Nursing in Serious Illness and Palliative Care (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Content scheduling

The course runs from 6.1.- 7.2.2025.
A more detailed timetable can be found on the Lukkarikone and the Itslearning platform.

Before registering for the course, please note the pre-requisites for the course:
The student must have completed the 1st semester of theory studies and the theory studies of internal medicine - surgical nursing and at least 2 internships (HOPE and SIKI1 and/or SIKI2).

The course includes 2 credits of English language studies.
The course may attend international students.

Objective

NURSING IN SERIOUS ILLNESS AND PALLIATIVE CARE 5 ETCS VAPA

The course includes 2 ETCS of studies in English

Objectives
• understands cancer as a disease and identifies factors affecting cancer prevention and early detection.
• can explain the clinical pathway and key concepts of palliative care and terminal care as well as the relationships between them and apply this knowledge in their work.
• understands the methods of helping, examination and treatment of seriously ill patients and is able to plan, assess and document palliative and humane nursing.
• is able to comprehensively encounter, support and guide the individual needs of patients and their families and friends and to utilise presence as a method of assistance.
• recognises their attitudes towards an incurable illness and death
• knows how to work in a way that promotes patient safety.
• understands the importance of lifelong learning in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of patient care, including development and research project work.
• knows how to work in a multiprofessional team to support the patient's self-treatment and to use different guidance methods and evidence-based information.
• develops their professional skills in teamwork and in different networks while understanding the importance of lifelong learning
• demonstrates initiative and self-management skills in nursing and understanding in the contents of nursing.

Content

Contents
• Cancer, cancer prevention and the clinical pathway of cancer patients
• Basics of palliative care, care policies and restrictions, proactive treatment plan
• Nursing a seriously ill patient
• Comprehensive support and guidance of patients and their families and friends
• Patient and occupational safety
• Recording and reporting of treatment
• Multiprofessional team and group work and self-reflection
• Interaction and encounters

Materials

- Materials in Itslearning
- Huovinen, A. 2023. Kliininen hoitotyö. Sanoma Pro, Helsinki: Syöpää sairastavan hoitotyö and Verisairauksien hoitotyö, pages 732-882. FINNISH STUDENTS

Teaching methods

- Contact teaching
- Seminar work
- Goup work
- Preclinical practice
- Simulation
- Individual assignments
- Reflection
- Online discussion area (not exchange students)
- Tests
- Exam

Exam schedules

The task of the group is to inform teachers about any potential excessive workload.
The exam period will be agreed upon during the information session, where any possible excessive workload from assignments should be brought up.
No changes will be made to the schedules due to the challenges of class room reservations.

Pedagogic approaches and sustainable development

The course takes into account, for example.

Ecological sustainability:
Waste reduction: students will learn how to recycle and reduce pharmaceutical waste and use environmentally friendly materials.
Energy conservation: energy-efficient practices such as turning off lights and appliances when not needed will be taught.

Economic sustainability:
Resource management: students learn to think about nursing and nursing unit resources in an efficient and economical way that reduces costs and improves quality of care.
Cost-consciousness: The course will emphasise the importance of cost-effective care practices.

Social sustainability:
Patient wellbeing: students will learn how to support the holistic wellbeing of patients, including emotional and social support.
Equality and equity: the course will discuss the importance of equal and equitable care.
.
Education and awareness-raising:
Students will reflect on sustainable practices in nursing.

Completion alternatives

Obligation to participate:

- Info
- Preclinical practice
- Seminar work
- Simulation
- Psychosocial support, talking and reflection discussion

The substitute performance will preferably take place in the same class of another group. Find this out for yourself on the Lukkarikone.

Student workload

Student workload:
CONTACT:
- Info and lectures 7 h (info only for exchange studetns 1 h)
- Exchange students: Visit in a palliative care unit 4 h
- Seminar work 10 h
- Preclinical practice and simulation: 8h
- Exam 2 h
- Psychosocial support, encoutering with the patient 8h (not for exchange students)
- Reflection discussion: 4 h

INDIVIDUAL STUDIES: 54 h

Exchange students: 81 h

Evaluation methods and criteria

Assessment:
- Seminar HYL- K5
- Independent tasks and discussion area HYL/HYV
- Simulation HYL/HYV
- Preclinical practice HYL/HYV
- Psychosocial support, encountering with the patient and family members, and reflective discussion HYL/HYV
- Exam HYL - K5
- Medical assignments and tests HYV/HYL (only for Finnish students)

The course is assessed numerically (1-K5). The final grade will be the average of the marks for the seminar paper and the exams. If the average is e.g. 3,5, round up to H4. Assignments/exams returned late will reduce the grade.

Failed (0)

Knowledge:
Does not demonstrate sufficient understanding of basic concepts and course objectives.
Cannot justify or evaluate their own views and solutions.
Does not utilize scientific knowledge.

Skills:
Leaves assigned tasks incomplete.
Does not understand key procedures and does not justify their choices.
Provides incorrect solutions to problems.

Attitudes:
Does not receive or give feedback.
Does not reflect or recognize areas for improvement.
Does not recognize the values or ethical principles of the field.
Does not take responsibility for their part in group work.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

Knowledge:
Can identify, name, and define individual phenomena and basic concepts related to the course.
Utilizes professional knowledge.

Skills:
Completes assigned tasks with guidance.
Knows various procedures but cannot justify choices or apply learned knowledge according to the situation.

Attitudes:
Can selectively receive and give feedback.
Examines and evaluates matters from their own perspective.
Recognizes important values and ethical principles relevant to their field.
Takes responsibility only for their own part in group work.
Recognizes their interaction skills.
Identifies what constitutes professional behavior.
Has limited recognition of the impact of their actions on sustainable development, economy, and well-being.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

Skills:
Can independently choose the most suitable course of action from different options and strives to justify their choice.
Can apply knowledge, create plans, and define tasks.
Solves problems.

Attitudes:
Actively and constructively receives and gives feedback.
Examines and evaluates matters from both their own and their community’s perspective.
Has adopted the values and ethical principles of the field and acts according to guidelines.
Acts responsibly and participates in developing their interaction and teamwork skills.
Behaves professionally.
Can describe and evaluate the impact of their actions on sustainable development, economy, and well-being.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Knowledge:
Understands the broad concepts of the course and their cause-and-effect relationships.
Can analyze, apply, and integrate into a professional context.
Can justify their actions using scientific knowledge.

Skills:
Can search for and evaluate different procedures and solution options.
Can justify their choices and experiment with new methods.
Can creatively combine solutions or develop justified action models.

Attitudes:
Uses feedback systematically as a tool for professional growth for themselves and their community. Adjusts actions based on feedback.
Actively reflects on their own skills and the community’s operational model.
Can flexibly apply ethical principles of the field in various value conflict situations.
Works collaboratively in a responsible, committed, and constructive manner.
Develops their own and the group’s interaction, considering the requirements and needs of the community and their field.
Behaves professionally and can guide others in professional behavior.
Understands the impact of their actions on sustainable development, economy, and well-being. Can also act proactively in these areas.

Note: The higher level always includes the competencies of the lower level.

Qualifications

First-semester theoretical studies as well as theoretical studies in medical surgical nursing and at least 2 traineeships (Basics of nursing, internship in Nursing of Medical Surgical Patients 1 and/or 2)

Further information

Itslearning platform.