Study Guide

Descriptions

Bachelors of Nursing are nursing professionals with the social mission of helping individuals, families and communities define, promote and maintain their health with a humane approach. By supporting the resources of individuals and communities, nurses help people deal with illness, disability and death. Nurses work independently as nursing professionals and in cooperation with other professional groups at clients’ homes and in different fields of social welfare, health care and the third sector as well as digital service environments, carrying out and developing nursing practices.

Nursing expertise encompasses the ability to develop and revise operations based on research results and other evidence. Nurses have the skills to work as entrepreneurs, handle international duties, influence social issues and engage in life-long learning as a member of the information society. To work in the nursing profession, you need a solid faculty for ethical, critical and professional thought and decision-making.

Individualized nursing builds on a holistic approach to and respect for human beings. Nursing must answer people’s individual health care needs regarding humane conditions and well-being. Nursing contributes to achieving and formulating society’s health policy objectives and to the advancement of sustainable development.

The curriculum of the Degree Programme in Nursing is based on:
- The targets and future prospects of Finnish health policies that emphasize health promotion and the importance of responding to the population’s health issues
- Legislation on the practice of the profession and on universities of applied sciences
- International agreements and recommendations, especially the EU directives 2005/36/EC and 2013/55/EU
- The European Qualifications Framework (EQF), level 6 and National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (www.minedu.fi/OPM), level 6
- national nurse’s core competence requirements and evaluations (yleSHarviointi project)
- the strategy of Turku University of Applied Sciences and other rules and instructions of the university of applied sciences, for example, innovation pedagogy and innovation competencies

Competence tracks, specialized fields and qualifications
The Degree Programme in Nursing is governed by the EU directives 2005/36/EC and 2013/55/EU. Only a licensed professional, who has completed a degree in nursing, may work as a nurse. After graduation, students may submit an application for the right to practice as a licensed health care professional to the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira). After completing the degree, students may work in health centres, hospitals and other health care institutions, medical centres, health care organizations and as entrepreneurs. The typical professional title is Nurse.

The studies comprise:

CORE COMPETENCE
• basic studies, 18 ECTS
• professional studies, 72 ECTS
• practical training, 90 ECTS, including 15 ECTS in a Bachelor’s thesis

COMPLEMENTARY COMPETENCE
• optional field-specific studies, 15 ECTS
• elective studies, 15 ECTS

The objective of basic studies is for students to develop their communication and international competence, adopt an evidence-based exploratory work approach as a student and nursing professional, as well as acquire the language skills referred to in the government decree 1120/2014.
The objective of professional studies is for students to internalize the principles of ethically high-quality, research-based procedures and health promotion. Students will learn to respond to the health problems of different age groups and become acquainted with the key issues and applications of the profession, as well as their scientific foundation, so that they are capable of working independently in expert duties and research & development work or as an entrepreneur in the field. Professional studies build on nursing knowledge, which students can link to the core knowledge from other disciplines essential to their profession.

Practical training promoting professional competence (90 ECTS) is an integral part of nursing studies. Students undergo practical training that promotes professional competence in various nursing and operating environments where they develop their understanding of and competence in nursing, working towards their objectives as their studies advance. Practical training is supervised by a teacher of the university of applied sciences. It is carried out under the supervision of qualified health care personnel in units equipped with a sufficient number of qualified nursing staff and appropriate equipment for patient care. The educational institution providing nursing education is responsible for coordinating theoretical and clinical teaching throughout the studies. The environments in which practical training is carried out include an extensive range of social welfare and health care environments.

Bachelor’s thesis (15 ECTS) is part of practical training. In the Bachelor’s thesis, students demonstrate their capacity for independent work and their ability to apply research-based information in nursing and the development of nursing with a critical perspective. Bachelor’s theses are linked to the university of applied sciences’ research group and business activities. In the maturity test, written in the field of the Bachelor’s thesis, students demonstrate their competence in the field and their skills in the Finnish language or the language in which they received their secondary education.

Field-specific studies, 15 ECTS
Students can select certain study units from a varying range of field-specific study units available that total 15 ECTS. The purpose of these units is to increase the students’ competence and provide them with an opportunity to focus on an area of competence that interests them. Field-specific studies are available, for example, in the fields of acute and intensive, internal medicine, surgical, perioperative, geriatric, dermatological, ophthalmic and otologic, mental health and psychiatric, child, adolescent and family nursing, health promotion, sexual health and palliative nursing. All of these field-specific study units may not be available in a given term or year. The availability of these units depends, among other things, on the students’ interests and choices and on the university of applied sciences’ ability to offer different alternatives.

Elective studies (15 ECTS) deepen and broaden the students’ professional nursing competence.
Feedback system
Students participate in the planning and performance of teaching in various working groups. They assess their learning and provide feedback on the planning and performance of teaching regarding individual courses, academic years and, towards the end of their studies, the entire degree programme. Student feedback is taken into account when developing the degree programme.

Career and further education opportunities
The Bachelor’s degree in nursing offers versatile career opportunities both in Finland and abroad. The degree allows for further education in the form of a Master’s degree or a second-cycle degree in a Finnish or foreign university. The student’s career development is supported throughout the studies.

Objective

The competence goals of the Degree Programme in Nursing are based on the European Union’s jointly defined directive, national legislation and nationally defined competence areas.

The formal qualifications of nurses responsible for general care defined in the Directive 2013/55/EU:
a) The competence to independently diagnose the nursing care required using current theoretical and clinical knowledge and to plan, organize and implement nursing care when treating patients
b) The competence to work effectively with other actors in the health sector, including participation in the practical training of health personnel
c) The competence to encourage individuals, families and groups towards healthy lifestyles and self-care
d) The competence to independently initiate life-preserving immediate measures and to carry out measures in crises and disaster situations
e) The competence to independently give advice to, instruct and support persons needing care and their attachment figures
f) The competence to independently assure the quality of, and to evaluate, nursing care
g) The competence to comprehensively communicate professionally and to cooperate with members of other professions in the health sector
h) The competence to analyse the quality of care to improve one’s own professional practice as a nurse responsible for general care

The nationally applied competence requirements of nursing studies are professionalism and ethics, client-centred care, communication and multiprofessionalism, promotion of health, information technology and documentation, leadership and professional co-operation skills of the employee, guidance and education competence and supporting self-care, clinical nursing (basic clinical nursing skills, internal medicine nursing skills, surgical and perioperative nursing skills, child, adolescent and family nursing skills, mental health and substance abuse nursing skills, geriatric nursing skills, nursing skills in various service environments, skills in nursing patients who require special support, pharmacotherapy), evidence-based practice, entrepreneurship and development, quality management, service system of health care and social welfare services and patient and client safety.

The innovation competences defined by Turku University of Applied Sciences are integrated with the competences of the nursing studies. The innovation competences comprise competences at individual, community and network levels and cover the following five competence dimensions: critical thinking, initiative, creativity, team work and networking.

The professional growth process proceeds according to the curriculum. Professional growth is supported throughout the studies when advancing from one annual theme to another, from the Expert in the fundamentals of nursing phase to the Expert in the different fields of nursing phase to the Expert in special questions related to nursing phase to the Expert in nursing phase. In the course of their studies, students carry out self-assessments with respect to the degree programme’s competence goals.

Development

The studies are based on the innovation pedagogy adopted by Turku University of Applied Sciences, which emphasizes multidisciplinarity, research and development, flexible curricula, entrepreneurship in the service industry and internationality. The innovation pedagogy is based on experimental learning, sharing information and competences and combining various perspectives. The goal is to develop the professional competence and innovation competences of students. Students are considered to be active, independent and responsible learners. Teachers establish ideal conditions for learning, support, encourage and guide as well as provide feedback on the student’s learning performance.

In the Degree Programme in Nursing, studying takes place at the higher education institution and social and health care units. Studies are planned, carried out and assessed in joint teams consisting of professionals from working life, students and teachers, by applying information, taking concrete actions and experimenting. Working life-oriented projects offer an opportunity to be involved in multidisciplinary and multiprofessional cooperation with companies from different sectors and other professionals.

Students have the opportunity to complete study units at any time of the year, but the majority of teaching is arranged in the autumn and spring semesters. Students complete entrepreneurial studies as part of their studies, in addition to which students may decide to broaden their entrepreneurial skills through their own study choices.
Learning methods consist of a wide range of activity-enhancing contact teaching, online, project and simulation methods as well as practical training. Professional operations are learnt in multiprofessional teams and in multidisciplinary teams of Turku University of Applied Sciences, by practising care-related basic and special situations safely and responsibly. Learning is supported with new, versatile digital online learning environments and modern learning facilities and equipment (Salo IoT Campus, ICT-City’s and Medisiina D’s simulation facilities in Turku and other environments made possible by Health Campus Turku).
The overarching goal of study counselling and learning support is for students to progress in their studies in accordance with the curriculum. Developing expertise in nursing is a process in which students are supported by different forms of tutoring. Students will receive guidance from the very beginning of their studies, and a tutor teacher will be assigned to each student group. In addition, support from other teachers, study counsellors and other support personnel is available. Tutoring may be personal or designed for an entire group, and it is linked to theoretical studies and practical training.

Students create individual study plans (ISP) to guide the progress of their studies in terms of schedules, content and methods. Under certain conditions, students can build their competence profile with studies completed at other Finnish or international higher education institutions or other educational institutions, provided that they are equivalent to the competence goals. Students may also apply for accreditation of equivalent competence acquired in another way. The student’s competence will be assessed on the basis of certificates or other proof. Students have the obligation to provide proof of their studies and competence.

The goal of international activities is for students to broaden their world view and learn to understand different cultures and work in multicultural environments. International activities include taking courses taught in foreign languages, internationalization at home (e.g. tutoring exchange students), participation in International Semester studies, studying abroad, practical training abroad and participating in various seminars and international research and development projects. Subject to a separate agreement, studies abroad can be included in the degree completed in Finland without extending the duration of studies. The degree programme includes 30 ECTS credits of studies in English.

Further information

The assessment of learning focuses on the development of and prerequisites for expertise. The assessment guides and develops learning and addresses both the learning process and learning results. The completion of the degree requires that the competence achieved corresponds with the competence goals set for general working life skills and the competence goals specific to nursing studies as well as with assessment criteria derived from these competence goals. The assessment criteria for each course are described at a general level in the curriculum and in more detail in the course implementation plan. Various methods are used in the assessment. Course are graded on a scale from 0 to 5 or with a Pass/Fail. For practical training to be approved, it must achieve the objectives and correspond with the ECTS scope defined in the curriculum. In addition, students receive oral or written feedback that helps them to recognize their own strengths and areas of development. In the assessment of competence, methods and contents of assessment developed in nation-wide cooperation that are designed for all nursing degree programmes as well as other university of applied sciences-specific methods are applied. Assessment is carried out as close to the actual circumstances in which students learn new things.
Continuous assessment supports students in setting and achieving targets. In addition to teachers’ assessments and self-assessment, performance can also be assessed by other students (peer assessment), working life instructors and other cooperation partners. The students’ adherence to the individual study plan (ISP) is monitored throughout their studies, and the plan is updated as the studies advance in development discussions with the tutor teacher and based on a self-assessment of innovation competences. Students are responsible for advancing their studies and for seeking guidance whenever necessary.