Health has entered into a cooperation with eight municipalities and the Danish Nurses Organization (DNO), both of whom are looking for a new type of nurse known as an Advanced Practice Nurse. The analysis and development work begins now. If the new degree track is established, the commencement of studies will take place in September 2019.

2018.01.11 | Mette Louise Ohana

If the new education is established, it will be as a track on the existing Master’s degree programme in nursing.

With inspiration from abroad, where some countries already have Advanced Practice Nurses, the Danish Nurses Organization (DNO) and the municipalities of Aalborg, Aarhus, Esbjerg, Copenhagen, Norddjurs, Odense, Silkeborg and Randers, have contacted Health to establish a new programme. The title of advanced practice nurse covers nurses who have academic competences that enable them to e.g. analyse clinical nursing issues and to identify and propose solutions. The requirement for these nurses has arisen due to shifting tasks between hospitals and municipalities.  

The faculty management team at Health has just granted approval for a project group to examine the possibility of offering a track as part of the existing Master's degree programme in nursing under the Department of Public Health. Initially they will concentrate on a track that is aimed at the needs of the local healthcare service, i.e. healthcare tasks that are close to patients and others such as community nursing and healthcare centres.

Further clarification needed

However, clarification is needed before this stage is reached regarding how any degree track will fit into the existing study programmes being offered and the competences it needs to be able to offer. For Health, it is crucial that the new programme is research-based. 

A project group has been set-up which includes the degree programme director for the Master's degree programme in nursing, several academic staff representatives and the head of studies administration at Health. An advisory group with representatives from the Danish Nurses Organization (DNO) and the municipalities will also advise the project group in relation to the goals and content of the programme.

The work of analysing the basis for the degree track programme and then developing it will continue until November 2018 – which is when any academic regulations must be ready. A final decision will be made during the spring. If the degree track programme is approved, coming students will be able to apply from March 2019 with commencement of studies the following September. 

Contact

Vice-dean for Education Charlotte Ringsted
Health, Aarhus University
Mobile: (+45) 9350 8222
Email: charlotte.ringsted@au.dk