Karnali Academy of Health Sciences (KAHS)

BACKGROUND Karnali Academy of Health Sciences (KAHS) has been established in 20th October 2011 (2068/07/03), by an Act of parliament of Nepal. The goal of KAHS is to support in access of Quality healthcare services and education for the people of backward (Pichhadiyako) areas. The backward areas (9districts) mentioned in act of KAHS are: Humla, Jumla, Kalikot, Dolpa, Mugu, Jajarkot, Bajura, Bajhang and Achham districts. Now other districts of Karnali Province are also included (Surkhet, Dailekh, Rukum and Salyan) according to federal system of Nepal. KAHS is one teaching and research institutions which is located in rural and remote area in Karnali Province of Nepal. The School of Nursing and Midwifery at KAHS was established in 2012 and completed seventh batches of PCL nursing graduates. Similarly, Bachelor in Midwifery program is started since 2018 to prepare the professional midwives who are the maternity care workforce of Nepal where first two batches is passing out. Another Bachelor of Science in nursing program is started in 2021 in this region to produce mid-level nursing workforce for health care delivery system of Nepal. Now the Bachelor of Science in nursing program is going to start immediately which is needed in this region to produce mid-level qualified nursing workforce to meet the gap between quality and quantity of health care delivery system of national and international level.

PHILOSOPHY 

According to national goal of education and the institution's philosophy, the KAHS Bachelor of Science in Nursing curriculum is intended to develop a self-reliant, committed qualified nurse, and a responsible citizen of the society. Through a systematic process of study and experience, evidence based knowledge is gained, skills are developed and attitudes are inculcated through providing conducive learning environment. The self-directed learning methodology will develop committed nurses as lifelong learners. Human resource development of Nursing especially for the Karnali province is of urgent need in order to provide quality health care services to people. Nurses are skilled health care professional, with rational, analytical and critical thinking which can make sound judgment and provide holistic and specialized nursing care services with kindness, empathy, and compassion. Nursing profession is an integral and important component of the national health care delivery system, which requires innovative and creative patterns of holistic care in a variety of settings to assist individual, group, family and community to achieve optimal level of health within the country's economic capacity. The community based approach aims to assist all people to have access to health care which is scientifically and technologically sound, and economically feasible. The nurse collaborates with members of health care team and other sectors to help individuals, family, groups and community to meet their basic health needs. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is to produce competent graduates basic with advanced knowledge and practical skills necessary to deliver high quality health services in leadership position, administration, clinical, public health and academic field who can function as nurse specialist, consultants, educators, administrators and researchers in wide range of professional setting in meeting the national and global changing need of the society. KAHS believes that the education for nursing professionals needs to be achieved through a curriculum that unifies the essential concepts of nursing, health, person and environment which are defined as follows: 

Nursing 

We believe that nursing is a caring art and a science with a professional discipline and committed to promote, maintain and achieve optimal health of a client by utilizing a unique body of knowledge based upon theory, practice and behavioral sciences. Clients are individuals, families, groups and communities with health related concerns. We believe that competent nursing practice occurs when professional nurses demonstrate the values and ethics of the profession in their roles as caregiver, communicator, critical thinker, leader, manager, teacher and researcher. 

Aim of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.Sc. Nursing) program 

The aim of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.Sc. Nursing) program is to prepare the competent graduate of middle level nurses who work independently as a member of health care team in different hospitals, community setting to provide health service on preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative care as a researcher, manager, supervisor, coordinator, care provider, leader, teacher, evaluator, critical thinker, facilitator, communicator, change agent, counselor, problem solver, advisor, advocator, planner, and motivator. Therefore, the main aim of this Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.Sc. Nursing) program is to prepare nurses who can use independent judgment in decision making process, leadership function, and conduct research in clinical and community setting for the nursing practice. Objectives of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.Sc. Nursing) program On the completion of the Bachelor of Science in nursing course, the graduates will be able to: 

 1. Apply knowledge of nursing, biomedical, behavioral and applied sciences in providing health care to individual, family, group and community throughout the lifespan. 

2.  Utilize sound body of knowledge in planning, implementing and evaluating the comprehensive quality of care given to the client.

3.  Maintain the professional communication with clients, colleagues, and health care team members in a variety of health care settings. 

4. Provide quality-nursing care by utilizing nursing process dealing with a problem of individual, family, group and community at different situation. 

5.  Demonstrate competency in leadership quality and decision-making abilities in various nursing care situation independently.

6.  Provide guidance and supervision for subordinate members of the health care team. 

7.  Demonstrate positive attitudes to seek new knowledge for personal and professional growth. 

8.  Conduct and participate in research activities for development of new evidence in nursing profession.

9.  Apply ethical principles and moral values in their professional as well as personal life. 

10. Identify the learning needs of client, family, group, community by demonstrating effective teaching learning skills in both formal, informal settings.

11.  Initiate self-directed and life-long learning as a member of the nursing profession. 

12.  Demonstrate the competency in elective/ major course regarding various nursing care.

 13.  Critically analyze research studies and apply to clinical practice. 

Program structures

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.Sc. Nursing) has been structured to make it four academic years. In first year there is 810 hours (54credit hours) in theory and 902hours (30 credit hours) in practical. Likewise, in second year there is 600 hours (40 credit hour) in theory and 966 hours (32.2 credit hours) in practical. Similarly, in third year there is 600 hours (40credit hours) in theory and 1164 hours (38.8 credit hours) in practical and last fourth there is in theory 450 hours (30 credit hour) and 1308 hours (43.6 credit hours) in practical. One credit equals to 15 hours in theory and 30 hours in practical. In this way the program consists of 309 credit hours in both theory and practical. Hours, marks and credit are based on subjects, national health policy and strategies of the country. The major first academic year subjects are Human Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Pathology, fundamental of nursing, Nutrition and Dietetics, Community Health Nursing I , Nursing concept and theory and applied computer. Similarly, in second academic year subjects are Medical Surgical Nursing I and II, Geriatric nursing, Oncology Nursing- I, community Health Nursing II, Psychiatric Nursing, Social & Behavioral Science and Health Economics. In third academic year course includes Child Health Nursing I, II, Maternal Health Nursing I, II, and III Community Health Nursing III In regard to subjects of fourth academic year are Research, Biostatistics, Leadership and Management, Educational Sciences, Gynecological Nursing and Major subjects (Critical Care Nursing, Oncology Nursing, Renal Nursing). 

Course Code 

Regarding the course code, each subject has specific course code number. 

Duration of the Course 

The course has been designed for four academic years in Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.Sc. Nursing.) 

Admission requirement/ enrollment criteria 

The intake and selection procedure for the candidates entering qualification into the program is based on Medical Education Commission norms and Nepal Nursing criteria. Maximum number of student intake: 40 

Graduation requirement 

Bachelor of Science in Nursingprogram is full time academic program. In order to receive the bachelor of nursing science degree, a student must complete four academic years and must; 

1.  Attend 85% of each theory course before being allowed to sit for internal and final examination. 

2. Attend 90% of the practicum in order to pass the practicum.

3.  Must pass internal assessment in each subject before being allowed to sit for the annual examination in the respective courses. 

Examination policies 

1. 1. Students must sit for two internal assessments in each academic year and final examination on the specified date set for examination. 
2. 2.  If the students fail in the internal assessment, she/he will be given only one more chance for reassessment before the final examination. 
3. 3.  Students must pass all theory courses with a minimum of 50% theory and practical course with 60%. 
4. 4.  There will be final examination for both theory and practical courses. 

Name of award 

The successful candidate will be awarded the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.Sc. Nursing) by Karnali Academy of Health Science, Jumla.