Social change processes, such as demographic change and socio-cultural shifts, but above all increasing cost pressure, place new demands on nursing staff and their professional self-image. As a consequence, health and nursing education is also challenged to redesign itself. There is a need for an equally practice-oriented and scientifically oriented range of courses at university level, in order to be able to prepare the upper level of the health and nursing service adequately for current and future developments in practice. Accordingly, the bachelor's degree program in "Healthcare and Nursing" offers a sound basic education on a scientific basis and with a high degree of practical relevance.
The degree program "Healthcare and Nursing" of the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences offers a sound, generalistic basic education that prepares students in the best possible way for the new tasks, competences and responsibilities of the higher service in health and nursing and provides the prerequisites for specialization trainings that deepen or broaden competences.
Graduates of the CUAS bachelor's degree program acquire the professional competence for the exercise of their profession, which includes subject and methodological competence as well as instrumental and technical competence. The professional competence is divided into the following competences, derived from the task areas of nursing:
- Individual-related competence: Graduates learn to apply their well-founded abilities and skills in the areas of competence (core competence in nursing, competence in medical diagnostics and therapy as well as competence in multi-professional care teams) of professional nursing to individuals, families and groups. They are able to perform demanding and complex nursing tasks and take over the professional management in nursing practice. They also have the skills to work in a multi-professional team.
- Organisational competence: Graduates can effectively and efficiently apply their knowledge of business administration, organisation theory and business management to their work in health care and nursing and weigh up professional ethics, economic efficiency and individuality in decision-making.
- Sociopolitical competence: Graduates are able to introduce the nursing perspective on health, functional impairment or damage, illness, dying or death into the socio-political discourse and to participate in or organize relevant events, actions, working groups, programs and projects. They also have the competence to perceive the range of tasks of health promotion and prevention - especially in schools, childcare facilities, companies and communities - and to develop innovative concepts for these areas.
