Faculty of Nursing

Faculty of Nursing
Medical Academy
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
Eiveniu g. 4, 6th floor; LT- 50161 Kaunas, Lithuania
Phone: +370 37 327234
Email: slaugos.fakultetas@lsmuni.lt

The Faculty of Nursing - WHO Collaborating Center for Nursing Education and Practice

From 5^th of October, 2016 The Faculty of Nursing of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences will assist the World Health Organization (WHO). The Nursing Faculty has become WHO Collaborating Center for Nursing Education and Practice. This right is granted for four years. The head of the WHO Collaborating Center is prof. Jūratė Macijauskienė and prof. Aurelija Blaževičienė.

	Strategic Nursing and Midwifery Roles in the European Region in pursuit of the Health 2020 goals
	WHO Regional Director's confirmation that the Faculty of Nursing of the LSMU became the WHO Collaborating Center

Studies

The Faculty offers 4 bachelor's (undergraduate) degree programmes, i.e. Nursing, Midwifery, Physiotherapy, and Occupational Therapy, and 4 master's (postgraduate) degree programmes, i.e. Nursing Leadership, Advanced Nursing Practice; Health promotion and rehabilitation and Art Therapy. The Faculty offers 3 programs in English: 2 bachelor's (undergraduate) degree programmes i.e. Nursing and Occupational Therapy, and 1 master's (postgraduate) degree programme - Advanced Nursing Practice. Graduate students who are highly qualified have the right to work in the country's health care institutions.

Undergraduate Curriculum

Students begin their studies at the University with general subjects and focus more on nursing (or occupational therapy, physical therapy, midwifery or other fields depending on the programme) as their studies continue. Much emphasis is placed on clinical practice and work with patients. The LSMU Hospital, Kaunas Red Cross Nursing and Palliative Care Hospital, Kaunas Clinical Hospital, Kaunas Child Development Hospital and Child Mental Retardation Centre pose excellent environments for gaining practical skills.

Teaching Methods

The study process is divided into semesters and consists of lectures, seminars, practical sessions and self-studies. Nursing and midwifery programmes at the undergraduate level are module-based, which gives better learning opportunities and corresponds to the EU standards for nursing. The main focus is placed on the competence required for the field of specialisation.

The Faculty in the Past and Today

The mission of the Faculty of Nursing is to educate and improve highly qualified nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy and occupational therapy specialists by providing the knowledge and professional skills and forming the system of attitudes and values, to conduct research in nursing, midwifery, rehabilitation, gerontology, physical therapy and occupational therapy and to participate in the creation and implemetation of the health policy and strategy. The Faculty of Nursing promotes international cooperation of teachers and student exchange programmes.
The Faculty consists of the main academic departments: clinical department of Rehabilitation, clinical department of geriatric medicine, clinical department of Behaviour Medicine, Department of Nursing and Care and Institute of Sport. In the Faculty of Nursing, students are actively involved in various academic activities. The diploma of nurses and rehabilitation graduates is recognised internationally.

Tasks of the Faculty

The Faculty of Nursing offers a full range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes and ensures that students gain necessary qualifications and a professional identity. The devoted, diverse and professional employees on the teaching and research staff make a major contribution to knowledge, health policies and future practice.

The objectives:

To ensure availability of the studies in the Faculty of Nursing to young people and specialists in health care and other related professions.
To integrate a wide range of nursing, midwifery, occupational therapy, physical therapy, gerontology and geriatric study programmes and research.
With the help of information technology and effective teaching methods, to prepare highly skilled nurses, midwives, occupational therapists and physiotherapists as well as actively participate in the training of other health care professionals.

History

In 1990, Kaunas Medical Academy took into account the request of Merciful Sisters Society and recommendations of the regional meeting of Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian specialists and appealed to the Ministry of Health to obtain permission to prepare nurses with higher education.

In 1990, Rector prof. A. Praskevičius issued an order to start preparing nurses with higher education. On 1 September, 1990, the first 50 student nurses were admitted. Assoc. prof. S. Gendvilis was appointed the supervisor of the study programme. The study programme was developed following the experience of nursing faculties of Polish universities and medical academies.

In 1992, by the order of Rector V. Grabauskas, assoc. prof A. Šeškevičius was appointed the vice- dean, and on his initiative the Faculty of Nursing was established. Assoc. prof. A. Šeškevičius was appointed the dean. The training programme was modified in accordance with the WHO requirements for nurses, midwives and social workers and Lithuanian Law on Higher Education for the bachelor‘s degree in nursing.