The pilot courses are implemented in nursing degree programme. Some of the pilot courses are organized together with maritime and nursing institutions. The content is compliant with Nursing Degree Program and relevant maritime regulations.
Four related courses are developed:
Opportunities in new technology for responding to the emergencies, such as intelligent medical equipment, have become available. These can be used to counteract the challenges. The continuous technological change requires new structures to curricula, practices of lifelong learning and continuous medical education for the personnel. Learning objectives of this course are related to patient examination as well as monitoring and treating patients with medical equipment.
Communication in medical emergency cases is important, as patients onboard may be assisted only people who have minimal medical training. Multinational crews and reduced manning are increasing the challenges. Fortunately, telemedicine is providing new possibilities. Learning objectives of the course relate to communication in emergency. Participants learn about telemedicine systems onboard and roles of personnel in emergency situations. On telemedicine and telehealth, participants learn of consultation for the crew members on board, and of consultation of the doctor out of the ship (ship to shore).
Topics of the course are diseases and injuries, emergency first aid, ship pharmacy and nursing process documentation and reporting by ISBAR. Learning objectives of the course are related to independent work in emergency care situations and co-operation with authorities in treatments, making working diagnosis and an emergency care plan, based on patient history, observations, symptoms and findings in collaboration with a physician.
IMO (International Maritime Organization) has set minimum requirements of on board medical first aid and medical care for seafaring personnel. The content of education is well defined, and mostly the development is directed to teaching methods and materials. Learning objectives of the course are medical first aid for seafarers and medical care and medical first aid for ship officers. After attending the courses, the participants have good competence about the subjects and first aid in emergency situations on board. They are able to recognise the immediate need for help of an emergency patient, and to identify the urgency of care, on the basis of symptoms. Participants know how to examine and treat emergency patients, in order to support and assess the sufficiency of the patient’s vital functions. Further, the participants learn the basics of patient transfer and evacuation, as well as radio medical advice.