AN ASSURANCE FOR QUALITY IN NURSING
At Lovisenberg Diaconal University College (LDH) in Oslo/Norway, VAR not only provides assurance of quality, but also contributes to continuity and interaction across study pathways. "We educate for evidence-based nursing and therefore use VAR systematically. VAR not only provides assurance of quality, but also contributes to continuity and interaction across study pathways, says former rector of LDH, Lars Mathisen.
Lovisenberg Diaconal College (LDH) was the first school in Norway to offer its own nursing education. From its inception in 1868, the college has been a driving force for evidence-based nursing, where the care of our neighbor has been at the center.
This is also the case today. Quality and charity are the values on which all educational programs at LDH are based. Teachers and students have extensive experience in using VAR Healthcare.
"In the practical training, we certainly see the benefit of VAR being used in the practice field, so that the students are met with the same requirements for evidence-based practice in the practice field as we have at the school," says Kjersti Nævestad, who is Head of Studies at LDH.
"Another important benefit is that the students learn to justify their actions and argue for good practice, if in practice they encounter 'this is how we do it here'."
The Skills Lab has a central place
Ina Marie Thon Aamodt is the general manager of LDH Skills Lab.
She points to the number of procedures and updated content as a strength of VAR.
"VAR is used in both bachelor's programmes in nursing, master's programmes and further education. In all studies, the skills lab is used and we see a clear value for new learning, practice and for repetition.
VAR contains many procedures and is updated with the latest knowledge, so also experienced nurses who participate in our master's/further education programmes benefit greatly from VAR."
Model for practical skills
The procedures in VAR are based on the Model for practical skills development, developed by Prof. Ida Torunn Bjørk.
"The model is also actively used in teaching and supervision in nursing at LDH," says Nævestad. "The elements of the model; Substance, sequence, accuracy, flow, integration and care give us a common language and, not least, systematics in the guidance."
Programme in clinical supervision
Lovisenberg Diaconal University College has developed a modular study programme in clinical supervision, divided into three modules and with 10 credits.
Pedagogical theory and practical clinical supervision are linked through testing of supervision skills in the skills lab.
The programme uses the Model for practical skills practice as one of several tools for supervision.