The Department of Nursing

The Department of Nursing at the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) was established by state law in 2003 and welcomed its first undergraduate students in the academic year 2007/2008.

It is the only Nursing Department in a public educational institution in the country and has been established as a national benchmark in nursing education and research at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Graduates of the Department of Nursing of the Cyprus University of Technology are nurses with completed scientific and theoretical education, evidence-based Practicum/ clinical training, communication skills, interdisciplinary collaboration skills, research elaboration skills and leadership potentials in the field of health.

Undergraduate Curriculum – Practicum / Clinical Training

The nursing training at the Cyprus University of Technology is regulated by the Cyprus University of Technology Law (2003), the Law on quality assurance in higher education (2015) while the professional consolidation of the nurse profession is regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Laws of 1988 to 2017 of the Republic of Cyprus.

According to the latter Law, the Practicum/Clinical Training corresponds to the 50% of the nursing education time (2300 hours) and is defined as that part of nurse training in which students are trained as part of the health practitioners’ team, getting and in direct contact with a healthy or ill person, family, community and / or group of people, organizing, providing and evaluating the overall nursing care required based on the knowledge, skills and competencies acquired.

The undergraduate curriculum is a four-year course and includes compulsory and elective modules. The Practicum/Clinical Training starts in the 2nd semester of study and takes place 7 hours per week, under the guidance of experienced professional nurses acting as Mentors and Clinical Training Coordinators. Modules requiring a Practicum/Clinical Training are reported every semester for the entire undergraduate curriculum in Table 1. Undergraduate Curriculum Modules per semester requiring Practicum / Clinical Training (create link to this title)

All annexes to all subcategories are under ' Useful Documents '

* This Guide has been approved by the Council of the Department of Nursing.

The Council of the Department of Nursing reserves the right to the present document’s review.

POLICIES OF NURSING SERVICES DIRECTORATE OF THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH &

THE CYPRUS UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY FOR PRACTICUM / CLINICAL TRAINING OF NURSING STUDENTS

Since September 2013, the Nursing Services Directorate (NSD) of the Ministry of Health has been in charge of coordinating Students’ Practicum/ Clinical Training in Public Hospitals / Structures. For the smooth conduct of Practicum/ Clinical Training and for maximizing educational opportunities in the clinical setting, the NSD has established the Students’ Practicum/ Clinical Training Policy, which has been revised in May 2015. The Cyprus University of Technology complies with this policy in order to place Nursing students in Public Hospitals / Structures for Practicum/ Clinical Training.

Approval Procedure for Practicum/ Clinical Training in Public Hospitals

The procedure of securing an approval for the Practicum / Clinical Training of undergraduate students is a detailed process that involves different individuals and services of the CUT and the Ministry of Health and is followed accurately every year.

Prerequisites for Enrolling in the Practicum/ Clinical Training

In order to allow each student to participate in the Practicum/ Clinical Training, the following is necessary:

• Insurance coverage of CUT students in order for the Practicum /Clinical Training to be licensed by the Nursing Services Directorate of the Ministry of Health
• Signed Declaration on the special form (Annex I) by each student.
• Signed Health Certificate, which is under the responsibility of the officers of the CUT Department of Nursing, certifying the administration of Hepatitis B, MMR vaccines as well as the Mantoux test, being certified by a State Medical Officer (Annex II ).

People involved in the Practicum / Clinical Training

In order to ensure the most effective and efficient Practicum / Clinical Training of students in the clinic, different people from different departments (Ministry of Health, CUT, Hospitals) play distinct roles and cooperate as a team. The individuals / roles are listed below.

1. Mentor
2. Head of the Department of Nursing
3. Hospital Practicum/Clinical Training Coordinator (Hospital PCT Coordinator) (appointed by the Management of the Hospital).
4. Practicum / Clinical Training Coordinator of Department of Nursing, CUT
5. Practicum / Clinical Training Supervisor of Department of Nursing, CUT.
6. Practicum/Clinical Training Coordinator of the Nursing Services   Directorate (PCT Coordinator of NSD)  

Each role is described in detail below:

1) MENTOR 

• Applies and makes effective use of theoretical knowledge in the clinical training in accordance with the rules and principles of nursing science and functions as a member of the nursing team.
• Guides students towards achievement of their educational goals, which are set out in the description of each module of the Department of Nursing, CUT.
• Evaluates the quality of care provided by students.
• Motivates the student's interest in learning.
• Protects the student and becomes their advocate.
• Protects the patient and becomes their advocate (within the context of the Students’ Practicum / Clinical Training).
• Guides students to act in accordance with the rules of ethics and code of conduct.
• Controls the time of arrival and departure, the attendance and behaviour of students. In case a problem occurs, the Mentor informs the Head of the department and the Coordinator of the CUT and completes the appropriate form ( "Incident Report Form" Annex III ), which will deliver to the Practicum / Clinical Training Coordinator of the CUT , with a copy being delivered to the Hospital PCT Coordinator.

• Collaborates with the Practicum/ Clinical Training Coordinator of the Department of Nursing, CUT, on matters related to the content of training, the educational methodology and the evaluations.
• Attends meetings organized by the CUT Department of Nursing for educational or informational purposes.
• In case of a student’s absence, the Mentor informs accordingly the Head of work shift and the Practicum / Clinic Training Coordinator of the CUT. The Mentor completes the relevant form ("Student Absence Form" - Annex IV), which is delivered to the Practicum / Clinical Training Coordinator of the CUT. The Mentor maintains his/her own record of absences (up to three months after completion of the academic semester).
• Ensures an environment that promotes learning goals.

Mentor’s working hours:

a) Morning shift: 7:15 am - 12:15 pm (or 7:00 am - 12:00 pm, depending on the operation hours of each hospital)

b) Afternoon shift: 1:15 pm - 6:15 pm (or 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm, depending on the operation hours of each Hospital)

* If the Mentor works in the morning shift in his/her department, then his/her duties as an Afternoon Mentor begin at 1:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

* If the Mentor works in the night shift in his/her department, them he/she can work as a Mentor as follows:

• During the morning shift of the same day
• During the following night shift ( night off )
• In the structures of the Community, working hours vary

* If there is a transfer of Mentor to another Hospital, the applicable afternoon working hours will be 2:15 pm. - 7:15 pm

2) HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NURSING/ NURSING SHIFT

Ø Checks:      

• The time of arrival and departure of the Mentor (from where he / she is employed) and the students (in case no Mentor is employed).
• The students’ and Mentor’s keeping up with breaks.
• The students’ and Mentor’s (where employed) attendance.

• The students’ and Mentor’s attitude and behaviour.
• The Students’ Practicum / Clinical Training Programme and keeps a record. If a problem occurs, the Head timely informs the Hospital PCT Coordinator.   

Ø Ensures - in collaboration with Mentor - the quality of student nursing care provided.      

Ø In case of absence of Mentor, the Head informs the Hospital PCT Coordinator. In addition, the Head entrusts the supervision of the Practicum / Clinical Training of students to nurses of the department by name,  the latter being recorded on the job allocation form.        

Ø If no Mentor is employed, the Head entrusts by name the supervision of the Practicum / Clinical Training of Students to nurses of the Department, whose names are recorded on the job allocation form. In case of absence of a student (when no Mentor is employed), the Head completes the form of student’s absence on the same day and informs the Practicum / Clinical Training Coordinator of the CUT who collects the form. At the same time, the Head keeps a record of the absences, up to 3 months after the completion of the Students’ Practicum/Clinical Training.      

Ø In case of a student’s absence when a Mentor is employed, the Head signs the "Student Absence Form" (Appendix IV ), which is completed and managed by the Mentor .      

Note: If the Head of the Department of Nursing is absent, the above responsibilities are undertaken by the person in charge of the shift.

The Mentor must provide guidance to Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 students. In cases where no Mentors are available, the responsibility of mentoring the students is allocated by name to the nursing staff on-duty. In case no Mentors are available, the CUT in consultation with the Nursing Services Directorate has the right to move the students from the particular hospital. After completion of the Year 3 programme, students can also carry out their Practicum / Clinical Training in night shifts.

3) HOSPITAL PRACTICUM/ CLINICAL TRAINING COORDINATOR  

• Has general supervision of the proper functioning of students’ Practicum/ Clinical Training.
• Cooperates with Head officers of the hospital departments, Practicum / Clinical Training Coordinators of the CUT Department of Nursing as well as the Mentors.

• Collaborates and communicates with the PCT Coordinator of the Nursing Services Directorate, who is responsible for the particular hospital, on issues that require management by the Nursing Services Directorate.
• Keeps record of Mentor’s absences, which delivers to the PCT Coordinator of the NSD upon completion of each clinical guidance period.
• Receives a completed "Mentor’s Compensation Form" from the Mentors.
• Delivers both forms ("Mentor’s Absence Form" and "Mentor’s Compensation Form") to the PCT Coordinator of the NSD within 10 days after the Practicum / Clinical Training completion.
• Receives the students’ programme from the PCT Coordinator of the NSD and forwards it to Mentors and various nursing departments.
• Visits the departments on a daily basis, identifies any problems and ensures that they are resolved immediately.
• In cases where no Mentor is employed, the Hospital PCT coordinator ensures that students’ supervision is assigned to the nursing staff of the department and that the daily job allocation form is recorded.

4) PRACTICUM/ CLINICAL TRAINING COORDINATOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NURSING, CUT

• Guides and works closely with the Mentor on the methodology and quality of students’ education.
• Confirms that the learning objectives of the Practicum / Clinical Training have been achieved.
• Collaborates with Mentor and the Head of the Department to conduct scheduled evaluations in the clinical setting.
• Communicates and collaborates with the Head of the Department for problems that may occur, particularly in cases where no Mentor is employed.
• Gets updated on absences of students from the Mentor or the Head of shift and settles their replacement.
• Informs the Practicum / Clinical Training Supervisor of the Department of Nursing on anything falls into his/her perception concerning the Practicum / Clinical Training that should be reported to the Nursing Services Directorate.  
• Conducts visits to hospitals at least once a week throughout the Practicum / Clinical Training duration of the students of the CUT Department of Nursing.
• If realised that the Mentor's role deviates from the predetermined responsibilities (as described in a previous section) then he/she supervises the Mentor more closely, providing guidance. If the Mentor does not comply with the instructions, then the Coordinator notifies the Practicum / Clinical Training Supervisor of the Department of Nursing to update the PCT Coordinator of the NSD of the respective hospital.
• Prior to the start of each academic semester, the Coordinator meets with all Mentors in the local Hospitals.

5) PRACTICUM/ CLINICAL TRAINING SUPERVISOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NURSING , CUT

• Approves the Student Practicum/ Clinical Training in public Hospitals, in accordance with current policy.
• Sends a request to the Director of Nursing Services, 2 months before the start of each semester's clinical training on the needs for clinical training, based on a standard file developed by the Nursing Services Directorate.
• Promotes clinical training programmes to the PCT Coordinator of the NSD, at least 3 weeks before the start of clinical training.
• Communicates with the PCT Coordinator of the NSD of each Hospital, informing about issues that need NSD management.
• Confirms that all students are able to communicate adequately in the English language.
• Informs the PCT Coordinator of the NSD about the forms to be completed by the Mentors regarding the students’ evaluation or their completion of the clinical targets.
• Within two weeks from the end of each semester, the Supervisor delivers the completed "Mentor’s Evaluation Form".
• Notifies all students about undergraduate studies Practicum / Clinical Training Regulations.

6) PRACTICUM / CLINICAL TRAINING COORDINATOR OF THE NURSING SERVICES DIRECTORATE

• Appointed by the NSD per Hospital.
• Schedules the Practicum / Clinical Training in the hospital he/she is in charge, according to the needs of the educational institutions.
• Distributes the Mentors to the nursing departments and informs them of their duties.
• Promotes the initial students’ Practicum / Clinical Training programmes to the Hospital PCT Coordinator of the hospital he/she is in charge.
• Conducts periodic visits to the hospital he/she is in charge, ensuring the proper functioning of the students’ Practicum / Clinical Training.
• Manages problems / situations that concern students and / or Mentors and require NSD management.
• Collaborates with and communicates with the Hospital PCT Coordinator to ensure smooth running of the Practicum/ Clinical Training.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS’  PRACTICUM / CLINICAL TRAINING REGULATIONS &

STUDENTS 'OBLIGATIONS DURING PRACTICUM / CLINICAL TRAINING

Each student is required to comply with the Practicum / Clinical Training Regulations of the CUT, of the Nursing Services Directorate of the Ministry of Health and the Nursing Institution or any Structure where the Practicum / Clinical Training takes place as summarized below. In addition, each student must comply with the regulations set by the faculty members of each module and are described in the outline of each module, provided that they are differentiated / supplemented by what is described below.

1. OPERATION HOURS

The duration as well as the days of conduct of the Practicum/ Clinical Training for each programme varies. The duration of the Practicum/Clinical Training takes place in accordance with the applicable operation hours for the Public Hospitals * :

a) Morning shift: 7:15 am - 1:30 pm

b) Afternoon shift: 1:15 pm - 7:30 pm

c) Night shift 7:15 pm - 7:45 am  

The following operation hours apply to the Larnaca Hospital:

a) Morning shift: 7:00 am - 1:15 pm

b) Afternoon shift: 1:00 pm - 7:15 pm

c) Night shift 7:00 pm - 7:30 am 

* In the structures of the Community, operation hours vary accordingly.

All students must respect their arrival and departure time in the clinical settings. It is also emphasized that Practicum / Clinical Training is not permitted at consecutive operation hours eg. morning - afternoon or at night time (for Year 1 and Year 2 students) , Sundays or public holidays. Finally, students are required to abide by the duration of the break, which is 30 minutes and report themselves to the Head before and after their return from the break. 

If a student does not abide by the indicated working hours of the Practicum / Clinical Training, then the Mentor (where employed) or the shift supervisor, may complete the "Event Report Form” issued by Nursing Services Directorate and forward it to the Practicum / Clinical Training Supervisor of the Educational institution. Moreover, the Mentor may verbally inform the Hospital Practicum / Clinical Training Coordinator.

After the establishment of the Practicum/ Clinical Training programmes, no students are allowed to move from the pre-assigned department to another department or from one hospital to another.  In the rare cases of moving and shifting working hours the Mentor (where applicable) or the student should follow below steps:

• Update of the Practicum / Clinical Training Coordinator of the Department of Nursing who reports the issue to the appropriate Faculty Member of the module together with the reasons of the student’s request.  
• The module coordinator then communicates with the Practicum/ Clinical Training Coordinator of NSD, ​​who has the collective placements of all Nursing Departments, and can jointly make the amendment or not.
• Where amendment is possible, the module coordinator performs the amendment and informs the student accordingly and then sends the amendment approval in writing to the Practicum / Clinical Training Coordinator of the Department of Nursing.
• The latter delivers the amended programme to the Hospital Practicum/ Clinical Training Coordinator, the Head of Department and the Mentor. The module coordinator also forwards the amendment to the Practicum / Clinical Training Supervisor of the CUT Department of Nursing.

It is underlined that NO REPLACEMENTS, TRANSFERS OR CHANGES IN STUDENTS’ WORKING HOURS ARE ALLOWED arbitrarily by both students and nurses, as well as by the Practicum / Clinical Training Coordinators of the Department of Nursing, the Mentors and the Hospital Practicum/ Clinical Training Coordinators without informing the Faculty Member who has full responsibility for handling the case in compliance with the common policy of the Department of Nursing. 

2. ABSENCE FROM PRACTICUM / CLINICAL TRAINING

According to the decision of the Department of Nursing (Minutes 2/12/10) "Attending the Practicum / Clinical Training is compulsory and absences directly lead to the student’s failure in the module". Also the Council of the Department of Nursing at its 75th meeting reaffirmed its previous decision on compulsory attendance at the Practicum / Clinical Training adding that in case of extraordinary serious matter, the Practicum/ Clinical Training Coordinator  of the CUT Department of Nursing who has the responsibility to record absences is immediately informed and updates the module coordinator accordingly.

A student’s replacement is only possible upon approval of the Ministry of Health and following validation of the certificates to be submitted by the student.  Other absences are not covered, fact that leads to incomplete mark which does not allow the graduation. In case the student is absent during the scheduled replacement then he/she will not be able to replace in a future stage.

In case of absence, the Practicum/ Clinical Training Coordinators of the Department of Nursing have the responsibility to record the day of absence and to inform the module coordinator on the same day or at least within the next two days for timely follow up. In this case, the students are obliged to compensate for their absences for which they have provided supportive documents, in a specific period of time defined by the Ministry of Health and the CUT Department of Nursing, after the completion of the semester and before the start of the next one, provided that this is possible by the scheduled Practicum/Clinical Training.

3. APPEARANCE

During the Practicum/Clinical Training students have to wear the uniform designated by the CUT Department of Nursing and bear a badge with their name, title and name of University/ Department.

In addition, each student must comply with the following rules:

• The uniform must always be kept clean and ironed and the shoes must be clean. Open shoes, flip-flops or sandals are not allowed.
• Students should wear their uniforms during the Practicum/Clinical Training. It is recommended to avoid wearing uniforms outside the Hospitals.
• Male students should be shaved or in case of a beard, keep it decent.
• The hair should be clean and combed. Long hair should be tied and tightened.
• The use of jewellery, earrings on the face (tongue, eyebrows, nose), pendant earrings or necklaces (except wedding rings) is forbidden. The use of more than one pair of earrings on the ear lobes is forbidden.
• The nails of the students should be cut and clean. Artificial, long and painted nails are strictly forbidden.   

4. BEHAVIOUR

Student behaviour should be decent, gentle and tolerant towards patients and other professionals. Interpersonal relationships with other health professionals of all levels must be characterized by kindness, discretion and mutual respect. No quarrelling or arguments are permitted in the clinical setting, even if disputes arise. If students are jammed into an argument in the clinical setting, the Mentor must immediately inform the Practicum/Clinical Training Coordinator of the CUT Department of Nursing.

In addition, each student must comply with the following:

• Compliance with legal / regulatory and general provisions, circulars, practices and other documents applicable to government hospitals.
• Arrival and departure from the workplace at the appointed time and relevant updating of the Head.
• Respect in the hospital and conscientious work while maintaining a peaceful environment.
• Proper management and use of equipment, consumables and generally rational management of hospital materials and other resources.
• Updating of the Head and the Practicum/Clinical Training  Coordinator of the CUT Department of Nursing for any problems arising in the clinical setting during the Practicum/Clinical Training 
• Be introduced as a student without hiding the educational nature of their cooperation with patients.
• Any changes in patient status should always be reported to the Head.
• Keep nursing / medical confidentiality.
• Ensure individuality and maintain the dignity of patients.
• Comply with hygiene rules before and after any nursing intervention.
• Use appropriate gloves in any case for any medical intervention related to contact with biological fluids.
• Do not inform patients about the outcome of their diagnostic tests or health status.
• At the end of the working hours leave the Practicum/Clinical Training place, provided that he / she has arranged all the tasks and has informed the competent officers of incidents and remarks.
• Ensure that the clinical training card is filled in by the Mentor or nursing officer when there is no Mentor at the appropriate time (end of shift) and that attendance reports are completed by the Head or shift officer at the end of the shift.
• Have responsibility for keeping the clinical education card during the semester. Also, the student is the sole responsible for the storage of the “attendance report form” during the semester in undamaged condition and with completed details, in order to hand it over properly to the Practicum / Clinical Training Coordinator of the CUT Department of Nursing for verification and signatures.

The “attendance report form” is returned after verification and signature, for storage in order for the student to present it if requested by the Nursing and Midwifery Council as evidence of clinical training hours for enrolment purposes in the registry.

If a student does not show proper behaviour, then the Mentor (where employed) or the Head of shift (when no Mentor is employed) completes the "Event Report Form" (Annex III) and forwards it to Practicum / Clinical Training Coordinator of the NSD who is in contact with n Practicum / Clinical Training Supervisor of the CUT Department of Nursing .

5 . STRICTLY FORBIDDEN

• The use of mobile phones and tablets is strictly forbidden. The student should turn off his/her cell phone before entering the department and place the tablet in a safe location at his/her own risk.

• Smoking in the Practicum / Clinical Training areas as well as inside and outside the hospital (according to the Ministry of Health Circular No. 61C0465FYO-Z7E and subject: “Implementation of Law 4419/2016 (Government Gazette A '174) national measure of Directive 2014/40 / EU on the use and consumption of tobacco products and other related products" ).

6. EVALUATION OF STUDENTS

Each Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 student is guided and evaluated by the Mentor and the Practicum / Clinical Training Coordinator of the CUT Department of Nursing in specific nursing procedures / interventions referred to in the Practicum / Clinical Training Card.

• In case of employed Mentor, evaluation of the student is carried out either from the Mentor, or in collaboration with the Practicum / Clinical Training Coordinator of the CUT Department of Nursing. When the evaluation concerns a holistic patient care, this can be done autonomously by the Practicum / Clinical Training Coordinator of the CUT Department of Nursing.
• In case of no Mentor employed, responsible for the evaluation of the student remains the Practicum / Clinical Training Coordinator of the CUT Department of Nursing in collaboration with the Head of the department / shift.
• In case of no Mentor employed, the student is responsible for completing the educational goals as stated on the Practicum / Clinical Training Card, and must request a documentation of his/her daily work by the nurse who is responsible for his/her supervision on this specific working day. 
• In addition to the knowledge and skills developed in Practicum / Clinical Training, the student’s behaviour is also evaluated and documented in the Practicum / Clinical Training Card of each module.

At the same time, students have the opportunity to evaluate Mentors in order to monitor and address problems that may occur in the Practicum / Clinical Training setting.

The above regulations are notified to ALL students prior to the commencement of the Practicum / Clinical Training. It is understood that if a student, despite the remarks, does not comply with the above regulations, the CUT Department of Nursing has the right to  impose relevant sanctions.