The study program of the 1st level Nursing Care was approved by the Senate of the University of Maribor on 21 October 2008 and by the Council of the Republic of Slovenia for Higher Education on 22 December 2008.

In order to advance to the 2nd year, it is necessary to collect at least 51 ECTS from the 1st year, among which the exams of the learning units must be passed and without which even exceptional advancement is not possible: • Nursing care 9 ECTS • Anatomy, physiology, and pathology 6 ECTS • Laboratory diagnostics and pharmacology 3 ECTS • Nursing care of elderly people with geriatrics and palliative care 3 ECTS • Clinical training 1 6 ECTS • Clinical training 2 15 ECTS TOTAL 42 ECTS In order to advance to the 3rd year, it is necessary to collect all 60 ECTS from the 1st year and at least 51 ECTS from the 2nd year, among which the examinations of the learning units must be passed and without which even exceptional advancement is not possible: • Nursing care of children and adolescents with pediatrics 6 ECTS • Women's health care with gynecology and obstetrics 3 ECTS • Medical care of an internal medicine patient with internal medicine 6 ECTS • Emergency medical 3 ECTS • Clinical training 3 12 ECTS TOTAL 30 ECTS

The study program does not contain parts that can be completed individually.

Graduates can continue their studies at the University of Maribor, Faculty of Health Sciences, on 2nd-level postgraduate master's study programs, Nursing Care, Bioinformatics and Management in Health and Social Walfare, as well as continue their studies at other faculties in Slovenia and abroad at postgraduate study programs.

Based on the competences of all subjects, the employment opportunities of a graduate of the first-level undergraduate study in Nursing are linked to: - health institutions (hospitals, medical institutions), - social welfare institutions, - social services, - school institutions, - nursing hospitals, - private sector, - medical units of the Slovenian army and defense structures of future international connections, - civil protection, - humanitarian organizations, - various European and global organizations related to healthcare and nursing.

The 1st degree study program Nursing is in line with the Directive of the European Parliament 2005/36/EC and with the European directives for regulated professions 77/453 EEC, 89/595/EEC, 77/453 EEC and 89/595/EEC.

The method of knowledge verification and evaluation is governed by the Rules on knowledge verification and evaluation at UM, which is available at the following link: https://www.um.si/univerza/dokumentni-center/akti/Strani/studij-na-um.aspx. The rules and course syllabuses determine the methods of real-time checking and evaluation of knowledge and thus monitoring the student's own progress in studies. The candidate passes the knowledge test successfully if he gets a grade from sufficient (6) to excellent (10).

The basic aim of the program is to provide the graduate with the range of knowledge, attitudes, professional values and skills that he will use when working in the field of nursing. The study program Nursing enables students to acquire knowledge through the study of theoretical and methodological concepts, the ability to transfer and apply theoretical knowledge to practice and solve professional, work and other problems, especially by searching for new sources of knowledge and using scientific methods, developing the ability to communicate within the profession and between professions, professional and scientific criticism and responsibility, initiative and independence in decision-making and managing more demanding work.

Among the general competences, the following competences are particularly highlighted: • ethical reflection and commitment to professional ethics, • integration of organizational skills to support successful business decisions, • planning and supervision of the implementation of nursing activities, • the use of scientific research methods for research in the field of nursing, • use of modern information and communication technologies. The study program will enable the student to: • acquisition of expertise and knowledge in the field of qualitative and quantitative research methods, with which he will be able to effectively implement evidence-based healthcare, • the ability to solve demanding professional and work problems, • mastering communication with the patient/ward, with colleagues in the nursing and medical team and externally with other partners, • professional criticality and responsibility, initiative and independence in decision-making and management of the medical team.

In accordance with the List of professions in health care, students will acquire the following competencies: • health promotion, health education and learning to understand the connections between lifestyle and health, • understanding of health problems and processes for strengthening, achieving and maintaining health, • organizing, managing and supervising activities and nursing services, • management of the nursing team, • implementation of nursing care based on the nursing history, nursing diagnosis and set goals of nursing care, • participation in the treatment process as part of the medical team and implementation of diagnostic and therapeutic programs, • monitoring and documenting the outcomes and effects of nursing interventions, • interdisciplinary and multisectoral integration to ensure quality treatment of the patient, • providing nursing care in the context of emergency medical assistance, • pedagogic work for the renewal of own personnel, • research work in nursing and quality assurance. The graduate acquires the following subject-specific competencies: • knowledge and understanding of the profession of nursing and the history or development of nursing, • the ability to solve concrete problems using qualitative and quantitative scientific methods, • mastering nursing theory and transfer of knowledge into practice and reflection, • understanding the profession and connecting with interdisciplinary fields, • understanding and use of critical thinking methods, • acquisition of nursing care skills in specific areas, • use of information and communication technology and systems in a specific professional field, etc..

Applicants for enrolment in the first year of the higher education professional study programme Nursing Care had to have successfully passed the final examination in any 4-year secondary education programme or matura. All candidates must demonstrate knowledge of the Slovenian language at level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Relevant proofs of fulfillment of this enrollment condition are: - certificate of passing the Slovenian language exam at level B2 or equivalent proof, - a certificate of completed school in the Republic of Slovenia or of completed foreign elementary school with the Slovenian language of instruction, - high school leaving certificate or certificate of the last year of the educational program of secondary vocational education, which shows that the subject Slovenian language has been completed, - a certificate of completed bilingual (in Slovene and a foreign language) secondary school education or of completed foreign secondary school education with Slovene as the language of instruction, - a diploma of education obtained at a higher education institution in the Republic of Slovenia in the study program and a certificate from the higher education institution that the candidate completed the program in the Slovenian language. Candidates who are taking (have passed) general matriculation or vocational matriculation in the Republic of Slovenia do not send proof of knowledge of the Slovenian language; the requested information is communicated to the higher education application and information service by the National Examination Center. Regular and part-time studies The Faculty of Health Sciences conducts full-time and part-time studies in Maribor, at the faculty headquarters. Lectures and seminars will be conducted up to 33% on-line in the form of e-education. Medical Certificate At the time of enrollment, selected candidates have to submit a medical certificate to perform the duties and tasks of diplomirana medicinska sestra oz. diplomirani zdravstvenik. Selected candidates will receive the DZS 8.204 form together with the registration notification by post. Preliminary preventive health examinations are carried out by dispensaries of occupational, transport and sports medicine in Slovenia.

If a decision is made to restrict enrollment, candidates will be selected according to: - general success in the final exam, vocational matriculation or general matriculation 60% points, - general success in 3rd and 4th year 40% points.

Application deadlines are published in point "1.3. Application for enrollment in a higher year (according to the criteria for transitions or under the conditions for faster advancement)", and the method of application is in point "3. Method of application" of the Call for enrollment. According to the criteria for transitions between study programs, candidates enroll: - in the second or third year of the 1st-level higher education study program Nursing Care, when it comes to the termination of education after the first study program in the field of health (091) and the continuation of studies according to this study program of the same level, or the enrollment of a higher education graduate in a new study program at the same degree; - in the second year of the higher education study program of the 1st level Nursing Care, when it comes to the enrollment of a higher education graduate in the field of healthcare (091) who has 3 years of relevant work experience, as evidenced by the Employer's Certificate. Transfer is possible in accordance with the Criteria for transfers between study programs if the candidate meets the following conditions: - fulfills the conditions for enrollment in the first year of the 1st degree higher education study program Nursing Care, - transfers from a study program that guarantees the acquisition of comparable competences or learning outcomes at the end of the study, - upon transfer, at least half of the obligations according to the European Transferable Credit System (ECTS) from the first study program, which relate to the compulsory subjects of the second study program, are recognized. The recognition and determination of missing study obligations is decided by the Academic Affairs Committee of the UM FZV, which, depending on the extent of the recognized obligations, also determines the year to which the student transfers. Before applying, the candidate have to contact the Office for Study and Student Affairs of the UM FZV. In accordance with the Regulations on recognition of knowledge and skills in study programs of the University of Maribor, the candidate must submit to the UM FZV no later than 29 August 2025 - application for recognition of knowledge and skills at the University of Maribor, - certificate of completed study obligations (exams) with obtained grades and number of ECTS, - approved curricula of completed study obligations, - confirmation of payment of the procedure.

Recognition is governed by the procedures and criteria prescribed by the Rulebook on recognition of knowledge and skills in study programs of the University of Maribor no. 012/2019/2. The procedures for determining, verifying and recognizing knowledge and the criteria for recognizing knowledge and skills are used for candidates who are enrolling and for already enrolled students who want their previously acquired knowledge and skills to be taken into account as part of the completed study obligations in the existing program. UM FZV can recognize candidates' knowledge and skills if, in terms of scope, content and complexity, they correspond in whole or in part to the general or subject-specific competencies determined by the study program in which the candidates wish to enroll or are enrolled.

The study program ends with a final thesis. The student completes his studies when he completes all the obligations prescribed by the study program and thus collects at least 180 ECTS.