies in promoting patient safety and are knowledgeable in the use of patient information systems to document the nursing process according to the Finnish Care Classification System and other international standards.
Graduate nurses in the programme are highly competent in caring for diverse groups of clients and patients of different multicultural backgrounds in collaboration with other social and healthcare professionals. They are equipped with the leadership and management skills in fast-paced work environments and have broad evidence-based and organizational skills needed for continuous improvement.
The degree studies are full-time studies and are implemented in multiform learning. The evidence-based competencies and critical thinking skills are achieved by using the social constructivism approach and other modern teaching methodologies which are needed to work as a Registered Nurse in Finland. Students receive personal guidance from the tutor teachers throughout the stages of their studies.
High Fidelity Simulation (HFS) is implemented at all stages of the studies. Studies are implemented in a hybrid format either independent or group learning. Oamk has state-of-the-art facilities and utilises the latest technologies in collaboration with other healthcare professionals. The clinical practicums constitute almost half of the studies and often require working in shifts (also on weekends) and can be completed in different parts of Finland. In addition to nursing care, professional accountability and working life skills are learned during the practical training.
After the first year of nursing studies, you will know the fundamentals of nursing care, public health, and medical-surgical nursing. You will learn how to give first aid in life-threatening situations. You will also study other allied health sciences.
During the second academic year, you will learn how to perform a comprehensive physical examination, history taking, and health assessment. Moreover, you will become familiar with mental health, substance abuse, and family-centered care.
At the end of the studies, you will learn gerontological nursing, outpatient and ambulatory care, leadership, clinical judgement, and advanced decision-making skills. Advanced studies also include elective medical studies and 12 weeks of practical training. The recommended language of instruction for the clinical practicums will be Finnish or Swedish. You can acquire additional skills for future work tasks by choosing elective studies (10 ECTS) from the selection of advanced studies or other online teachings offered by other polytechnics.
Nursing education is in close collaboration with the City of Oulu and the surrounding municipalities, the municipalities of the Southern Oulu region, and the Oulu University Hospital (one of the five university teaching hospitals in Finland). Nursing and nursing education are developed through internships, joint development projects, and training. There is also internship and project cooperation with private service providers and the third sector. In various regional and national networks, cooperation is carried out to develop pharmacotherapy competence and competence assessment.
After graduation, graduates are awarded a Bachelor of Health Care (Sairaanhoitaja AMK) degree that will qualify them to become a Registered Nurse under the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) in Finland. The training gives the qualification of a nurse in accordance with the European Union (EU) Directives.