1. European competence based blended learning framework for life-long vocational training of neuroscience nurses nEUroblend 1.10.2005-30.9.2007 Salla Seppänen, MNSc, RGN, Specialised in Medical-Surgical Nursing Oulu Polytechnic, Oulainen Department of Health Care

2. Project partners The Netherlands (NL): UMC St Radboud in Nijmegen Belgium ( BE): Heilige hartziekenhuis Roeselare-Menen Finland ( FI): Oulu Polytechnic and Helsinki University Hospital (HUCH) Island (IS): Landspitali University Hospital Malta ( MT):St. Luke’s Hospital Sweden (SE) :Lund University Hospital and Őrebro Universität United Kingdom (UK): Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford.

3. Silent partners Standing Committee of Nurses of the European Union National Associations of Neuroscience Nurses : in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Island, Italy, the Nederlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Great Britain EANN = European Association of Neuroscience Nurses

4. Background of the project The number of patients suffering from neurological disorders (stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson´s disease, Multiple Scelrosis, dementia/ Alzheimer´s disease ) is growing rapidly in Europe. On the European basis there are more than 13 500 000 patients with neurological disorders. The impact of neurological disorders for patients´ life can be very dramatic and the patients need medical treatment and nursing care for a long time period.

5. The nursing personnel working with neurological patients The number of qualified hospital-based neuroscience nurses in Europe is estimated to be 1 100. The total number of hospital-based nurses, who are working with neurological patients is estimated to be 504 000. Taking in account the community-based nurses, who are working with neurological patients this number can be tripled.

6. Need for European policy and an European curriculum in neuroscience nursing Competence based training model European Standard in the competence profile ( EANN) Knowledge transfer between European countries - between trainers and educators Staff mobility and exchange of experts in neuroscience nursing -> learning for best practices

7. The project is strongly connected with the Strategic Policy plan of the EANN in years 2003-2008.

8. nEUroblend project Aims to develop methods and material for training of neuroscience nursing Target sector is neuroscience and neurosurgery nursing in Europe Target group consists nurses who care for patients with neurological or neurosurgical syndrome as well as the educatos and trainers in the field of nursing

9. Neuroscience nursing in multisystem failure in acute neurologic care in neurorehabilitation in neuropalliative care

10. The goals of the project To develop competence based curriculum for the life-long learning/training for neuroscience nurses. To collect and develop materials for E-learning of neuroscience nursing in a digital respository of which it is available for teachers and educators as well as for students. Providing tool and didactical templates and rich content for trainers and educators for the further development of flexible and blended learning of neuroscience nursing.

11. Work packages Curriculum Development Conference and Publication Evaluation Surveys and Monitoring of Effects Educational Design and Development ICT Support and Prduction

12. Curriculum Development for Neuroscience Nursing in Advanced Training ( CNS) Collecting existing curriculum material European Competence Profile (EANN) Preparing European Learning Plan of Neuroscience Nursing Module description & flexible learning plans Pilot testing the modules Evaluation and rewriting module descriptions Plan for increasing the competence of teachers Blended learning plan and recommendations related to competence of clinical nurse specialist in neuroscience nursing

13. Educational Design and Development Metadata specification of learning tools Design and develop digital repository of learning objects and tools Educational designs and piloting didactical templates Production of digital learning material and link it to digital respository of learning objectives and tools Developing virtual learning courses and pilot them Recommendations for learning in neuroscience nursing

14. 1. The profession of neuroscience nurse 2. Anathomy and fysiology of the nervous system 3. Parkinson disease 4. Stroke 5. Epilepsy 6. MS 7. Neuro-ongology 8. Neurotrauma 9. Neurorehabilitation 10. Neuropalliative care 11. Neuro acute care Key content areas

15. At the moment The existing digital learning material of neuroscience nursing is collected for the repository - the peer-review system  Winny Depaepe; WDpepaepe@hhr.beWDpepaepe@hhr.be The Web-based survey to collect information of neuroscience nursing education in different European countries is developed -> Paul van Keeken; p.vankeeken@neuro.umncn.nl p.vankeeken@neuro.umncn.nl

16. Further information on line www.neuroblend.net