Bachelor of Health Care, Nursing

Name of the Degree Programme

Degree Programme in Nursing, 210 ECTS credits

Field of study

Health and welfare
The classification of the educational field is based on the international ISCED classification used by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Specialisations

- Nursing, 210 ECTS credits

Qualification awarded

Bachelor of Health Care, Registered Nurse

Level of qualification

The degree programme leads to a higher education degree which is a first cycle Bachelor-level degree in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). According to the eight-level classification of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and National Qualifications Framework (NQF), the degree represents level 6.
https://ec.europa.eu/ploteus/content/descriptors-page

Specific admission requirements

Please see the websites www.studyinfo.fi and www.seamk.fi/admissions.

Qualification requirements and regulations (incl. graduation requirements)

Please see the Degree Regulations of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences
http://intra.seamk.fi/loader.aspx?id=8e975c6a-8323-4e32-9b85-34b8753783d1

Examination regulations, assessment and grading

Students must obtain the grade 'pass' or a numerical grade for all studies in the degree programme, including those obtained through recognition of prior learning. Academic success entitles a more substantial scholarship.
http://www.seamk.fi/en/Studies/Admissions/Tuition-Fees

Link

Structure of the studies

Students complete at least 60 credits per academic year. Students have the possibility to apply for interdisciplinary studies (at least 15 credits) in the FramiPro learning environment provided to all students of Seinäjoki UAS. FramiPro studies mainly involve working life projects undertaken during the third year. In addition, a variety of summer school studies is provided.

The nursing education (210 credits) contains Basic Studies common to all in SeAMK 20 credits. Basic studies on Social and Health Care 10 credits, Free-Choice Studies 5 credits for finnish students/ 0 credit for international students, Profession- Spesific Nursing Studies 175 credits for finnish students/180 credits international students , which contain Practical Training 75 credits and Bachelor`s Thesis and Maturity 15 credits.

In the nursing education the student can study multi-field and -professional studies also in the practical training od projects and in the international studies.


The curriculum includes five seams permeating through the studies and extending over them. They are based on SeAMK’s reports, studies and strategy, as well as on the national and international recommendations and regulations related to education provided by universities of applied sciences.

- The Information Search seam strengthens the student’s professional and field-specific information search skills throughout the studies.

The basis of the nursing education is evidence-based learning, which is one of the central red lines. Information seeking and using are the essential parts in this learning process in the all studies.


-The Internationalization seam secures the improvement of the student’s international competencies during their studies.

The Nurse`s profession is international, therefore in the contents of the education there are multiculturalism, the meeting of the people from the different cultures, teaching and learning in the foreign languages, international exchange periods abroad, acting as a international tutor, home internationalization

- The studies corresponding to the Entrepreneurship seam help the student understand the central and growing role of entrepreneurship in society.

Acting according the principles of Entrepreneurship has an important part in the nurse`s profession. In the contents of studies there are internal and external Entrepreneurship and also economic thinkig, which support the nurse`s Entrepreneurship. During the renewing of the structures of health and social services we have to account the private sector and voluntary organizations as the procuders of the services in teh contents of the studies.

- The Sustainable Development seam makes the student aware of social responsibility and helps them understand the diversity of sustainable development as a working life skill.

In the different phases of the education in the connections with health promotion students learn about the sustainable development with the nature, social and human relations and economics.

- The seam of Career Guidance helps the student recognise their competencies and own strengths. It also includes working life knowledge, job search skills, and lifelong learning.

The model of the career development is implementing clearly in the study courses of Nurse`s/Public Health Nurse`s Profession and career development

Students have the opportunity to include multidisciplinary, working life-oriented project studies in their personal curricula (FramiPro).

Learning outcomes

The aims of the nursing education have been designed in the national Nurse`s professional Competence and have been described in the general part of Nursing curricula

Profile of the programme

The purpose of the Degree Programme in Nursing is to train professionals of nursing , whose work is based on evidence-based multi-disciplinary knowledge, extensive nursing and multicultural competence and high ethical standards. Registered Nurses (UAS) are qualified to examine, evaluate and develop their nursing competence, professional work, work community and professional field. They plan, implement and develop nursing in national, international and multicultural contexts.

Registered Nurses (UAS) are licensed to practice professional nursing. The training abides by the directives of the European Council pertaining to the education of nurses responsible for general care. Part of the studies is carried out in Finnish and the practical training takes place mainly in Finnish environments. It is also possible to partly study abroad.

Registered Nurses work as independent professionals of nursing in primary health care, specialized medical services, social services and in the private and third sectors. Finnish language skills are required in order to work in Finland as a professional of health care. Registered Nurses support, nurse and counsel healthy and ill individuals of all ages, families, groups, and communities. Nurses implement and develop evidence-based nursing to promote and maintain their patients' health, to prevent and cure illness, to ensure rehabilitation and to implement medical care prescribed.

Generic and subject specifc competences

The competences of nursing education have been designed in the national Nurse`s professional Competence and have been described in the general part of Nursing curricula.

Pedagogical approach and learning environment

Teaching in the Degree Programme in Nursing follows the constructivist theory of learning and the principles of Problem-Based Learning (PBL- pedagogical approach). Various kinds of student-centred, experiential, individual and collaborative learning methods enhance the student’s evidence-based learning. As learning methods there are simulation exercises and other exercises. The web-based learning supports the development of the nursing competence.

Specific arrangements for recognition of prior learning (RPL)

In the Degree Programme in Nursing the recognition of prior learning (RPL, or AHOT in Finnish) is based on the general and profession-specified (Registered Nurse) competences. The student can apply for the recognition of prior learning according to the instructions provided. The members of the OT-team in the DP in Nursing are Raija Palo, Head of DP in Nursing and temporary Study Councellor Marjut Asunmaa.

The temp- Study councellor describe the process of the recognition of prior learning at the beginning of the first semester. The student evaluates her/his own competences, comparing them to the objectives of the study course or module. She/he collects all the documents needed during this process. The student must also provide a description, where she/he argues for her/his own competences compared to the objectives of the study course or module. The student must send all the electronic documents concerning the recognition of prior learning to the appointed person of the temp. Study councellor.

Having received the application and documentary evidence, the temp. Study councellor will contact a lecturer in charge of the course. The lecturer will examine the documents, decide about demonstration of competence, assess the evidence by comparing it to desired learning outcomes as defined for the Degree Programme. Temp. Study counsellor presents a suggestion to the Head of the DP on whether to recognize the student’s prior learning or not. After the final decision, the lecturer will enter the credits onto the Winha registration system. If the course is taught by a visiting lecturer, the RPL team will be responsible for the assessment and decision-making.

Students can ask for exemption from studies of the ongoing semester by applying for recognition of their previous learning by September 30 during the fall semester and by January 31 during the spring semester.

The RPL decisions are subject to current guidelines on outdated studies and appeal practices, given in the Degree Regulations of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences. The studies that remain outside the RPL practice are defined for each field of study and each degree programme separately.

Work-based learning and work placements

In the nursing education the student carries out after the EU- directives demandings 75 credits practical training periods in the health care and social services, simulation- and other exercises and in the seminars.

Occupational profiles

Key competences in nursing involve promoting the health of individuals, families, communities and environment; prevention of illness; planning, implementation and evaluation of client-centred nursing and clinical nursing expertise. Other key competences involve client and patient counselling and teaching, as well as the ability to work in multi-professional and multicultural teams. Finally, the key competences involve the use and command over nursing scientific research and evidence-based knowledge as well as nursing management and quality management.

Internationalization

International student and teacher mobility is implemented through exchange programmes and collaborative networks. The most important mobility programmes are Erasmus+ and programmes implemented by CIMO. It is our goal to increase the volume of student and teacher mobility and to improve the contents of the international experience to meet the development needs of the Degree Programme.

Concrete development areas involve creating a network of expert lecturers together with partner universities and to make it possible for students to undertake theoretical studies in the target country. We will also increase and develop the volume and content of international intensive courses and increase students’ possibilities to write their Bachelor’s Thesis in cooperation with international partners.

Students will be encouraged to collaborate with immigrants, international students and Finnish people by awarding credit points for these activities within the framework of Free-Choice Studies. Students are also encouraged to take part in international exchange programmes.

As regards the curriculum, our goal is to develop joint theoretical and practical studies for Finnish and international students. Our goal is to assure that international and multi-cultural dimensions are visible in the studies. Much of the study material and virtual learning environments are in foreign languages.

Access to further studies

Upon completion of the programme and after three years of work experience, students are eligible to begin second cycle (Master level) studies. The receiving higher education institution determines acceptance into the programme. Universities of Applied Sciences offer a number of second cycle degrees. e.g. Registered Nurse (UAS Master's Degree). Scientific universities in Finland do not require three years of work experience.

Graduation requirements

Please see the Degree Regulations of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences and instructions for graduates on Intra
http://intra.seamk.fi/For-International-Staff-and-Students/Student-Services/Graduation

Mode of study

Theoretical studies, simulation and lab skills exercises mostly take place during the day-time. Regular attendance and participation is required and students must complete their learning assignments in time. The practical training periods included in the nursing education will partly run in three shifts in the home country or abroad, depending on the nature of the nursing area. Theoretical, simulation and lab skills exercises and practical training periods can also be undertaken in projects.

Student-centred, multi-form learning methods are applied according mainly to PBL- pedagogical approach. Regular attendance and participation is required in theoretical, simulation and lab skills studies. Part of the studies are implemented independently, as individual work, in small groups or online. To be able to graduate in time, students are expected to follow the study programmes planned for each academic year, to regularly attend and participate in all classroom activity and to complete all learning assignments in time.

Head of degree programme

Ms Marjut Asunmaa, GSM +358 40 680 7117, marjut.asunmaa(at)seamk.fi

Student counsellor

Study Counsellor Ms Suzana Zegrea, GSM +358 40 830 2189,
suzana.zegrea(at)seamk.fi

Coordination of Practical Training

Ms Tiina Koskela, GSM +358 40 6807144, tiina.koskela(at)seamk.fi

Coordination of international mobility

Tiina Välimäki, +358 40-830 4127, tiina.valimaki(at)seamk.fi, Coordinator, Outgoing student exchanges to Europe
Maria Loukola, +358 40-830 2240, maria.loukola(at)seamk.fi, Coordinator, Incoming and outgoing student exchanges outside Europe

Student services

Tel. +358 20 124 5055, studentservices@seamk.fi