Circular No. 33/2014/TT-BGDĐT Issuing the Regulations on Quality Standards for Nursing Training Programs at the Bachelor's and Associate Degree Levels

CIRCULAR

Regulations on quality assessment standards

for university and college nursing training programs

Pursuant to the Education Law dated June 14, 2005; the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Education Law dated November 25, 2009;

Pursuant to Decree No. 75/2006/NĐ-CP dated August 2, 2006 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Education; Decree No. 31/2011/NĐ-CP dated May 11, 2011 of the Government amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decree No. 75/2006/NĐ-CP dated August 2, 2006 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Education; Decree No. 07/2013/NĐ-CP dated January 9, 2013 of the Government amending point b Clause 1 Article 1 of Decree No. 31/2011/NĐ-CP dated May 11, 2011 of the Government amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decree No. 75/2006/NĐ-CP dated August 2, 2006 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Education;

Pursuant to the Government Decree No. 141/2013/NĐ-CP dated October 24, 2013 detailing and guiding the implementation of certain articles of the Higher Education Law;

Pursuant to Decree No. 36/2012/NĐ-CP dated April 18, 2012, of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of Ministries and ministerial-level agencies;

Pursuant to Decree No. 32/2008/NĐ-CP dated March 19, 2008 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

Pursuant to Decree No. 75/2006/NĐ-CP dated August 2, 2006 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Education Law; Decree No. 31/2011/NĐ-CP dated May 11, 2011 of the Government amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decree No. 75/2006/NĐ-CP dated August 2, 2006 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Education Law; Decree No. 07/2013/NĐ-CP dated January 9, 2013 of the Government amending Point b Clause 13 Article 1 of Decree No. 31/2011/NĐ-CP dated May 11, 2011 of the Government amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decree No. 75/2006/NĐ-CP dated August 2, 2006 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Education Law;

At the proposal of the Director of the Testing and Quality Assurance Agency;

The Minister of Education and Training issues this Circular on quality assessment standards for university and college nursing training programs.

Article 1. Annexed to this Circular are regulations on quality assessment standards for university and college nursing training programs.

Article 2This Circular takes effect from November 18, 2014.

Article 3. The Heads of the Office, the Director of the Testing and Quality Assurance Agency, the Heads of relevant units under the Ministry of Education and Training; Chairpersons of Provincial People's Committees; Heads of management agencies of universities, academies, colleges; Directors of universities, academies; Principals of colleges implementing university and college nursing training programs; Directors of educational quality assurance organizations are responsible for enforcing this Circular./.

REGULATIONS

ON QUALITY ASSESSMENT STANDARDS FOR UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE NURSING TRAINING PROGRAMS
 (Issued together with Circular No. 33/2014/TT-BGDĐT dated October 2, 2014 of the Minister of Education and Training)

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. This document stipulates quality assessment standards for university and college nursing training programs.

2. This document applies to universities, academies, colleges (hereinafter referred to as schools) implementing university and college nursing training programs and related organizations and individuals.

Article 2. Interpretation of Terms

In this document, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

1. University and college nursing training program includes: objectives, knowledge and skill standards, and competence standards of graduates; training content, evaluation methods for each course and major, level of training; ensuring requirements for inter-level connectivity and with other training programs.

2. Quality of university and college nursing training program is the fulfillment of the training program's objectives at specific levels, meeting the requirements set forth in the Education Law, the Higher Education Law, and being suitable to the needs of nursing personnel usage in localities, sectors, and society.

3. Quality assessment standards for university and college nursing training program are the required levels and conditions that the training program must meet to be recognized as achieving educational quality standards.

4. Quality assessment of university and college training program is the evaluation of all activities related to the training program within the educational institution based on quality assessment standards, including: objectives and output standards; training program; training activities; faculty, lecturers, and staff; students and student support services; infrastructure; finance; graduates and job placement counseling activities.

Article 3. Purpose of issuing the quality assessment standards for undergraduate and college-level nursing training programs.

1. Educational institutions shall use the standards to self-assess all activities related to undergraduate and college-level nursing training programs (hereinafter referred to as "the program") with the aim of continuously improving the quality of training and explaining to relevant authorities and society about the current quality of each specific program.

2. Quality education accreditation organizations shall use the standards to evaluate and recognize programs that meet educational quality standards.

3. Students have a basis for choosing majors, and employers can select human resources.

Chapter II
QUALITY ASSESSMENT STANDARDS FOR TRAINING PROGRAMS

Article 4. Standard 1: Objectives and Exit Criteria

1. The objectives of the program comply with the current provisions of the Higher Education Law and are periodically reviewed, adjusted, and supplemented.

a) The objectives of the program meet higher education goals;

b) The objectives of the program meet the nursing training goals;

c) The objectives of the program are periodically reviewed, adjusted, and supplemented in the direction of improvement and enhancement of quality.

2. The exit criteria of the program meet the requirements for using undergraduate and college-level nurses.

a) The content of the exit criteria fully reflects the requirements to be achieved regarding political integrity, ethics, specialized knowledge, and vocational skills according to the Basic Competency Standards for Nurses issued by the Ministry of Health and the Professional Ethics Standards for Nursing Staff issued by the Vietnam Nurses Association;

b) The content of the exit criteria is appropriate to the requirements for using nurses, especially in practice and clinical fields, meeting the health care needs of patients, patient families, and communities, suitable for Vietnam and regional and international integration;

c) The content of the exit criteria aligns with the objectives and mission of the institution, fitting local realities and industry requirements.

Article 5. Standard 2: Training Program

1. The development of the training program must meet national requirements and aim towards international integration.

a) The training program is developed to meet professional, occupational ethics, management, and legal requirements in the field of nursing;

b) The training program is developed to ensure it meets the care needs of patients, patient families, and communities;

c) The training program is developed in conjunction with national human resource development strategies and health policies, aiming towards international integration.

2. The training program is developed to ensure requirements for knowledge, skills, and practical experience in the nursing field.

a) The training program includes core issues concerning knowledge, skills, and attitudes in nursing practice;

b) The training program demonstrates comprehensive care throughout a person's life and integrates with national and regional priority health care issues;

c) The training program ensures that students acquire clinical practice skills through guidance, support, and supervision from clinical instructors and other healthcare staff in various settings.

3. The content of the training program supports the development and application of knowledge, skills, and attitudes in the nursing field.

a) The content of the training program focuses on nursing management, patient care, and improving care quality;

b) The content of the training program emphasizes supporting research to maintain, enhance health, and prevent diseases in the community;

c) The content of the training program focuses on legal and ethical issues in healthcare consistent with the diversity of Vietnamese culture.

4. The training program is developed based on referencing the training programs of reputable domestic or international higher education institutions in nursing and involves relevant stakeholders.

a) Referencing the training programs of reputable domestic or international higher education institutions in nursing;

b) Involvement of nursing specialists, lecturers, and managers;

c) Involvement of representatives from social-professional organizations related to nursing, employers, and graduates.

5. The training program has a reasonable and scientific structure, ensuring connectivity between different levels of nursing training and with training programs in other fields.

a) The training program structure clearly defines knowledge blocks, ensuring scientific rigor, systematicity, and a reasonable distribution between theoretical, practical nursing, and self-study and research components;

b) There are elective courses and integrated courses that meet the requirements for knowledge, skills, attitudes, and competencies to be achieved according to the program's objectives and exit criteria;

c) The training program structure is reasonable, ensuring connectivity between different levels of training within each institution and between nursing training programs inside and outside the institution.

6. There is a training plan and detailed syllabus that meet the training requirements for nursing and are periodically reviewed, evaluated, adjusted, and supplemented.

a) Fully develop and implement training plans for different training systems;

b) Fully develop and implement detailed syllabi for courses and subjects;

c) Training plans and detailed syllabi are periodically reviewed, evaluated, adjusted, and supplemented in the direction of improvement and enhancement of quality.

Article 6. Standard 3: Training Activities

1. Admissions for the nursing program are conducted seriously and objectively, ensuring the requirements for human resource utilization in the field of nursing.

a) Comply with current admissions regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training;

b) The number of admissions is appropriate to the training capacity of the educational institution and social demand;

c) Publicize and ensure transparency in the student selection process of the school.

2. Effectively implement the training program.

a) Arrange and organize courses at the school and clinical practice sites appropriately according to each level in the training progression, aligning with the Basic Competency Standards of Vietnamese Nursing to equip students with necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes to meet patient care needs, family members, and community;

b) Utilize teaching and learning methods described in the training program, emphasizing learner-centered activities that promote communication skills, teamwork skills, and decision-making abilities required for nursing care;

c) Organize theoretical, practical, and clinical internships based on competency and using the latest, most reliable evidence.

3. Effectively and appropriately conduct assessments of students in the field of nursing.

a) Assessments of students are organized strictly in accordance with regulations, ensuring accuracy, fairness, and objectivity;

b) Innovate assessment methods; use diverse, objective assessment forms to motivate teaching and learning;

c) Annually, organize summaries, evaluate experiences, disseminate innovative assessment activity experiences, and improve assessment activities based on feedback from students and instructors.

4. Effectively organize professional practice activities.

a) Organize for students to participate in professional practice activities from the first year to gain understanding of the profession and engage in a professional environment;

b) Organize professional practice activities to facilitate the application of theory to practice and the development of vocational skills;

c) Regularly seek feedback from clinical facilities, students, instructors, and healthcare staff regarding professional practice activities.

5. Integrate teaching and learning activities with scientific research in nursing education.

a) The school or department has effective measures to integrate teaching, learning, and nursing scientific research;

b) The school or department has research topics on nursing science, including participation from second-year students and above in the program;

c) The school or department has research results on nursing science applied in teaching and learning.

6. Ensure safety, accuracy, and scientific rigor in storing training and skill development outcomes of students, facilitating dissemination, management, access, and reporting compilation.

a) There is a division of responsibilities for managing training and skill development outcomes of students;

b) Training outcomes are stored in various formats, including specialized software for storing training outcomes, ensuring security and confidentiality;

c) Storing training outcomes facilitates management, reporting compilation, and student access to their own training outcomes.

7. Regularly assess nursing training activities to improve and enhance quality.

a) Regularly implement evaluations of training activities;

b) Have measures to monitor the implementation of regular evaluations of training activities;

c) Have measures to improve the quality of training activities based on evaluation results.

Article 7. Standard 4: The team of administrative staff, lecturers, and employees participating in the program

1. The team of training management staff meets the requirements.

a) The team of management staff meets the standards prescribed for nursing training at the university and college levels;

b) The team of management staff has clearly defined responsibilities and authorities regarding organizational management and teaching and learning activities;

c) Regularly summarize and evaluate to improve the effectiveness of management by the team of management staff.

2. The Head of the Nursing Department meets the standards stipulated in the University Charter and College Charter and has work experience.

a) Holds a Doctorate in Nursing or Doctorate in Medicine for the Head of the Nursing Department training at the university level and a Master's Degree in Nursing or Master's Degree in Medicine or higher for the Head of the Nursing Department training at the college level;

b) Has a minimum of 10 years of teaching and clinical experience for the Head of the Nursing Department training at the university level and 5 years for the Head of the Nursing Department training at the college level;

c) Has been trained, developed, and has experience in management.

3. The team of lecturers meets the requirements for quantity and professional structure.

a) There are sufficient lecturers to implement the training and research programs, with a maximum of 15 students per full-time lecturer for university-level training and 20 students per full-time lecturer for college-level training;

b) The team of full-time lecturers delivers at least 70% of the volume of the university training program and 60% of the volume of the college training program;

c) The team of lecturers ensures a suitable structure to teach theory, practice, and clinical work.

4. Lecturers teaching theoretical subjects meet the prescribed standards.

a) Lecturers teaching theoretical nursing subjects have a minimum qualification of a Master's Degree for university-level training and a Bachelor's Degree for college-level training;

b) Lecturers teaching theoretical nursing subjects have a minimum of 5 years of clinical experience in their field for university-level training and 3 years for college-level training;

c) Lecturers teaching theoretical nursing subjects must have a pedagogical training certificate if they have not undergone pedagogical training.

5. Lecturers teaching clinical practice meet the standards prescribed by the Education Law and the Higher Education Law.

a) Lecturers teaching clinical practice are nursing professionals and other health care professionals with a minimum qualification of a Bachelor's Degree;

b) Lecturers teaching clinical practice must be proficient in clinical work and clinical teaching methods in their specialty;

c) Health care personnel involved in guiding clinical practice must have a minimum qualification of a Bachelor's Degree, at least 3 years of work experience in the relevant field, and must undergo pedagogical training.

6. Recruitment of lecturers teaching nursing is conducted in accordance with regulations.

a) Recruitment of lecturers teaching nursing is carried out according to the Civil Servant Law and current guiding documents;

b) Recruitment of lecturers who have the ability and qualifications meeting the standards, suitable for the nursing training specialty;

c) Recruitment of lecturers with expertise and capabilities to develop, implement, evaluate, and adjust the teaching curriculum.

7. Lecturers fulfill assigned tasks in accordance with the Higher Education Law.

a) Lecturers fully and effectively implement the training program;

b) Lecturers actively participate in building training plans, compiling textbooks, and teaching materials for the department;

c) Lecturers annually engage in scientific research as prescribed.

8. Lecturers are reasonably assigned teaching duties and provided opportunities to enhance their qualifications.

a) Lecturers are assigned teaching duties based on their trained professional competencies;

b) Lecturers are provided opportunities to enhance their professional and vocational qualifications;

c) Lecturers are provided opportunities to enhance their political, language, and computer skills.

9. Lecturers are periodically evaluated for their capabilities and provided opportunities to complete their tasks.

a) Periodically organize evaluations of lecturers' teaching quality based on peer and student assessments;

b) Implement measures to support and provide opportunities for lecturers to complete their teaching tasks;

c) Lecturers are supported and provided opportunities in guiding scientific research and practical training.

10. There is a team of employees meeting the training requirements of the program.

a) The team of employees is adequate in number, meeting the requirements for moral character, professional qualifications, and vocational skills;

b) The team of employees is periodically provided with professional and vocational development;

c) The team of employees effectively fulfills assigned tasks.

Article 8. Standard 5: Students and support for students

1. Students are provided with all necessary regulations.

a) Organize the dissemination, introduction, and implementation of regulations on training organization, examination, testing, and graduation recognition issued by the Ministry of Education and Training and the school to students, providing students with training manuals from the time they first enroll;

b) Regularly conduct activities to disseminate, introduce, and implement regulations on training organization, examination, testing, and graduation recognition issued by the Ministry of Education and Training and the school to students;

c) Regularly review and update materials related to training organization, examination, testing, and graduation recognition.

2. Students are provided with conditions for learning and participating in scientific research.

a) Implement policies and measures to provide conditions for students in their studies;

b) Implement policies and measures to provide conditions for students in scientific research, with the number of students participating in scientific research increasing annually;

c) Allocate funds annually to support students in their studies and scientific research.

3. Students are provided with conditions to cultivate political thought, ethics, lifestyle, and participate in the Communist Party of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh Youth Union, and other organizations as prescribed by law.

a) Pay attention to the cultivation of political thought and ethics of students, providing conditions for students to join the Communist Party;

b) Provide conditions for students to participate in Youth Union activities and other social activities as prescribed by law;

c) Students are provided with conditions to cultivate a healthy lifestyle and life skills.

4. Students are guaranteed benefits and provided with supportive services.

a) Students are provided with information and ensured social policy benefits as prescribed;

b) Students are provided with study support services, dining, accommodation, and entertainment services;

c) Students are provided with conditions to enhance health, physical development, and ensure medical services at school.

5. Students fulfill their academic and training tasks well.

a) Students voluntarily and actively fulfill their academic tasks and achieve good results;

b) Students proactively and actively cultivate political thought and achieve good results;

c) Students proactively and actively cultivate ethics and lifestyle and achieve good results.

Article 9. Standard 6: Material infrastructure serving the program

1. The library system of the faculty and school meets requirements.

a) There is an electronic library that meets the requirements for accessing information for study and research by staff, lecturers, and students;

b) There are sufficient specialized books, textbooks, and reference materials in Vietnamese and foreign languages to meet the training needs of the nursing program;

c) Library work effectively supports the training activities of the program.

2. The teaching equipment and medical equipment systems meet requirements.

a) There are sufficient teaching and medical equipment to meet the requirements for teaching, studying, practical training, and experiments;

b) There are sufficient teaching and medical equipment to meet the requirements for scientific research;

c) There are sufficient teaching and medical equipment to meet the requirements for management and operation.

3. Functional room, classroom, laboratory, practical training room, clinical practice base systems meet requirements.

a) There are sufficient functional rooms, classrooms, laboratories, practical training rooms, and clinical practice bases;

b) Functional rooms, classrooms, laboratories, practical training rooms, and clinical practice bases have adequate space and comply with standards;

c) Functional rooms, classrooms, laboratories, practical training rooms, and clinical practice bases are used effectively.

4. Material infrastructure serving physical education meets requirements.

a) There are sufficient material conditions to meet the physical education requirements of the program;

b) There are sufficient material conditions to organize various physical and sports activities to improve health and physical development for students;

c) Material infrastructure serving physical education is used effectively.

5. Measures to improve the quality of material infrastructure serving the program are implemented.

a) Regularly evaluate the quality and effectiveness of classroom and functional room usage and implement measures to improve usage efficiency;

b) Regularly evaluate the quality and effectiveness of laboratory, practical training room, and clinical practice base usage and implement measures to improve usage efficiency;

c) Regularly evaluate the quality and effectiveness of other material infrastructure usage and implement measures to improve usage efficiency.

Article 10. Standard 7: Financial work serving the program

1. There is a financial plan and financial management to ensure the training activities for nursing assistants.

a) There is a clear and detailed annual budget estimate for the training program;

b) There is participation from units implementing the program in building plans and allocating finances for the program's activities;

c) Ensuring that allocated funds comply with regulations, effectively serve the program's activities, meet the requirements for professional skills training and clinical practice of students.

2. Implement inspection, supervision, evaluation, and reporting on finance according to regulations.

a) There is a system of documents and forms for managing financial activities;

b) Annually, there is a final account report and assessment of the effectiveness of using financial resources to serve the program's activities;

c) The annual audit results show no financial violations.

3. There are legitimate sources of finance serving the program.

a) There are legitimate sources of finance supporting the program's training activities;

b) There are legitimate sources of finance supporting the program's scientific research activities;

c) There is a strategy to increase legitimate revenue to meet the program's training and scientific research activities.

4. Publicize financial information and have mechanisms for staff and lecturers to participate in inspecting and supervising finance.

a) There is an internal expenditure regulation that is transparent and reasonable, established based on broad opinions from all members of the department and school;

b) There is a mechanism for staff and lecturers to participate in inspecting and supervising finance;

c) Publicize annual financial information for staff and lecturers to provide feedback.

Article 11. Standard 8: Graduation assessment work and job placement advisory activities

1. Effectively implement graduation assessment work.

a) Develop standards for assessing graduates regarding character, political ideology, professional ethics, and competence;

b) Use the graduate assessment standards according to the correct procedures and scientific methods;

c) The assessment ensures fairness, objectivity, and accurate results.

2. Conduct employment situation assessments for graduates.

a) Have a dedicated unit responsible for post-graduation related work;

b) Build a database of graduates after graduation and regularly update information;

c) Regularly conduct surveys on the employment situation of graduates after graduation.

3. Implement career counseling and job placement activities for graduates.

a) Annually organize career counseling and job placement activities for graduating students;

b) Students are trained and advised on job search skills;

c) Maintain regular contact with employers and post-graduates to advise and introduce jobs to students.

Chapter III
IMPLEMENTATION

Article 12. Responsibilities of Ministries, Sectors, and Provincial People's Committees under Central Government

1. Ministries, sectors, and provincial people's committees under central government with schools implementing undergraduate and college-level nursing training programs are responsible for ensuring necessary conditions for the program to meet quality education standards.

2. The Ministry of Health is responsible for coordinating with the Ministry of Education and Training to inspect and supervise schools with undergraduate and college-level nursing training programs in implementing this Regulation.

Article 13. Responsibilities of schools implementing undergraduate and college-level nursing training programs

Schools that implement undergraduate and college-level nursing training programs shall base on the specific situation of their school to develop plans for building programs that meet educational quality standards for each stage and take measures to effectively implement these plans.

Article 14. Responsibilities of organizations conducting educational quality assessments

Organizations conducting educational quality assessments shall base on these standards to evaluate, consider, and recognize training programs that meet educational quality standards for each stage./.