Nursing of Patients with Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases (9cr)

Learning outcomes

Student is able to
- describe changes in the body caused by the most common internal medicine and infectious diseases
- describe the main diagnostic tests and principles of care and prevention of internal medicine and infectious diseases
- apply research data and recommendations on the most important treatment methods, procedures and monitoring of patients with internal medicine and infectious diseases
- justify the significance of self-care guidance for patients with internal medicine and infectious diseases and describe its main contents
- describe the principles and main methods of treating a chronic wound
- explain the principles of the mechanism and treatment of chronic pain as part of the treatment of patients with internal medicine diseases
- use digital tools in monitoring the health status of patients with internal medicine and infectious diseases
- describe and justify the nurses´ actions in situations requiring immediate care and resuscitation
- justify the significance and methods of nutritional care as part of the treatment of patients with internal medicine diseases
- describe how the patient is prepared for and guided in the most common medical imaging examinations
- promote patient safety and prevent hazardous incidents at all stages of internal medicine and infectious patients care process

Teaching methods

The implementation plan is available in Finnish.

Time and location

Check the course schedule in Lukkarikone at https://lukkarit.laurea.fi. Laurea reserves the right to make changes.

Learning materials and recommended literature

Resuscitation, 1 ECTS
Resuscitation. Current Care Guideline 2021.

Nursing Care for Patients with Internal Medicine Infections, 4 ECTS
Lectures, online assignments, and other written materials. Details will be provided at the start of the course.

Knowledge Test: Competence in Internal Medicine Nursing
Supporting materials for preparation:
The knowledge base for the Internal Medicine Nursing Competence Test is part of the core competencies defined in the nursing curriculum. The topics covered in the test are included in various courses within Module II. Progressing according to the course plan and completing learning tasks will ensure your preparation for the test.

Alternative completion methods of implementation

According to the Degree Regulations (2024), a student has the right to apply for recognition of prior learning regardless of where, how, or when the competence was acquired. At Laurea, recognition and accreditation of prior learning are carried out through two procedures:
a) Credit transfer (competence acquired in studies at another higher education institution)
b) Competence demonstration (competence acquired in other ways).
The student initiates the process of recognition and accreditation of prior learning. It is the student’s responsibility to demonstrate and verify their competence. More information on credit transfer and competence demonstrations is available on the student intranet.
To acquire competence, you can also consider the possibility of work-based learning. Read more about work-based learning on the student intranet.

Important dates

Based on the Degree Regulations (2024), a student admitted to the course is required to confirm their participation by showing activity at the start of the course as follows:
To demonstrate activity, the student must either attend the first contact session or inform the responsible teacher of their absence to confirm participation in the course. The registration will be cancelled if the student does not report their absence from the first session or if the reason for absence cannot be considered justified. Another student may be admitted in their place.

The first contact session will be on xx.x.2026.

The course includes mandatory clinical nursing workshops and simulations for students. The schedules for workshops and simulations can be found in the course timetable.

Student workload

The workload for the course is designed so that one ECTS credit corresponds to an average of 26.7 hours of student work to achieve the intended learning outcomes. The actual time required may vary individually, for example, due to prior knowledge.

Content and scheduling

Course Components
1. Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases – 2 ECTS
Includes Imaging and Radiation Safety

Learning outcomes:
Describe the changes in the body caused by major internal and infectious diseases
Describe key diagnostic tests and principles of prevention and treatment for internal medicine and infectious disease patients
Apply research evidence and guidelines when planning care for patients with internal and infectious diseases, including main treatments, procedures, and monitoring


2. Nursing Care for Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease Patients – 4 ECTS

Learning outcomes:
Justify the importance of self-care guidance for patients with internal and infectious diseases and describe its key contents
Describe principles and main methods of chronic wound care
Explain mechanisms of chronic pain and principles of its management as part of internal medicine care
Use digital tools for monitoring the health status of patients with internal and infectious diseases
Justify the importance and methods of nutritional care as part of treatment
Describe how to prepare and guide patients for key imaging examinations
Promote patient safety and prevent adverse events throughout the care process


3. Resuscitation – 1 ECTS

Learning outcomes:
Describe and justify the actions of a nurse/public health nurse in situations requiring immediate care and resuscitation

4. Clinical Nursing Workshops and Simulations – 2 ECTS

5. General Nursing Knowledge Test

Further information

The course is at the level required for studies leading to a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Participation is always conditional on meeting any prerequisite competences specified in the curriculum (previous course or equivalent competence).

The student is responsible for ensuring that these prerequisites are met. Admission to the course requires that the student has mainly completed the studies in Module 1 of Laurea’s nursing degree programme. The course implementation has been evaluated using teaching quality criteria. The self-assessment is available to students in Canvas.

Evaluation scale

H-5

Evaluation methods and criteria

Assessment of Competence
Competence is assessed against the stated learning objectives, and the level of competence is evaluated based on the assessment criteria specified in the course implementation plan (Degree Regulations 2024).
The course is graded on a scale from T1 to K5, and the grade is determined by the numerical assessment of the National Internal Medicine Nursing Competence Test (YleSH test).

Additional Assessed Components:

Workshops: Pass/Fail; criterion: active participation in workshops
Simulations: Pass/Fail; criterion: active participation in simulations
Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases online course (2 ECTS): Pass/Fail; criterion: minimum 42 points out of 70
Assignments submitted in Canvas: Pass/Fail; criterion: tasks completed according to instructions and deadlines

Assessment Framework
The assessment applies the Level I criteria of the competence evaluation framework for bachelor-level students. Key areas:

Professional Knowledge Base, Information Retrieval, and Reporting:
Grade 5:
Use professional terminology comprehensively
Compare and select appropriate information
Report and communicate professionally

Grade 3-4:
Use professional terminology consistently
Gather and apply relevant information
Report as agreed

Grade 1-2:
Use key professional terms
Search for information from various sources
Report basic findings

Professional Practice and Development:
Evaluated mainly in workshops and simulations (not numerically graded); requires professional conduct and interaction
Grade 5:
Act independently using learned skills and methods
Take responsibility for collaboration and meeting client needs
Anticipate guidance needs

Grade 3-4:
Act using learned skills and methods
Work professionally with clients and partners, recognizing their needs
Participate in and utilize guidance


Grade 1-2:
Act under supervision using learned skills
Interact with clients and partners
Accept guidance

Teamwork, Leadership, and Responsibility:
Evaluated mainly in workshops and simulations (not numerically graded); requires professional interaction
Grade 5:
Promote group functioning and atmosphere
Manage time effectively and deliver agreed tasks at required quality
Act responsibly and apply learned skills
Plan and evaluate actions considering safety and ethics

Grade 4-3:
Work purposefully in a group
Plan and manage own work and time
Identify safety risks
Justify actions according to professional ethics

Grade 1-2:
Act as a group member
Plan own work under guidance
Act safely and ethically
Follow given instructions and rules

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

Students who do not demonstrate competence at the required level must complete or retake their performance as defined by the teacher within the specified time. If the student fails to achieve a passing grade despite the opportunity to supplement, they must retake the course as agreed with the teacher. (Degree Regulations 2024)

All Laurea members are expected to follow good scientific practices, including proper referencing. Familiarize yourself with these practices and ask if needed. All assignments are individual unless otherwise instructed. The teacher will inform students about plagiarism checks during assignment review.