Study Guide

Objective

You are familiar with evidence-based care and service chains for patients with various internal and cancer diseases as well as national and international care recommendations and guidelines.
You know the holistic care process of internal disease/cancer patients. You know how to provide care to patients suffering from the most common internal diseases or cancers at different stages of the care processes. You know how to create a written nursing plan.
You can systematically assess a patient’s condition using the ABCDE protocol as well as report and consult on the patient’s situation following the ISBAR method. You can use the NEWS scoring system to assess and monitor patients’ condition.
You can identify acute organ dysfunctions and know how to initiate care that supports patients’ organ functions. You are familiar with the in-hospital resuscitation protocol and know how to provide effective in-hospital resuscitation as part of a team.
You know the mechanisms of the most common internal and cancer diseases and the changes they cause in the body.
You know the basics of safe pharmacotherapy for internal medicine and cancer patients. You are familiar with the most important groups of medications and non-pharmacological and medicinal pain treatment.
You know the basics of diagnostic examinations and procedures required for clinical nursing. You know the most common medical devices in use and understand the principles of their safe use.
You can identify risk factors that impair health and functional and work capacity, and you can promote health using various guidance methods and digital applications as part of care and self-care guidance.
You can apply nutrition recommendations for internal medicine and cancer patients and identify patients/customers at risk of malnutrition.
You understand and know how to explain the importance of promoting health and well-being in terms of sustainability.

Content

-Most common national diseases and their evidence-based treatment and care
-Most important clinical examinations for internal medicine patients and assessment of patients’ condition
-Enteral nutrition
-Internal medicine patient care process
-Internal medicine patient care and service chains and various digital applications and solutions in internal medicine care
-Internal medicine pathophysiology, cancer development and pathology
-Medical devices and device safety

Location and time

Moodle opens in advance so students can start first Themes 1 and 2 Pre-Learning.
Moodle opens at latest on week 32.
Duration is from 11.8.2025 to 28.9.2025.

Materials

Linton A.D. 2016. Introduction to Medical-surgical nursing. (eBook)

Assessment and Management of Clinical Problems. MOSBY, Elsevier, China. Abrams, A.C., Pennington S.S., Lammon, C.B. 2009.

Clinical Drug Therapy, Rationales for Nursing Practice, Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, China. Adams, M.P., Holland, Jr, L.N., Bostwick, P. M. 2011 and 2014.

Pharmacology for Nurses. A Pathophysiologic Approach, Pearson Education, New Jersey, USA.

 

Additional material: The materials you have about Nursing Process. E.g. Berman, Audery ; Snyder, Shirlee J., 2012, Kozier & Erb's Evidence based nursing materials and articles material in the Moodle environment. EBMG, Evidence Based Medical Guidelines in Terveysportti.

Materials produced by students.

Material of Internal Medicine and Medical Nursing, Medication Therapy and Clinical Skills in Skhole and in Oppiportti.

Teaching methods

Read this carefully:

The Flipped-Learning is used as a pedagogical method during this course.

Flipped learning is a teaching method that reverses the traditional classroom approach. Instead of learning new concepts in class and doing homework later, students first study the material at home Theme by theme in Moodle through videos, readings, or lessons) and then use On-Campus- time for theory clinics, hand skill workshops, simulations and for interactive discussions, problem-solving. After On-Campus day of the theme students are going to do Learning Quiz of the theme/themes in Moodle. This Learning Quiz results are impacting to the overall grading of the course and it completes each Theme in Moodle.

How It Works:
*Pre-Campus Learning in Moodle – Students study Theme by theme, watch videos, read materials, or complete exercises at home to understand the basics before coming to class.
*Teacher’s Role – The teacher acts as a guide or coach, helping students deepen their understanding instead of just delivering lectures.
*Active Learning – Students engage in critical thinking, collaboration, and applying concepts in real-world scenarios.
*On-Campus Learning: workshop, simulation, clinical skills theory
*Zoom-Teaching: Medication Therapy, Pathophysiology, course info and debrief discussion at the end.

There will be active learning sessions (theory clinics) online and also on-campus, independent assignments in Moodle, teamwork in theory clinics and in workshops and in simulations, VR-simulation, Learning Quiz of each Theme, self- and peer evaluation.

To complete this course, student must be active and engage to perform all activities in Moodle platform on time, to participate to the on-campus-days as well as to the Zoom-sessions. So remember this when planning the schedule of the Semester. Create a study-calendar for your independent study as well, so that you have enough of time to learn and do the Themes on time.

Employer connections

Guided Practical Training in Medical Nursing and Internal Medicine (Sisätautipotilaan hoitotyön harjoittelu) is guided by responsible teacher before the training begins. The Teams invitation and information is going to be informed in this course-platform.

Career guidance: Potential visits from industry partners to skill workshops.

Exam schedules

In this course there won't be any final exam. The evaluation/examination of your competences happens through your performance in Learning Quizzes inside the Themes in Moodle and other parts e.g. assignments, active performance, bonus assignments of the course are also impacting to your grading.

Learning Quizzes:

Here are the opening days of the Learning Quizzes. Each Quiz are closing at the end of the course, so you can re-take them during this course to pass them, or to upgrade your grade.

Themes 1-2: Opens on 25.8.2025
Themes 3-4: Opens on 5.9.2025
Theme 5: Opens on 15.9.2025,
Theme 6: Opens on 24.9.2025

NOTE after taking the last Learning Quiz (theme 6), you must write your reflection discussion in the Theme 6 (reflection of the course). This reflection is mandatory.

A mandatory written communication assignment inside the Theme 2:
1st submission by 12.9.2025
2nd attempt by 26.9.2025
3rd, final attempt at latest 1.5.2026

Missing assignments can be completed by the end of the following semester or by enrolling in the next course implementation.

Completion alternatives

NOTE: If you are registered nurse outside the EU and you have work experience on Internal Medicine and Medical Nursing, please take a contact to responsible teacher.
*The process of identifying skills and competencies.

Compensatory work for missed skill workshops (to be decided separately for each case)

Content scheduling

The course progresses thematically in a structured manner. At the end of each theme, students take a learning quiz. After completing the learning quiz for the final theme, students participate in a reflection discussion in Moodle about their learning process and skill development.

Within each theme, there are self-study theoretical materials for pre-learning, learning assignments, and other supporting resources.

Content of the course:
*Care and service pathways for internal medicine patients, various digital applications and solutions in internal medicine nursing, as well as medical devices and equipment safety.
*Care process for internal medicine and oncology patients.
*Key common diseases and their evidence-based treatment and nursing practices.
*Essential clinical assessments for internal medicine patients and patient condition evaluation (cABCDE protocol, NEWS scoring).
*Management of disturbances in basic vital functions and in-hospital resuscitation.
*ISBAR method (Introduction, Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation).
*Pathophysiology of internal medicine and oncology diseases.
*Fluid and medication therapy in internal medicine and oncology (e.g. peripheral cannulation).
*Nutrition for internal medicine and oncology patients, enteral nutrition.

Further information

A student who has completed the course and passed the drug calculations successfully is eligible to continue to the medical nursing and internal medicine clinical training.

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Satisfactory (1–2)
You can describe evidence-based care and service chains for patients with various internal and cancer diseases and identify national and international care recommendations and guidelines.
You identify and describe the holistic nursing process of internal disease/cancer patients. You can describe the care provided to patients suffering from the most common internal diseases or cancers at different stages of the care processes. You know how to create a written nursing plan under supervision.
Under supervision, you can systematically assess a patient’s condition using the ABCDE protocol as well as describe the patient’s situation following the ISBAR method. Under supervision, you can use the NEWS scoring system to assess and monitor patients’ condition.
You can describe some acute organ dysfunctions and participate, under supervision, in nursing that supports patients’ organ functions.
You identify the in-hospital resuscitation protocol and participate, under supervision, in in-hospital resuscitation as part of a team. You identify and describe the mechanisms of the most common internal and cancer diseases and the changes they cause in the body.
You understand the basics of safe pharmacotherapy for internal medicine and cancer patients. You identify the most important groups of medications and the different methods of pain treatment.
You can describe the basics of the most common diagnostic examinations and procedures related to clinical nursing. You identify the most common medical devices in use and are familiar with their safe use.
You are aware of various risk factors that impair health and functional and work capacity as well as related means of health promotion.
You know the most common nutrition recommendations for internal medicine and cancer patients and know how to identify a patient/customer at risk of malnutrition.
You are able to reflect on and explain the importance of promoting health and well-being in internal medicine nursing in terms of sustainability.

Fail:
The student has not achieved an acceptable level of competence.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good (3–4)
You can describe and apply evidence-based care and service chains for patients with various internal and cancer diseases as well as national and international care recommendations and guidelines.
You can describe the holistic nursing process of internal disease/cancer patients and apply it in patient care. You know how to provide care to patients suffering from the most common internal diseases or cancers at different stages of the care processes. You know how to create a written nursing plan.
Partly under supervision, you can systematically assess a patient’s condition using the ABCDE protocol as well as report and consult on the patient’s situation following the ISBAR method. You can use the NEWS scoring system to assess and monitor patients’ condition.
You can identify the most common acute organ dysfunctions and partly under supervision, know how to initiate care that supports patients’ organ functions.
You are familiar with the in-hospital resuscitation protocol and know how to provide effective in-hospital resuscitation.
You know the mechanisms of the most common internal and cancer diseases and the changes they cause in the body.
You can describe and explain the principles of safe pharmacotherapy for internal medicine and cancer patients. You are familiar with the most important groups of medications and non-pharmacological and medicinal pain treatment.
You know the basics of the most common diagnostic examinations and procedures required for clinical nursing. You know the most common medical devices in use and know the principles of their safe use.
You can identify risk factors that impair health and functional and work capacity, and under supervision, you can promote health using various guidance methods and digital applications as part of care and self-care guidance.
You can apply a few nutrition recommendations for internal medicine and cancer patients and identify patients/customers at risk of malnutrition.
You are able to reflect on and explain the importance of promoting health and well-being in internal medicine nursing in terms of sustainability.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent (5)
You can assess and apply evidence-based care and service chains for patients with various internal and cancer diseases as well as national and international care recommendations and guidelines.
You know the holistic care process of internal disease/cancer patients. You know how to provide care to patients suffering from the most common internal diseases or cancers at different stages of the care processes, giving reasons for treatment choices. You know how to create a written nursing plan.
You can systematically assess a patient’s condition using the ABCDE protocol as well as report and consult on the patient’s situation following the ISBAR method. You can use the NEWS scoring system to assess and monitor patients’ condition.
You can identify acute organ dysfunctions and know how to initiate care that supports patients’ organ functions. You are familiar with the in-hospital resuscitation protocol and know how to provide effective in-hospital resuscitation as part of a team.
You know the mechanisms of the most common internal and cancer diseases and the changes they cause in the body.
You know the basics of safe pharmacotherapy for internal medicine and cancer patients. You are familiar with the most important groups of medications and non-pharmacological and medicinal pain treatment.
You know the basics of diagnostic examinations and procedures required for clinical nursing. You know the most common medical devices in use and know the principles of their safe use. You can identify risk factors that impair health and functional and work capacity, and you can promote health using various guidance methods and digital applications as part of care and self-care guidance.
You can apply nutrition recommendations for internal medicine and cancer patients and identify patients/customers at risk of malnutrition.
You are able to reflect on and explain the importance of promoting health and well-being in internal medicine nursing in terms of sustainability.

Pass/fail Radiation Safety:
When the student passes the course, they have gained the competence described in the course objectives. Competence is demonstrated by an exam.

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

FAIL:
The student has not achieved a satisfactory overall grade for the course.
The student has not completed all the required themes in theory (including theory learning in Moodle, independent assignments, the written communication assignment, and learning quizzes).
The student has absences that need to be compensated.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

Satisfactory (T1–T2)
You can describe evidence-based care and service chains for patients with various internal and cancer diseases and identify national and international care recommendations and guidelines.
You identify and describe the holistic nursing process of internal disease/cancer patients. You can describe the care provided to patients suffering from the most common internal diseases or cancers at different stages of the care processes. You know how to create a written nursing plan under supervision.
Under supervision, you can systematically assess a patient’s condition using the ABCDE protocol as well as describe the patient’s situation following the ISBAR method. Under supervision, you can use the NEWS scoring system to assess and monitor patients’ condition.
You can describe some acute organ dysfunctions and participate, under supervision, in nursing that supports patients’ organ functions.
You identify the in-hospital resuscitation protocol and participate, under supervision, in in-hospital resuscitation as part of a team. You identify and describe the mechanisms of the most common internal and cancer diseases and the changes they cause in the body.
You understand the basics of safe pharmacotherapy for internal medicine and cancer patients. You identify the most important groups of medications and the different methods of pain treatment.
You can describe the basics of the most common diagnostic examinations and procedures related to clinical nursing. You identify the most common medical devices in use and are familiar with their safe use.
You are aware of various risk factors that impair health and functional and work capacity as well as related means of health promotion.
You know the most common nutrition recommendations for internal medicine and cancer patients and know how to identify a patient/customer at risk of malnutrition.
You are able to reflect on and explain the importance of promoting health and well-being in internal medicine nursing in terms of sustainability.

Fail:
The student has not achieved an acceptable level of competence.