Nursing department

PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION

four year nursing programme will support BSc. Nursing candidates as they prepare themselves for working as Registered nurses, primarily within the Somaliland health care system but having a qualification recognized elsewhere. It will prepare them to work at clinical level and, with experience, to support other nurses, students and support staff, to support the development of evidence-based and client-friendly practice and the ongoing professional development of colleagues. It will also equip them with the analytical skills required to take the nursing profession and service forward in appropriate, innovative and collaborative ways as part of the multi-disciplinary health workforce in both rural and urban areas, and communities and institutions. A range of learning experiences and opportunities will be provided through working and teaching in Health centre, hospital and community environments, and field visits where appropriate as well as in classroom and skills laboratory settings. The BSc. Nursing degree will be awarded to those completing the programme of studies successfully. The degree will be that awarded by the accredited university at which they have enrolled. Application for nursing registration and a licence to practice will be made to the NHPC. This programme of studies fulfils the expectations of the WHO (2009) for graduate level preparation of nurses as well as strengthening the fulfillment of ICN competencies. It also responds to the global need for strengthening nursing in order to make more rapid progress towards achieving MDGs 4, 5 and 6 and any future post-2015 development agenda.

Programme graduate attributes

Graduate attributes make it clear what those graduating from the nursing degree programme will be like as practitioners and as people. They underpin curriculum decisions and the learning opportunities made available for the students. Graduate attributes are the skills, understandings, and qualities they will demonstrate in their professional and personal lives. As practising nurses they are seen as competent to carry out the role of nurse as described by the ICN, and adhere to the code of ethics and standards of the profession. Undergraduate studies provide opportunities for them to develop their capacity to move beyond the competent practitioner role and performance as they gain experience to become the leaders, managers, teachers, and change agents of the future. University education can be transformative encouraging self-awareness and personal growth.

 

Vision, aim and philosophy

The vision, mission and philosophy of the programme are described here so that the basis of curriculum decisions is clear. This is also required by the WHO (2009).

Vision

The vision for the initial nursing education degree programme is that men and women will be prepared in such a way that they fulfill the academic requirements to graduate from their universities and the professional requirements of the NHPC based on internationally accepted competencies They will be able to provide essential nursing care for the Somaliland (and wider) population wherever it is needed, and support the health of communities in which they live and work. They will be at the forefront of the development of nursing as a profession in Somaliland, and of the development of high quality health services.

The vision is also that university-based faculty and clinical staff will respect and trust each other and will recognise and use each other as experts.

Aim

The aim is that graduate nurses will

  • become practitioners who provide safe, competent and timely care to men, women, and their families
  • contribute to the reduction of morbidity and mortality, especially that of women and children
  • act at all times with honesty, integrity and without discrimination to people whatever their ethnic group, faith, gender, nationality or culture
  • work in collaboration with the community and with professional colleagues
  • become lifelong learners who are able to reflect on and improve their practice and encourage and support others to do the same
  • work toward the advancement of nursing practice and the profession of nursing as leaders and change agents.

Philosophy

The curriculum is based on the following concepts and assumptions

Of the person

  • A person has social, cultural, spiritual, psychological and physical needs that should be respected.
  • A person has impact on, and is affected by, the socio-cultural, spiritual, psychological and physical environment.
  • A person has rights of self-determination regarding what happens to him or her in health, disability and illness regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, culture or socio-economic status.
  • A person has the right to information and choice in nursing and health care to facilitate such self-determination (ICN 2003).
  • A person takes responsibility for his or her own well-being to whatever extent possible and collaborates in positive ways to meet deficits.
  • 13 Republic of Somaliland National BSc. Nursing Curriculum