NURSING EDUCATION IN CROATIA

Abstract

Background: The European Union (EU) has defined the process and norms of nursing education. As a source of data, Directive 2005/36/EC and Directive 2013/55/EU was used together with Croatian laws and regulations which are related to nursing education. Nursing education in Croatia is carried out through high school education and also at the university level. Aim: To present and explain the nursing education system in Croatia. Methods: The presented data was obtained by reviewing the literature, extracting data from key facts, interpreting them synthesizing knowledge, and presenting integrative comments on the available literature and written traces on the course of nursing education in Croatia. Discussion: Croatia is the only country that trains general care nurses at the level of five-year secondary vocational education. It is also the only secondary education in Croatia that lasts five years with a program of 4600 hours in three years of secondary vocational school for nurses and the previous two years of general education. In the Republic of Croatia, only secondary schools for nurses have a 10-year basic education: 2 years of general education + 3 years of vocational education. By finishing the first cycle of nursing study students gather 180 ECTS credits and become bachelors of nursing. The education at first cycle with a uniform curriculum is provided in four educational institutions in Croatia. Every year about 300 students enroll in nursing studies. After finishing the first cycle a nurse can continue studying nursing on master studies/nursing specializations and gather another 120 ECTS credits. There are two nursing specializations in Croatia at the moment; Management in nursing and Public health. Upon completion of the university graduate study, participants acquire 120 ECTS credits and the title of Master of Nursing, which allows them to continue their education in one of the doctoral studies. For the time being, the enrollment of the doctoral study is enabled at the medical faculties or at other faculties within the University. So, in conclusion, we can say that in Croatia we have a five-year vocational education as a basic nurse education, then we have undergraduate professional and university nursing studies, then we have graduate professional and university studies in nursing, and finally doctoral studies in biomedical sciences which bring us to14 different terminology for nurses. Conclusion: The forms of nursing education in Croatia are provided at different levels (undergraduate, graduate, professional, and university nursing studies), but on the other hand the health system does not recognize and valorize us as experts. Regardless of education, the largest number of highly educated nurses receive a bachelor’s salary. Some exceptions depend on the workplace and the institution of employment (management position, nurse educators…).