New Master’s programmes for working professionals in Nursing on the West Coast

Nurses in many places would like to enhance their qualifications in hospital practice and new knowledge. Such a combination of university and clinically oriented learning and development in the field is now becoming a reality in Southwest Jutland.

A new agreement between the University of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg Hospital and the University Hospital of Southern Denmark, means that nurses from the hospital, from psychiatry, or from the local municipalities can now apply for a new professional master's program, where the teaching takes place partially at the hospital in Esbjerg.

Previously, local nurses had to go to cities like Aarhus or Odense if they wanted to pursue the master's degree component. The new professional master's program allows for both maintainNurses in many places aspire to improve their qualifications in hospital practice and gain new knowledge. This combination of university-based and clinically- oriented learning and development is now becoming a reality in Southwest Jutland.

A new partnership involving the University of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg Hospital, the University Hospital of Southern Denmark, allows nurses from the hospital, from psychiatry, and from local municipalities to apply for a new professional master's program. The program includes partial instruction at the hospital in Esbjerg.

Previously, local nurses had to travel to cities like Aarhus or Odense to pursue the master's degree component. The new professional master's program enables nurses to maintain their current jobs while pursuing advanced education.

"By integrating practice-based development with the latest research-based knowledge, we ensure the best possible impact of development initiatives for patients and their families," says Merete Munk, Education and Secretariat Manager at the Faculty of Health Sciences at SDU.

As a student, you become part of a local professional community and study environment, while also establishing a connection to the educational professional environment primarily located in Odense.

Key features of the new professional master's program include:

• Participants continue working as nurses for 25 hours per week.
• The remaining work hours are dedicated to studying. Over four years, participants receive education and engage in development projects at their own workplace.
• SDU is responsible for the education and teaching, with a focus on conducting classes at Esbjerg Hospital.
• Supervisors come from both SDU and the participant's employer for the master's specialization.
• The first cohort is scheduled to commence on September 1, 2023.
  
  

The additional education is considered vital in helping the hospital adapt to changes in healthcare and patient needs. The program’s cross-sectoral focus is developed in collaboration with local municipalities, who are also expected to recommend candidates for the program.

Charlotte Mose Hansen, Director of Nursing at Esbjerg Hospital, notes "It is essential that our nurses possess not only strong clinical competencies but also a solid academic foundation that emphasizes nursing development in daily practice.

She adds, "In the hospital's management circle and in the region, the candidates’ knowledge and competencies are in high demand for development tasks and daily clinical work, benefiting colleagues and patients.

This new agreement between Esbjerg Hospital and SDU draws inspiration from a similar professional master's program collaboration between Region Zealand and SDU.
ing one's existing job and furthering education at a high level.

- By connecting practice-based development with the latest research-based knowledge, the impact of development initiatives is ensured to be the best possible for patients and their families, says Merete Munk, Education and Secretariat Manager at the Faculty of Health Sciences at SDU.

As a student, you become part of a local professional community and study environment, while also establishing a connection to the educational professional environment, which is based in places like Odense.

The new professional master's program will have the following key features:

• Participants continue their clinical work as nurses for 25 hours per week.
• The remaining hours in employment are dedicated to studying, where over four years, participants receive education and work on development projects at their own workplace.
• SDU is responsible for the education and teaching, which takes place as much as possible at Esbjerg Hospital.
• Supervisors come from both SDU and the participant's employer for the master's specialization.
• The first cohort starts on September 1, 2023.

The additional education is seen as a push that can help the hospital keep up with changes in healthcare and patient needs. The education is also characterized by its cross-sectoral focus and is developed in collaboration with municipalities in the area, who are also expected to send applicants to the program.

- It is crucial that we have nurses who, in addition to having strong clinical competencies, also have a solid academic background that focuses on the development of nursing in everyday life, says Charlotte Mose Hansen, Director of Nursing at Esbjerg Hospital. "In the hospital's management circle and in the region, the knowledge and competencies of the candidates are in high demand for development tasks and daily clinical work in interaction with colleagues and patients," Charlotte Mose Hansen adds.

The new agreement between Esbjerg Hospital and SDU is inspired by a collaboration between Region Zealand and SDU on a similar professional master's program.