Nursing Education in Turkey
Figen Isik ESENAY, PhD, RN
Ankara University, Faculty of Health Sciences
Pediatric Nursing Dept.
fesenay@yahoo.com
Turkey, connection between Asia and Europe
Objectives for our session:
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The overall aim of this presentation is to provide a
compherensive outlook of nursing education and current
academic status of Nursing in Turkey
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Nursing in Turkey
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Nursing education in Turkey
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Nursing clinical training in Turkey
The population pyramide, Turkey
Demographic indicators, Turkey
POPULATiON
Birth rate (%0)
Mortality rate (%0)
Fertility rate (p/w)
Nursing in Turkey
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Nursing was first iniated in Turkey when Florence
Nightingale cared for English and Turkish soldiers during
the Crimean war in 1853.
Nursing in Turkey
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With the Balkan war (1912) Turkish women started to
work in hospital
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This is when professional nursing care was first
introduced in Turkey.
Higher education in nursing
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The Turkish Higher Education has a unitary system
consisting of only universites;
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Graduate degree, and also short – cycle vocational
programs (2 years) are offered by universites.
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Admission to higher education is based on national –
wide Student Selection Examination (LYS).The
examination is held every year.
Educational system; structure
DOCTORATE (4 YEARS)
MASTER (2 YEARS)
BACHLEORS
(4-6 YEARS)
PRE-BACHLEORS SCHOOLS
(2 YEARS)
HiGH SCHOOLS (15-18)
VOCATiONAL HiGH SCHOOLS
(15-18)
LYS EXAM
PRiMARY EDUCATiON (6-14)
PRESCHOOL (3-5)
BSN in Turkey
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BSN programmes:
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1955- first BSN four years
program
1955-1995: 10 SON
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NOW = 72 (Faculty of
nursing, Faculty of health
sciences, SON)
Differencies of nursing schools
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School of nursing
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Faculty of health sciences
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4 years schools, just have nursing dept.
4 years, health related depts (nutrition and dietetics dept., physical
therapy and rehabilitation dept., midwifery dept..)
Faculty of nursing
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4 years, all nursing depts (medical nursing, surgical nursing..)
Before BP
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Undergraduate/graduate degree structure had been fully
implemented in Turkish Higher Education system before
Bologna
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In 1986 Turkey was one of only five European Countries
providing a basic university level nursing education BSN
(England-Belgium-Iceland-Greece)
Bologna process & Turkey

Turkey joined B.P. in 2001
National Nursing Core Curriculum (HUÇEP)
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Minimum training requirements;
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4600 hrs;
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4 years of full-time university study
At least 1/3 theoretical training
50% theory- 50% practical.
240 ECTS
Access to the BSN program;
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After passing the High Secondary Education and a university
access examination
National Nursing Core Curriculum (HUÇEP)
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Graduate’s competences (learning outcomes,
knowledge and skills set)
21 main area of competence
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Professional values and role of nurse
Nursing practice and clinical decision-making,
Knowledge and cognitive competencies
Communication competencies
Leadership, management and teamwork competencies
Ect…
Departments in nursing faculty
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Fundamentals of nursing
Medical nursing
Surgical nursing
Obstetric gynecology nursing
Pediatric nursing
Mental health nursing
Community health nursing
Nursing education
Nursing management
Main areas
Additional areas
Alanya
Nursing education in Turkey

Classical education
Except classical education:
 Problem-based education (Dokuz Eylül University – İzmir)
 Moduler education (Ege University – İzmir)
 Last (4th) year intornships education (Hacettepe University –
Ankara)
Academic calender
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The academic year consists of two semesters:
the first semester runs from the second half of
September to the end of January
the second semester runs from the beginning of February
to the end of June
Each semester: 13 weeks of courses, followed by final
exams
Curriculum (Classical education)
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4 years education
50% theory 50 % practical training
Following the European Guideline of 4600 h (2300
theory-2300 practical training)
Conceptual educational plan
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–
–
–
–
–
Human sciences
Biomedical sciences
Organization of Health Care
Scientific sciences
Computer sciences
Sports and arts
Curriculum of B.Nursing (1st year)
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Fundamentals of Nursing (3
IC / 5ECTS)
Fundamentals to Nursing
(5T-16C / 14ECTS)
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Medical sciences (Anatomy,
Microbiology and Parasitology,
Physiology, Histology, Pathology)
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Social sciences (Foreign
Language, Turkish Language,
Ataturk’s Principles and History of
Turkish Revolution)
Communication in Nursing
(3 IC / 5ECTS)
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Basic Computer Science
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Sports or Arts
Curriculum of B.Nursing (2nd year)
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Medical Nursing (6 T-16 C / 16 ECTS)
Surgical Nursing (6 T-16 C / 16 ECTS)
Histology of Nursing
Deontology
Health Care Ethics
Communication in Nursing
Practice
Care to Infection Diseases or
Epidemic Diseases
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BioMedical sciences
(Pharmacology, Health Sociology,
Nutrition, Psychology, Biochemistry)
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Social sciences (Vocational Foreign
Language, )
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Basic Computer Science
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Sports or Arts
Curriculum of B.Nursing (3rd year)
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Medical sciences (Biostatistics,
Obstetric & Gynecological
Nursing (6 T-16 C / 16 ECTS)
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Pediatric Nursing (6 T-16 C / 16

)
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Social sciences (Vocational
Foreign Language )
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Basic Computer Science
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Sports or Arts
Disaster Care and First Aid Epidemiology
ECTS)
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Teaching in Nursing
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Emergency Care in Nursing
Trauma Nursing
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Curriculum of B.Nursing (4th year)
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Psychiatric-Mental Health
Nursing (6 T-16 C / 16 ECTS)
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Medical sciences
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Social sciences (Vocational
Foreign Language )
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Basic Computer Science
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Sports or Arts
Community Health Nursing (6
T-16 C / 16 ECTS)
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Management in Nursing
Nursing Informatics or
Quality Management
Courses
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Teorical education  In class
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100-300 students / Class or amphies
Sometimes divided clases (bec of the crowd)
1st year teorical +laboratory practice (practical training
on the models) +Medical simulation center (if it possible)
Courses
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Practical training
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In related clinics / areas
Both university hospitals and state hospitals
Schools, health centers, nurseries, child protection institutions
Courses lecturers manage both theoretical and clinical practice
Accompanied by assigned trainers (experienced nurses
working in the clinics)
~10-20 students / 1 trainer
All clinical practice meets requirements of the course
Students work with the daily care plans
Students are evaluated by structured evaluation form
Courses evaluation
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40% mid terms + 60% clinical evaluation (>60 point failed)
60% finals
Bodrum
Post graduate nursing education
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In 1968, the Master of Science in Nursing Program was
initiated in Turkey
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After 4 years BSN degree
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For application;
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Postgraduate education exam (ALES –like GRE) (>50)
Foreign language exam (YDS –like IELTS) (>55)
Master Exam (by Faculty members)
Departments; MSc for nurses
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Fundamentals of nursing
Medical nursing
Surgical nursing
Obstetric gynecology
nursing
Pediatric nursing
Mental health nursing
Community health nursing
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Nursing education
Nursing management
Neonatal nursing
Cancer nursing
Emergency nursing
Critical care nursing
OR nursing
Workplace and worker
health nursing
Etc..
MSc for nursing
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Master with thesis 120 ECTS (2 years)
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Master without thesis 90 ECTS (2 years)
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1 year teorical,
1 year thesis
1 year teorical
1 year final project
Number of MSN programmes: over 100
Çeşme
PhD education in nursing
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In 1972, Nursing Doctoral Education Program was initiated in
Turkey
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10 University Schools of Nursing provide nursing doctoral
education.
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After 2 years MSc degree
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For application;
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Postgraduate education exam (ALES –like GRE) (>50)
Foreign language exam (YDS –like IELTS) (>60)
Doctorate Exam (by Faculty members)
PhD education in nursing
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ECTS;
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4 years ( 2 years teorical + 2 years thesis)
PhD 7 course / 21 national credits
240 ECTS
+ Dissertation based on original research
Departments; PhD for nurses
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Fundamentals of nursing
Medical nursing
Surgical nursing
Obstetric gynecology nursing
Pediatric nursing
Mental health nursing
Community health nursing
Marmaris
Male nurses?
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In the past, an admission requirement for baccalaureate
programs in nursing was being a woman.
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This admission requirement was changed, and since April
2007, men also have been accepted into nursing
programs.
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The concept of male nurse, which is one of the important
developments in the history of Turkish nursing, is a very
new concept for our country.
In conclusion
‘’Here we are
With a dream to build,,
Hopes to fullfil,,
Vision to realize
And a future to construct ’’
Bevis&Watson
2oo2
Thank you