Study Guide

Descriptions

A Bachelor of Midwifery is an expert in the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and gynaecological care. Midwives help and treat women and the entire family in different phases of life, and during health-related changes or disturbances. They are experts in family planning, the midwifery of pregnant, parturient and postpartum women, the midwifery of healthy neonatal babies and their families, as well as gynaecological care. Midwives work both independently and as members of multiprofessional groups. Midwives works in primary care, specialised medical care in the public and private sectors, or as a self-employed person. Midwifery training is defined by EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

Graduates from the Degree Programme in Midwifery are entitled to practise the profession of a midwife and a nurse as a licensed health care professional. A Bachelor of Nursing is a nursing expert. In the early stage of the studies, the topics studied are related to nursing, and towards the end of the studies, students focus on learning special midwifery competences. The objective of the studies is to provide the competence that a midwife/nurse needs when working as a nursing and midwifery expert. The task of a midwife/nurse who has completed these studies is to promote and maintain the health and well-being of the population, prevent and treat illnesses and reduce the adverse effects caused by health issues. Another objective of the studies is to respond to the increasing complexity of health issues, to challenges brought along by technological development and to internationalisation. In addition, the service structure’s shift towards outpatient care requires high-quality, comprehensive and multiprofessional competence and cooperation from future health care professionals. To work in the profession, you need a solid faculty for ethical, critical and professional thought and decision making. Expertise encompasses the ability to develop and revise operations based on research results, follow evidence-based midwifery, work as an entrepreneur, handle international duties, influence social issues and engage in life-long learning.

The curriculum for midwifery training is based on:

• international agreements and recommendations, in particular EU Directives 2005/36 and 2013/55/EC https://www.google.fi/search?q=2013%2F55%2Feu+directive&rlz=1C1GGRV_enFI752FI752&oq=2013%2F55%2FEY&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j0l5.2805j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
• legislation on practising a profession http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/1994/19940559
• level 6 of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) https://ec.europa.eu/ploteus/search/site?f%5B0%5D=im_field_entity_type%3A97
• level 6 of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (www.minedu.fi/OPM)
• The professional competence of nurses in 2013 https://www.epressi.com/media/userfiles/15014/1442254031/loppuraportti-sairaanhoitajan-ammatillinen-osaaminen.pdf
• The description of the professional competence of midwives in 2014. Skills, objectives and contents for midwifery graduates. http://www.metropolia.fi/fileadmin/user_upload/Sosiaali_ja_terveys/K%C3%A4til%C3%B6ty%C3%B6/Katilon_ammatillisen_osaamisen_kuvaus.pdf

Studies of 270 cr. consist of:
• basic studies 13 cr.
• professional studies, 87 ECTS
• professional training 155 cr., which includes the thesis 15 cr.
• freely selectable studies 15 cr.

At Turku University of Applied Sciences, the pedagogical starting point is innovation pedagogy, which aims to develop innovation competences. In midwifery and nurse training, innovation pedagogy and its objectives are integrated with all studies.
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 procedures and health promotion. They familiarise themselves with the key issues and applications of the professional area and their scientific grounds so that they can work independently in expert positions in the field. The knowledge base of professional studies consists of care information based on nursing science, to which students connect the knowledge bases of other disciplines that are relevant for the profession. Professional studies include a wide range of local and online teaching, independent learning and learning in small groups, and traineeships in the school’s laboratory and simulation facilities.

Traineeships are an integral part of the studies in midwifery and nursing training (155 cr., 4,185 hours (EU Directive 2013/55). During practical training, students systematically develop their understanding of and competence in care and treatment, working towards their objectives from course to course. The traineeship is directed by skilled staff and a teacher from the University of Applied Sciences, and is conducted under the supervision of nursing staff and in units with an appropriate number of professionals and appropriate patient care tools. The university of applied sciences is responsible for integrating theoretical and clinical teaching throughout the studies. Practical training meets the requirement of training promoting professional competence.
In the Bachelor’s thesis (15 ECTS), students demonstrate their capacity for independent work and their ability to use research-based information from a critical perspective. Theses are closely linked to practical research and development activities and are part of practical training. 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.

COMPETENCE PATHS, FIELDS OF EXPERTISE AND QUALIFICATIONS
Only a licensed professional with a diploma can work as a midwife (Act on Health Care Professionals 559/1994). 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). The professional titles are “midwife” and “nurse”.

FEEDBACK SYSTEM
Students have several opportunities to give feedback and influence various matters during their studies. Students participate in the planning of teaching and its implementation in various teams and working groups. They assess their learning, and provide feedback on the planning and implementation of teaching regarding individual courses, modules, semesters and, towards the end of their studies, the entire degree programme. Student feedback is taken into account when developing education. In addition, the student’s personal competence development is assessed in bilateral development discussions with the teacher tutor every academic year. Development discussions also serve as a channel for providing feedback.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
The Bachelor’s degree in midwifery and nursing offers versatile career opportunities, both in Finland and abroad. The degree opens the door to further education in the form of a Master’s degree or a second-cycle degree in a higher education institution. The student’s career development is supported throughout the studies.


During freely selectable studies (15 cr.), the student deepens and expands their professional competence in midwifery and nursing.

Objective

The innovation competences defined by Turku University of Applied Sciences are integrated with the competences of the midwifery and 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 competence objectives of midwifery and nurse training are based on commonly defined Directives of the European Union, national laws and nationally agreed areas of expertise.

Nationally defined competences in nurse training
• Customer-driven approach
• Ethical and professional standards in nursing
• Leadership and entrepreneurship
• Clinical nursing practice
• Evidence-based work and decision making
• Guidance and teaching skills
• Promotion of health and functional capacity
• Social and health care operating environment
• Quality and safety of social and health services

Nationally defined competencies in midwifery training
• The professional conduct of a midwife
• Interaction with customers
• The midwife as a promoter of sexual and reproductive health
• Management and improvement in midwifery

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. The teacher creates conditions for learning, supports, encourages and guides, and provides feedback on the student’s progress.

In the Degree Programme in Nursing and Midwifery, 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. In working life-oriented projects, it is possible to cooperate across several disciplines and professions with companies and other professionals from different industries.

Studies in the degree programme are based on modules. A module refers to units with a scope larger than a single course or a field of competence that helps students deal with comprehensive materials. To ensure competence development, studies progress according to the principles agreed in the degree programme. The student also has the opportunity to complete online studies in the joint Campus Online offering of universities of applied sciences throughout the year. Learning methods consist of a wide range of activity-enhancing contact teaching, online, project and simulation methods as well as practical training. Professional activities are learned in multiprofessional and multidisciplinary teams of Turku University of Applied Sciences, practising basic and special situations related to nursing responsibly and safely, for example with medical students. Learning is supported with new, versatile digital online learning environments and modern learning facilities and equipment. Growing into a nursing expert is a process that is supported with different forms of tutoring. Tutoring is personal and/or group-specific and is offered in connection with all studies.
The general objective of study guidance and support for learning is that the student progresses in their studies according to the learning plan. Students create individual study plans (ISP) to guide the progress of their studies in terms of schedules, content and methods. In 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. In addition, they can apply for a credit transfer based on a similar level of expertise, acquired in another way.

The goal of international activities is for students to broaden their world view, understand different cultures and learn to work in multicultural environments. Forms of international activities include studying in foreign languages, home internationalisation, e.g. tutoring of exchange students), studying abroad, internships abroad, various seminars and international research and development projects. Studying abroad is part of a degree completed in Finland in a separately agreed manner and does not extend the study period. The degree programme includes 30 ECTS credits of studies in English.

Further information

Evaluation is intended to guide and develop learning, and focuses on both the learning process and the learning outcome. 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. Courses 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 to this, the student receives oral or written feedback, which allows them to learn about their own strengths and areas of development.

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 their study progress and for seeking guidance, if required.