An Example: Course Developed in the Rotterdam Stroke Service (The Netherlands)

Abstract

The course in this book is intended for Licensed Practical Nurses, Registered Rurses (RN) and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) working on a stroke unit in a skilled nursing facility and/or rehabilitation center. We used a competence profile to clarify what the level of education is and what is expected during and after the course, so that the results of the education can also be guaranteed in practice. The competence profile is based on the model ‘Miller’s Pyramid’ which is briefly described in this chapter. We discuss the core competences of nurses using the terms: “Knows”, “Knows how”, “Shows how” and “Does”. The top level of the pyramid concerns independent acting in complex situations. This requires an integrated whole of knowledge, skills, attitude and personal qualities. A student who works well at the level ‘Does’ can be considered competent. The stroke rehabilitation course for nurses concludes with a final assignment. This consists of writing a paper and presenting the findings to the group. In this chapter the criteria for the paper are described.