Nursing, 4-year web and seminar based teaching model
See study programmeThe objective of the nursing programme is to educate professionals who are qualified to perform nursing in all parts of the health service. The nursing programme aims to educate independent, responsible and reflective nurses. Nurses who are educated at Nord University shall be characterised as clinically competent practitioners with strong professional nursing identities.
This implies that nurses
- meet professional, ethical and interpersonal challenges - take responsibility for and contribute to human health and their own and others’ development - practice nursing on the basis of knowledge and nursing’s set of values and skills.
The first part of the programme focuses on the common knowledge and set of values of health professionals, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, basic nursing, particular nursing needs among the elderly, selected diseases, social science courses and the management of the student’s own work.
As the programme progresses, the student will learn to provide nursing care to people with acute, chronic and critical illnesses, both somatic and psychological. At the end of the fifth semester, the focus will be on complex clinical pictures and complicated patient conditions. The final part of the programme will cover complex and complicated patient conditions and clinical pictures, professional nursing management and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Nursing’s set of values. Nursing education is founded on a view of human life that is based on the premise that the individual is unique and intertwined with biological, psychological, social and spiritual dimensions, where the whole is greater and more than the sum of the dimensions. Professional nursing bases this on respect for the lives of individual human beings and inherent dignity. Nursing is based on compassion, care and respect for human rights and nurses shall promote health, prevent illness, relieve suffering and ensure a dignified death. Nurses have a professional, ethical and personal responsibility for their own actions and assessments when practicing nursing and are responsible for acquiring knowledge according to the legislation that regulates the service.
The programme of study consists mutually supportive theoretical, dialogue-based, web-based and practical forms of work and teaching. The student must be able to communicate well in Norwegian, both verbally and in writing. By participating in the facilitated learning situations, the student will develop academic and personal nursing skills. Therefore, the education requires active participation.
Expectations:
- the student’s work effort must correspond to 75% of a full-time programme
- the student will actively participate in the learning facilitated by the University
- the student’s actions will be in accordance with professional ethical guidelines for nurses
- the student will be engaged, solution-oriented and collaborate with Nord University on the further development of the nursing programme through active use of the student democracy
The following expectations apply to students after completing the bachelor’s degree in Nursing:
Knowledge
Have broad knowledge of the basic needs of human beings, the anatomy and physiology of the human body and the most common diseases, symptoms, clinical pathways and treatments.
Have broad knowledge of the roles of nurses (health promotion, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, relief and palliative care). (Section 4)
Have knowledge of digital tools, E-learning programmes and available online learning materials. (Section 19)
Have knowledge of nursing science and other relevant health sciences, as well as the theoretical basis for how scientific work is developed within the field of study. (Section 10)
Can update their professional knowledge regarding both theoretical and practical issues. (Section 10) Have knowledge of tools and methods for service development and innovation. (Section 16)
Have broad knowledge of key values and concepts in nursing, the historical development of nursing and its importance to professional and service development. (Section 7)
Have knowledge of how the health services are managed and organised. (Section 13)
Skills
Can apply academic knowledge and relevant results from research and development work to theoretical issues and can make justified choices. (Section 11)
Can systematically observe, assess, decide upon, implement and document appropriate nursing activities in practice, as well as evaluating effect and adjusting as needed. (Section 5)
Has the cultural competence to assess, plan, implement and evaluate nursing in a national and international context (Section 5) Can reflect on their own professional provision of nursing care to patients and relatives and adjust this under supervision. (Section 8)
Can identify and critically assess relevant information in academic and research literature to highlight a nursing issue. (Section 11) Can manage mapping, assessment, documentation and communication tools in the practice of the nursing profession. (Section 14)
General competence
Have insight into nursing’s work-related ethical guidelines and professional issues and can manage various situations based on these. (Section 9)
Can plan and carry out work tasks and projects over periods of time, alone and in collaboration with patients, relatives, fellow students and others and in line with ethical requirements and guidelines. (Section 12)
Can convey key subject matter such as theories, issues and solutions both in writing and orally and by using technology and digital solutions. (Sections 12, 21)
Can plan and carry out communication and interaction processes with other professional groups and, through interdisciplinary cooperation, contribute to the development of good nursing practice. (Section 9, 12)
Have knowledge of challenges to quality that require innovation and can plan and carry out service development in collaboration with patients and relatives. (Section 18)
Admission to the programme of study requires Higher Education Entrance Qualificationwith specific entrance requirements.
Applicants who do not have Higher Education Entrance Qualification and are 25 years of age or older may apply for admission on the basis of prior learning and work experience. A certificate of good conductis required for municipal health and care services as well as a medical certificate for tuberculosis and MRSA.
Special admission requirements:
Grade requirements
There are grade requirements for Norwegian and mathematics in Norwegian nursing programmes. You must have:
An average grade of 3 or better in Norwegian (393 hours), including the main form of Norwegian, alternative form of Norwegian and an oral grade. An average grade of 3 or higher in mathematics (common core subjects, 224 hours).
You meet the grade requirements in mathematics if you have passed one of the following common programme subjects: S1, S2, R1 or R2.
If you completed vocational training before 2009, you need 14 hours of Norwegian and 5 hours of mathematics per week in order to meet the requirements.
Unsure whether you meet the admission requirements? Please contact the adviser at your upper secondary school or the Admissions Office at Nord University. Read more about subjects and subject codes for Higher Education Entrance Qualification at the Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training website
Free courses in mathematics:
Unable to meet the admission requirements for mathematics? Together with Nettskolen i Nordland, we offer a free mathematics course for those living in Nordland or Trøndelag who need to improve their grade. Read more about the course.
Residency requirements
Your registered place of residence must be in one of the following regions: Lofoten/Vesterålen for Vesterålen campus (Stokmarknes) Salten for Bodø campus
Helgeland for Mo i Rana campus Namdalen for Namsos campus
Innherred, Fosen and the Værnes region (Meråker/Stjørdal) for Levanger campus.
You must document your registered place of residence before 15 April. Valid proof of residence can be obtained via the Norwegian Tax Authority website
Please note that
It may take a long time to receive the proof of residence after submitting an application. Make sure to submit your application in good time!
Prior learning and work experience:
In addition to the general requirements regarding prior learning and work experienceat Nord University, the following subject-specific requirements for admission based on prior learning and work experience apply: A minimum of five relevant man-years of work experience.
Work within the health, social, care and teaching sectors or similar where the applicant has worked with patients, clients or pupils. Compulsory military service and care for one’s own children can be approved as up to one year of work experience.
The requirements relating to Norwegian (393 hours) and mathematics (224 hours) cannot be assessed in terms of prior learning and work experience and you will therefore need an average grade of 3 or better in these subjects.
Other requirements:
For admission to supervised professional training studies, a certificate of good conduct will be required for municipal health and care services, as well as a completed form for tuberculosis and MRSA testing. Please visit the Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences’ supervised professional training page for further information and links.
There are requirements regarding study progress for the bachelor’s degree in Nursing. Please refer to the progress requirements under the various course descriptions.
This programme involves two types of sessions: Physical and digital.
Digital theoretical teaching that students follow from home. A fixed digital teaching day every 14 days and shorter digital sessions (2-3 days) throughout all four years.
The physical sessions are run at the campus the student has been admitted to. Here, teaching that cannot be delivered digitally will take place, such as simulations/skills training. The students will participate in such teaching together with other students living in the same region. The greatest number of sessions will take place during the first academic year.
Unsure which campus you will be admitted to? See separate information regarding place of residence, regions and affiliation with the study location. A weekly work effort corresponding to 75% of a full-time programme is expected.
As a nursing student, you can take parts of your studies abroad. The experiences you gain from student exchanges will provide you with both knowledge and memories for life.
The nursing programme at Nord University collaborates with around 30 institutions in Asia, Europe and the USA.
Please contact:
Assessment and grading are based on the grades A to F, where A is the best and F is a fail. Work may also be assessed as pass/fail or approved/not approved.
The learning outcomes form the basis for assessing the student’s knowledge, skills and general skills. The programme of study employs different assessment schemes which stimulate academic and personal growth and development.
Examination: A final exam is held for each course. Examinations are governed by regulations relating to studies and examinations at Nord University.
A regular and a new and/or re-scheduled examination is held in all theoretical courses each academic year of study. In the course Medication Dosage Calculation and Medication Management, two new/re-scheduled examinations are held during the same academic year of study.
Assessment of supervised professional training studies: Assessment of the education’s supervised professional training studies is encompassed by the regulations on studies and examinations at Nord University. The programme of study may be delayed if the student does not complete or fails the supervised professional training studies.
Compulsory requirements: See the regulations relating to studies and examinations at Nord University.
Student democracy at Nord University ensures active student participation through form lessons, reference groups, student representatives, the student union and student representation on relevant committees, among other things. Study programme evaluations are part of the work regarding educational quality and further development of the programme. Evaluation of the study takes place through individual evaluation and in reference groups, among other things. Students are expected to actively use student democracy and contribute to the further development of the nursing programme by participating in the evaluation of each course.
The study programme is evaluated annually by students using course evaluation studies and by the programme director. The evaluations are included in the university's quality assurance system
The programme description for nursing education at Nord University is compiled based on the regulations relating to the National Guidelines for Nursing Education, which came into force on 1 July 2019.
Nursing education is subject to the regulations relating to suitability assessments in higher education. Ongoing suitability assessments of all students must be conducted throughout the study and must be included in an overall assessment of the student’s academic and personal prerequisites to function as a healthcare or social service professional.
Suitability assessment (nord.no)
The bachelor’s degree in Nursing is awarded upon completion of the programme and provides the basis for applying for authorisation as a nurse, cf. The Health Personnel Act.
An approved extension to the certificate of good conduct is required by anyone starting the nursing programme, cf. regulations on admission to higher education, Chapter 6. Certificate of good conduct on admission to higher education. The certificate must be issued less than three months before being submitted to the university.
The education is subject to the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and regulations relating to studies and examinations at Nord
Student suitability for the nursing profession is assessed throughout the programme, according to the regulations relating to suitability assessments in higher education.
Overview of periods of supervised professional training*
1. academic year autumn, spring; theory all year
2. academic year autumn, week 35-44, supervised professional training at nursing homes
2. academic year spring, week 17-24, specialist health service part I
3. academic year autumn, week 44-51, specialist health service part II
3. academic year spring, week 17-24, community health service/mental health work
4. academic year autumn, week 36-43, mental health work/community health service
4. academic year, spring, week 2-6, professional nursing management and service development
This is a preliminary overview and changes may be made along the way.
About supervised professional training
Supervised professional training studies constitute 50% of the study programme (90 credits) and consist of skills training and simulation in the university’s skills departments, Preparation and reflection on supervised professional training studies and Supervised professional training studies in cooperation with patients and relatives:
In supervised professional training studies in direct cooperation with patients and relatives, the student works together with experienced nurses and others when meeting people in need of nursing care. Professional training studies are supervised. Nord University allocates training placements. Students are not permitted to find their own supervised professional training placements. Supervised professional training studies are completed in collaboration with partners with which Nord University has entered into cooperation agreements. Endeavours are made to ensure that students have the best possible opportunity to complete their supervised professional training in the region within which they have been admitted. The nursing programme also offers certain supervised professional training studies abroad.
The organisation of and other provisions concerning the supervised professional training studies are described in a separate document.
Further information about supervised professional training:
https://www.nord.no/praksisreglement-for-bachelor-i-sykepleie