Master's Degree Programme in Emergency and Critical Care Nursing

Specific admission requirements

- Be the holder of a Bachelor degree in Nursing (a minimum of three years' study at a university and of a minimum of 180 ECTS, or equivalent according to the regulations in the country of origin and to the European regulations).
- Be proficient in English - Applicants must certify at least a B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages or its IELTS/TOEFL equivalent. The definition of "English speaking countries" must be agreed by all partners for a student to be exempt from English language requirements.
- At least three years of work experience in a relevant field after the final higher (tertiary) education degree certificate was issued. Only full-time work will be considered; part-time work will be converted into full-time work so that 150 hours or 20 full-time working days correspond to one month

Specific arrangements for recognition of prior learning

According to the Degree Regulations of Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences students may apply for identification and accreditation of prior learning as part of their compulsory or optional studies, provided they have prior learning corresponding to the curriculum before the course in question begins.

Qualification requirements and regulations

See the Degree Regulations of Helsinki Metropolia UAS >>

Profile of the programme

The Erasmus Mundus Master programme in Emergency and Critical Care Nursing (EMECC
NURSING) is the first international joint degree in advanced nursing available in Europe. The programme offers a highly specialized education in nursing, with an advanced perspective, focusing in two of the areas of the highest technological content and professional requirements: Emergency and Critical Care.
The EMECC NURSING is promoted by a consortium coordinated by the University of Oviedo
(Spain) and counting with the partnership of the Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences (Finland), the University of Algarve and the Polytechnic Institute of Santarém
(Portugal). The programme offers a 90 ECTS (one and a half year) Postgraduate course leading to an international joint degree and diploma supplement recognized by all the participating institutions. As befits a multinational initiative, students will have the advantage to receive their education in 2-6 specialized institutions across many countries, and the added value provided by cultural and language side-activities offered during the Programme.
The EMECC NURSING shall prepare nurse clinicians to provide advanced nursing care across the continuum of acute care services. The Master shall also prepare nurses to elaborate a research project (Master thesis) related with care of acutely ill patients or emergency care. The Master’s Degree Programme EMECC NURSING is based on a previous bachelor’s degree in nursing, as well as at least three years’ work experience in a relevant field after the final higher (tertiary) education. The Polytechnic Act (351/2003) and The Polytechnic Decree (352/2003) as well as their amendments (A 411/10.6.2005 and A 423/16.6.2005) apply to polytechnic bachelor and master’s degrees.
The EMECC NURSING Master main objective is to provide a structured and methodologically sound training programme that will cover the shortage of specially trained staff that burdens our health systems’ intensive and acute care services. The programme combines theoretical teaching, research methodology and activities, communication and management of critical scenarios and advanced evidence-based practice, using state of the art clinical technologies.
Technological evolution and service needs are increasing the professional requirements for emergency and intensive care nurses; they must be prepared to deal with life-threatening problems and complex situations in extreme environments, reasons why they should be endowed with specific knowledge, skills and attributes to provide care to critically ill or unstable patients and their families. Emergency nurses must be able to prioritize patient care and to provide accurate assessment and effective on going management for a diversity of patient populations. Nursing practice in emergency departments and intensive care units may range from life-saving interventions to providing health promotion and injury prevention information or managing critical situations. The target of this programme is to provide graduate nurses the possibility to obtain them in the course of their education, thus increasing their preparedness and employability before entering the market.

Key learning outcomes

The objective of the master’s degree programme is to meet the increasing requirements regarding competence rising from the needs of the work and social environment. The requirements for emergency and critical care nurse competence are derived from the changes in social structures, population and the service structures in health care as well as the balance between the increase in costs and reduced assets. Nationwide policies require developing new cross-administrational and -sectional services in social and health care (Government Policy Programme 2007).

Occupational profiles of graduates with examples

The EMECC NURSING Master will prepare clinician nurses to provide advanced nursing care within acute care services. To ensure students' preparedness and employability, the Master will grant them a solid theoretical background, evidence-based training and clinical hands-on internships. The Master will also prepare nurses to elaborate a research project (Master Thesis) related with care of unstable or acutely ill patients, therefore it will also qualify students in research methodology and train them in use of quality scientific literature to enhance their professional skills, to consider research as a relevant part of their professional practice, to motivate them to undertake additional studies to access a Doctorate degree and to understand the concept of Lifelong Learning. The learning outcomes are equivalent to level 7 in the European Qualifications Framework.

Access to further studies

The next step in career is a PhD program, however, bridging studies may be required.

Examination regulations, assessment and grading

According to the Degree Regulations of Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences course assessment criteria are specified in the course implementation plan. The teacher in charge of the course will be responsible for the assessment. Students must be informed at the beginning of the course on the assessment principles, which must be based on the course objectives. Assessment takes primarily place for each course and applies to the students who have registered and been accepted on the course. If necessary, different components of a course may be assessed individually. If the course consists of several components, the teacher may point this out in the assessment principles contained in the implementation plan.
The assessment scale is as follows: excellent (5), very good (4), good (3), very satisfactory (2), satisfactory (1), fail (0) and pass (P). Any deviations of this scale will be decided by the President.

Graduation requirements

A student is required to successfully complete the designated program of courses.

Mode of study

Students achieve their degree in apporximately 1,5 years.

Programme director

Head of Department
Päivi Haapasalmi
tel. +358401975895
firstname.lastname@metropolia.fi
Head of Degree Programme
Marianne Pitkäjärvi
tel. +358 50 362 4306
firstname.lastname@metropolia.fi

Level of qualification

Master's Degree (Second Cycle)

Workplacement(s) and Work-based Learning

The core curriculum for the EMECC programme has been designed in collaboration with an international and multidiciplinary group of stake holders in all consortium member countries. In Spain and Portugal, the students participate in bed-side nursing during their studies. At Metropolia, the emphasis of the clinical studies is more academic in nature, typically for other Master's programmes in Finland. The Master's Thesis is closely linked with the Universities' research agendas, ultimately aimed at development of the services provided to the public in each contry.

Obligatory or Optional Mobility

As EMECC is a joint degree, compulsory mobility is embedded in the core curricullum. THe students have to study in two different member countries, minimum. There are a limited amount of scholarships available also for faculty mobility.