Nursing education in Belgium

Hilde BoucquéBerte De Cnijf

Belgium, at the heart of Europe

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http://www.visitflanders.us/discover/flanders

Educational system: structure

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Educational system: structure

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Educational system: structure

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Associations in Higher Education in Flanders

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12 university colleges80,000 students (40% market share)

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HUB - KAHO

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HUB- KAHO

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AalstBrussels

GhentSint-Niklaas

HUB- KAHO

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Types of nurses in Belgium

Different categories of nurse in Belgium:

•Qualified nurses•Bachelors in nursing•Masters in nursing

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Nursing education in Flanders

• The education of BACHELORS IN NURSING is organized by 15 high schools

• The education of QUALIFIED NURSES is organized by the 4th grade of the secondary schools

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Qualified nurses

• undertakes practical nurse training in the fourth grade of secondary school after completing the normal three grades (3x2 years) secondary school studies

• the training is largely based on practice• this type of nurse students are not

‘specialist nurses’ but can in their third year of training follow either a “hospital” route or “psychiatric” nurse or “geriatric” nurse

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Bachelors in nursing

• graduates from the “high schools”• their education is at a higher level

(higher education)• these nurses have undertaken

professional nursing education which is a three year course resulting in a diploma and are considered to be “general” nurses.

• admission criteria are similar to those for entry into university

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Bachelors in nursing (1)

– the split into these two main types of nurses is not reflected in the rules defining the scope of activity of nursing, which makes no distinctions between types of nurses and the functions that they can perform.

– all nurses can undertake specialized and complementary training as for example:surgery, imaging and radiotherapy, operating room, palliative care, care for elderly, …

– functions: executive, administrative, management, health promotion, …

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Nurse choise options

The Belgian Federal law offers some options for basic nursing in Belgium:

•hospital nurse•pediatric nurse •mental health and psychiatry nurse•public health nurse•geriatric nurse

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Post-basic specialized nurse

The only legally recognized post-basic specialized nurse currently in action are:•the intensive care and emergency care nurses•the nurses with geriatric postgraduate diploma•the nurses with oncology postgraduate diploma•Pediatric nurse•Palliative nurse

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Registration requirements

• Once nurses have finished their studies they must register in order to be able to practice as a nurse

• For this purpose Belgium is divided into ten provinces all applying the same rules

• In order to register the nurses must present their diploma or certificate and pay a small fee

• Foreign nurses who wish to practice in Belgium must apply to the Ministry of Public Health in order for their qualifications to be recognized

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Trajectories for bachelor students

Students can choose from 2 study trajectories: MODEL STUDY TRAJECTORY:•60 credits•2 semesters•normal situationINDIVIDUAL STUDY TRAJECTORY:•combining studying with …•specific problems or learning difficulties•early acquired competences or early acquired qualifications•study time can be more or less than usual

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Nursing education in HUB – KAHOBasic

• competence based• Evidence based• a central place skills learning• Optional choises:– hospital nurse (WAAS – CDM)– paediatric nurse (WAAS – CDM)– mental health and psychiatry nurse (WAAS)– public health nurse (WAAS)– geriatric nurse (CDM)– General (HUB)

• Multi-professional education

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Nursing education in HUB – KAHOPost-basic specialized nurse

•the intensive care and emergency care nurses (CDM)

•Palliative nurse (HUB)

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Competence Profile of Bachelor of Nursing

• The nurse as a Person• The nurse as Clinical Judge and Care

Taker• The nurse as Organizer and

Coordinator• The nurse as Professional• The nurse as a Member of a Team• The nurse as Member of society

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Academic Calendar

The academic year consists of two semesters:•the first semester runs from the second half of September to the end of January •the second semester runs from the beginning of February to the end of June •Each semester: 13 weeks of courses, followed by an examination session

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Curriculum

• 3 years education 180 credits (1 credit = 26 hours)

• 2 basic years• 1 orientation year• 50% theory 50 % practical training• Practical training• 9 weeks in the first year• 14 weeks in the second year• 16 weeks in the final year• Following the European Guideline of 4600 h

(2300 theory-2300 practical training)

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Curriculum

Conceptual educational plan– Human sciences– Biomedical sciences– Organization of Health Care– Scientific sciences– Domain related sciences

Integrated skills education &Professional development

Nursing Practice & work placementPersonal Development

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Number of colleges / week

total study time: 1600 hours / year•ca. 24 hours/week•colleges (theory)•seminars (exercises, decision making and reasoning skills)•nursing skills (teaching of technical and social skills)•Nursing Practice & work placement

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Some goals

• Making theory concrete: • integrated skills education• more and more emphasis on

complex nursing care• theoretical education through case

based learning• attention for personal development• Innovative educational methods

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Skillslab training

• Theory + demonstration • Technical nursing skills and

communication through practice

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