Degree Programme in Health Care
Objectives
As a public health nurse, you can promote and maintain the health of individuals, families, work, other communities, the population, and the environment, as well as treat and prevent diseases. You can increase and strengthen your client's resources, self-care and ability to live healthy.
As a public health nurse, you are able to take responsibility for your own activities and know the limits of your skills. You can work both independently and as an expert in cooperation with multidisciplinary workgroups.
You know the principles of social and health care legislation and professional ethics. Public health nursing practice requires the adaptation and implementation of scientific and multidisciplinary knowledge in nursing.
Degree programme description
The curriculum of the Degree Programme in Healthcare is based on the EU directives on general nursing and nationally defined descriptions of competence in nursing. The studies also include common areas of competence of the University of Applied Sciences, which are included in the study modules and courses.
The Degree Programme in Healthcare is built on the core competence of a nurse and the complementary competence of healthcare work. Core competence comprises the knowledge, skills and competences that must be mastered at work and serve as the basis for learning new things. A nationwide examination of the core competence of a nurse is conducted at the end of the studies to ensure the required core competence in nursing. Complementary competence studies include the professional competence study modules of a public health nurse.
The degree-specific competence of a public health nurse consists of the following areas of competence:
• Health-promoting nursing
• Public health nursing for the individual, family and community
• Promoting a healthy and safe environment
• Social nursing
• Management and development of public health nursing.
During practical training, various treatment and control situations are practised. Modern simulation and training facilities with modern equipment allow for realistic learning situations.
About one-third of the studies consist of practical training in units where nurses work. Practical training is conducted in primary and specialised healthcare and third-sector offices.
The nursing degree consists of the following study modules:
CORE COMPETENCE
Common studies
Basics of nursing
Nursing of chronic diseases
Family wellbeing and nursing
Surgical and acute nursing
Decision-making in nursing
Practical training
Bachelor's thesis
COMPLEMENTARY COMPETENCE
Public health nursing
Public health promotion
Practical training
CORE COMPETENCE
The "Common studies" study module includes study and workplace skills, language and communication studies, and research and development skills. Language and communication studies will help you communicate verbally and in writing in the nursing profession, so you will be able to communicate and interact internationally in Swedish and English. In research and development skills, you will learn key research and development methods in your field, stages of the research and development process, ethical principles and scientific reporting.
In the "Basics of Nursing" study module, you will learn human anatomy and physiology, basics of nursing skills, patient safety, pharmacotherapy, drug calculation and the retrieval and utilisation of evidence-based knowledge, and the promotion and guidance of wellbeing. You apply what you learn in practical exercises and simulations.
The study module "Nursing of chronic diseases" includes medication and IV fluid therapy, nursing of a patient with internal disease, diagnostic examinations, care of older adults, substance abuse, mental health and crisis nursing. You will learn how to apply theoretical knowledge in clinical exercises.
In the "Family wellbeing and nursing" study module, you will learn the key nursing functions required in maternity and female nursing as well as in child and adolescent nursing. You will learn to support the sexual and reproductive health of clients.
In the "Surgical and acute nursing" study module, you will learn the essential treatment procedures and diagnostic examinations required for surgical and acute nursing as part of the patient's overall care. You will learn how to design and implement nursing for patients with various diseases in surgery and acute care.
In the "Decision-making in nursing" study module, you apply decision-making skills in clinical nursing. You know how to lead yourself and understand the importance of management in nursing.
The practical training to promote professional skills includes 30 weeks of practical training periods of different lengths in a workplace. In practical training, you will learn how to apply the theoretical knowledge you have learned to practical nursing skills.
In the bachelor's thesis, you apply the knowledge and skills acquired in your studies by planning, implementing, reporting and evaluating a practical, nursing work-related research or development work, such as the production of guidance materials used in nursing, an empirical survey related to nursing, or a literature review.
COMPLEMENTARY COMPETENCE
In the courses of the complementary competence of a public health nurse, you deepen and expand your competence in theory and apply your competence in practical working life.
Complementary competence at Xamk
Complementary competence comprises students' optional studies. Complementary competence deepens or expands the core competence of the degree programme and allows you to specialise in a particular area. For professional optional studies, you can choose from individual courses or study modules in accordance with your personal study plan. The complementary competence selection includes Xamk-level multidisciplinary online studies, field-specific studies, and degree programme specific studies.
Other optional studies included in complementary competence are higher education courses that students can freely choose. You can choose up to 15 ECTS credits of other optional studies. You may also complete complementary competence study modules or courses from the selection of other higher education institutions, where applicable. The scope of complementary competence is, depending on the scope of core competence studies, 45–120 ECTS credits in degrees comprising 210 credits and 60–120 ECTS credits in degrees comprising 240 credits.
Implementation of studies
At Xamk, you can study as a public health nurse at the Kouvola and Mikkeli campuses. The duration of studies is about 4 years, and the scope of studies is 240 ECTS.
Your blended studies consist of independent study, online meetings and contact teaching. Online learning is flexible but requires you to carefully plan your study schedule and identify your own resources. Theoretical studies include scheduled online meetings, various online assignments and theory workshops. Clinical skills in nursing, such as various labs and simulations, will be studied as contact teaching on campus.
You do a lot of independent work, but you are supported by a network of teachers and other students.
Your studies include practical training and in them, your working hours follow the working time system of the training unit and the working hours of the supervising nurse. Practical training takes place about five days a week but may vary depending on the training unit. Training can take place at all times of the day and even on the weekend.
Flexible study opportunities
At the beginning of the studies, you prepare your personal study plan (PSP) which helps you make choices related to the studies, practical training, bachelor's thesis and international activities. We make every effort to ensure that you can plan your studies in the best way possible, according to your own life situation.
The studies are implemented using various methods:
· lectures
· independent assignments
· teamwork
· online studies
· projects with companies and other organisations
· projects carried out at South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences
· examinations
· practical training.
Career opportunities
Almost 100 % employment after graduation
As a public health nurse, you will work in a variety of social and healthcare organisations, as well as in the private sector. Employment opportunities exist both at home and abroad. You can work at, for example, maternity or child health clinics, school or student health care, occupational health care, home care, different hospital units or a medical clinic.
In the public health nurse degree programme, you will receive both a registered nurse and a public health nurse degree. The Bachelor's Degree Programme in Nursing meets the criteria set by the Council of Europe for nursing education and the training of nurses responsible for general care.
Only a graduated, licensed professional can work as a registered nurse. After completing your studies, you will apply for a license from the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health.
More information on professional rights is available on Valvira's website.
RDI and cooperation with world of work
Almost half of the studies are conducted in cooperation with the world of work. Clinical practice in different nursing environments strengthens your working skills and participation in multi-professional networks. The bachelor’s thesis is related to local development projects or other work-related development tasks.
Cooperation between teaching and RDI (research, development and innovation) provides you with experience in development projects connected to local, national or European networks.
Cooperation between RDI and teaching gives you opportunities to participate in local, national and international development projects. The Degree Programme in Nursing is part of Xamk’s Sustainable Wellbeing focus area, which aims to promote the wellbeing of individuals and communities and develop new service models.
Learning environments
In the studies, much of the learning is gained using simulations and online studies. Modern simulation environments are available on all Xamk campuses. They include various hospital environments and domestic environments.
Practical training included in the studies is carried out in different healthcare environments.