Degree Programme in Nursing, 210 ECTS credits

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.

Specific admission requirements

Please see the Applicant's Guide or the website www.seamk.fi/hakeminen

Applicant's Guide's instructions are written in Finnish for degree programmes taught in Finnish and in English for degree programmes taught in English. On the website, application and instructions are in Finnish language for the degree programmes taught in Finnish.

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 and Registered Public Health Nurse) competences. The student can apply for the recognition of prior learning according to the instructions provided. The members of the AHOT-team in the DP in Nursing are Raija Palo, Head of DP in Nursing and RPL Coordinators Tarja Knuuttila and Tanja Hautala.

The RPL Coordinators 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 documents concerning the recognition of prior learning to the appointed person of the RPL (AHOT) team.

Having received the application and documentary evidence, the RPL Coordinator 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 and present 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 autumn 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.

Qualification requirements and regulations

Please see the Degree Regulations of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences.

Pedagogical approach

Teaching in the Degree Programme in Nursing follows the constructivist theory of learning. Various kind of the student-centred, experiential, individual and collaborative learning methods enhance the student’s evidence-based learning.

Profile of the programme

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

Registered nurses (AMK) and public health nurses (AMK) are licensed to practise professional nursing. The training abides by the directives of the European Council pertaining to the education of nurses responsible for general care.

Registered nurses and public health nurses work as independent experts of nursing in primary health care, specialised medical services, social services and in the private and third sectors. They support, nurse and counsel healthy and ill individuals of all ages, families, groups, and communities. Nurses and public health nurses implement and develop evidence-based nursing/public health nursing to promote and maintain their patients' health, to prevent and cure illness, to ensure rehabilitation and to implement medical care prescribed.

Occupational profiles

Key competences in nursing and public health nursing involve promoting the health of individuals, families, communities and environment; prevention of illness; planning, implementation and evaluation of client-centred nursing/public health nursing and clinical expertise. Other key competences involve client and patient counselling and teaching, and ability to work in multi-professional teams. Finally, the key competences involve 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+, North-South-South, Nordplus 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 Theses in cooperation with international partners.

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

Structure of the studies

Students complete 60 credits per year. Students have a possibility to apply for the interdisciplinary studies (at least 15 credits) in the FramiPro learning environment offered to all students of Seinäjoki UAS. FramiPro studies mainly involve working life projects undertaken during the third year.

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.

Graduation requirements

Please see the Degree Regulations of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences and instructions for graduates at Intra.

Mode of study

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

Student-centred, multi-form learning methods are applied. Regular attendance and participation is expected in theoretical 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.

Contact persons

Head of degree programme

Ms Raija Palo, GSM: +358 40 830 3956, e-mail: raija.palo(at)seamk.fi

ECTS departmental coordinator / International coordinator

Ms Tiina Ojanperä, GSM: +358 40 680 7100, email: tiina.ojanpera(at)seamk.fi

Student counsellor

Ms Tellervo Pihlaja, GSM: +358 40 830 3959, e-mail: tellervo.pihlaja(at)seamk.fi