EDUCATION. The University of Gothenburg has lost its degree awarding powers for the specialist nursing programs specializing in surgery, oncology and psychiatric care, since The Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ) determined that there were deficiencies in educational quality. The result does not affect current students, however, it means that fall admissions are stopped. Work on correcting the noted deficiencies is already underway, and targets the university regaining its degree awarding powers, as soon as possible.
The specialist nursing program is an advanced level education for registered nurses. The program leads to a specialist nursing degree with a specialty in a certain field of expertise and a master’s degree. The program is conducted at the Institute of Health and Care Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy and has eleven different specialties.
The Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ) has, in its quality assurance review of the country’s specialist nursing programs, determined that the University of Gothenburg’s program that leads to specialist nursing degrees in surgery, psychiatry and oncology care, are deficient in a few individual goals, for the respective programs. The three programs were started, at the University of Gothenburg, in the fall of 2013, that is, at the same time that UKÄ initiated its evaluation of them.
“They are half-time programs and the students combine their studies with their work as nurses. We have developed the programs so that they are adapted to the ever increasing advanced healthcare requirements,” says Carina Sparud Lundin, Deputy Head responsible for the programs at the Institute of Health and Care Sciences.
Several supervisors
The deficiencies that UKÄ pointed out concern a few individual goals for the practical part of the program, where UKÄ states that the University of Gothenburg cannot ensure that the students reach all examination targets. Traditionally, an experienced specialist nurse has acted as a specifically appointed supervisor during the practical part of the program of specialist nurses, but Gothenburg chose another solution.
“Within the actual program, our students have had several supervisors. We have also involved other professions, for example, doctors as both supervisors and examiners. Healthcare has been extremely positive to this structuring during the planning and execution of these educations,” says Silvana Naredi, Deputy Head responsible for the undergraduate and graduate level programs at Sahlgrenska Academy.
Current students not affected
UKÄ, however, believes that it is impossible to ensure that the students reach all examination targets, with this structuring of the practical part of the program – a critique that Sahlgrenska Academy has embraced:
“We have already begun work on adjusting the programs’ structuring. The practical part of the program will be developed according to UKÄ’s directives. Sahlgrenska Academy has excellent teacher competence for all three of the programs and we, therefore, have great confidence in being able to apply for new degree awarding powers, as soon as possible,” says Silvana Naredi.
“We apologize that the decision has occurred so close to this year’s admissions, as it will have consequences for both students and healthcare that have planned for a fall program start. At this time, we cannot accept any new students to the planned fall program and the applicants will be advised of this,” says Carina Sparud Lundin.
The students that are already studying in the actual programs are not affected by the decision, and are able to complete their studies at Sahlgrenska Academy.
