Nursing Program

The institute is authorized by the president of the Regional Council of Normandy to welcome a class of 154 students who obtain a double degree : Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a State Diploma in Nursing.

It is headed by a director, approved by the president of the Normandy Region . She has the authority to grant approvals and authorization to operate the institute.

AFNOR certifies that the University Hospital of CAEN has been deemed to comply with the requirements for carrying out training activities.

Certificate 2022/98983.1

Being a nurse means practicing a profession focused on others: listening, examining, advising, educating, and caring for people, ensuring their well-being. Being a nurse also means choosing how you practice and working as part of a team: nurses work in prevention and care facilities, as well as in patients' homes, both independently and in collaboration with other healthcare professionals. This highly responsible profession demands rigor, vigilance, and technical expertise.

Five key learning outcomes have been identified for nursing training:

• Interest in health and social issues : knowledge in the health, medical-social and social fields, knowledge of the profession, sense of the general interest;
• Human qualities and relational skills : ability to show consideration for others, ability to collaborate and work in a team, ability to exchange and communicate with others, proficiency in digital tools, ability to research and communicate in a foreign language;
• Written and oral communication skills : good command of French and written and oral language;
• Aptitude for the scientific approach and mastery of the basics of arithmetic : ability to search, select, organize and present scientific information, ability to produce logical reasoning, mastery of the basics of arithmetic;
• Organizational skills and interpersonal skills : rigor, method, diligence, ability to organize, to prioritize tasks, autonomy in work, creativity.

In accordance with the decree of May 11, 2020 and the order of 09/09/2021 authorizing experiments, the ten IFSI of the Caen section are engaged in a process of university-level paramedical training.

Students entering the program are automatically enrolled at the Faculty of Health Sciences in Caen (without any additional steps) in the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare , regardless of their entry route. This degree is awarded concurrently with the State Diploma in Nursing (DEI).

Skills Bachelor of Science in Healthcare

• CL8.1 Evaluate a clinical situation and establish a professional diagnosis
• CL8.2 Design and implement a care project related to the profession
• CL8.3 Implement diagnostic and therapeutic actions related to the profession
• CL3 Design and implement a health promotion approach
• CL6 Communicating and managing the relationship with the patient
• CL4 Contribute to the quality of care and the improvement of professional practices
• CL 1 Use the reference digital tools and computer security rules
• CL2 Search and process professional and scientific data
• CL5 Organize and manage the activity in cooperation with the various stakeholders
• CL7 Informing and training professionals and trainees

IDE professional skills

• C1 Evaluate a clinical situation and establish a diagnosis in the nursing field
• C2 Design and conduct a nursing care project
• C3 Assisting a person with daily care
• C4 Implement actions with diagnostic and therapeutic aims
• C5 Initiate and implement educational and preventative care
• C6 Communicating and managing a relationship in a healthcare context
• C7 Analyze the quality of care and improve your professional practice
• C8 Research and process professional and scientific data
• C9 Organize and coordinate care actions
• C10 Inform and train professionals and trainees

You will find essential information about this project by following this link:

The training leading to the State Diploma in Nursing aims at acquiring skills to meet the health needs of people within a multi-professional framework.

There are two possible admission pathways:

• Candidates who hold or are preparing for a French baccalaureate or an equivalent qualification are eligible to register via Parcoursup . Registration is not permitted for candidates under 17 years of age on December 31st of the current year.
• Individuals who can demonstrate 3 years of contributions to a social protection scheme (whether or not they have a high school diploma) are eligible to register via the FPC (Continuing Professional Training)

To follow the training:

• Vaccination against hepatitis B is mandatory.
• A laptop is recommended, a vehicle is necessary to get to the internship.

In accordance with the law of February 11, 2005 for equal rights and opportunities, participation and citizenship of disabled persons, the principles of non-discrimination and accessibility are applied to training.

A disability liaison officer is in contact with all paramedical training programs at the Caen University Hospital. Students with disabilities can contact her at: pfp-sec-dir@chu-caen.fr

Points to be aware of:

There is no obligation for the student to disclose their disability status to their institution, whether at the time of the competition or during their studies.

The disability situation of a candidate or student is confidential, even if it may fall under the shared secrecy between professionals of the training structure.

Before entering a health or social care training institute in Normandy, you must absolutely ensure:

• the method of financing* the educational costs of your training (Normandy Region, OPCO , employer, self-financing…)
• of your resources during the duration of your training (CROUS, Pôle emploi, OPCO , employer…)

*See Training Funding

Annual training costs:

• Registration fees 2025-2026: €175
• Student and Campus Life Contribution (CVEC) 2025-2026: €105
• Tuition fees 2024-2025: €8120

An apprenticeship contract can be set up for the 2nd and 3rd years of training. The CFA PSS (Apprenticeship Training Center for Health and Social Professions) in Normandy supports employers and candidates in this process.

• Theoretical training (60 weeks at the institute) with lectures, practical work and tutorials. 59 teaching units are divided into 6 areas: human sciences, biological and medical sciences, foundations of nursing methods and techniques, nursing interventions and techniques, integration of knowledge and professional posture, working methods.
• Clinical training (60 weeks of internship) : internships are divided into alternating periods of 5 to 10 weeks from the first year.

1. Promoting interprofessionalism and interdisciplinarity is a key focus of our project.

Several activities are offered in this regard throughout the training:

• Implementation of the health service
• Sharing of educational activities with the medical school
• Participation in awareness campaigns : organ donation days, diabetes awareness days, emergency room simulations
• multi-professional simulation activities with the university hospital's simulation center
• Co-organizing events to raise awareness among user groups or future professionals (teddy bear hospital with medical and speech therapy students, organizing activities to raise funds to help user associations, participating in forums and high school student days, open days at the center…)
• Participation in interprofessional thematic conferences (hygiene days, wound and healing congresses, etc.)
• Participation in think tanks and/or working groups organized by the ARS , the Regional Council, Health Establishments, the University…)

2. Develop your skills through simulation

The IFSI ( Nursing Training Institute) at the Caen Normandy University Hospital wanted to develop active teaching methods such as simulation by offering multiple scenarios:

• Simulations using scenarios to support discussions and reflections on patient care in a given situation.
• Simulations on basic (low fidelity) mannequins allowing training in professional procedures (sampling, injections at peripheral sites or implanted ports, catheterization, cardiac massage)
• Standardized patients: these are simulated patients or role-playing scenarios that allow for interaction between caregiver and patient. The aim is to develop technical interpersonal skills in scripted situations (initial interviews, crisis management, etc.).
• Interactive mannequin simulation: The objective is to put learners in an evolving situation, to mobilize their knowledge and to acquire skills.

The training is provided by health professionals who are State-Certified Nurses, who have varied professional experience and university qualifications: University Diplomas, Bachelor's degrees, Master's degrees.

Permanent instructors work in collaboration with university professors and field professionals. Since 2013, students have benefited from a university digital platform that allows them to access educational content remotely.

Each student is monitored throughout the 3 years of study by a designated training manager who guides them in acquiring their skills.

Structured sessions in small groups allow students to share their experiences and work on areas where they encounter difficulties. These sessions are facilitated by the institute's instructors.

A peer mentoring system for first-year undergraduate students, paired with second-year students, aims to support new students at the start of their studies, facilitating their integration into the institute and a better adaptation to the required working methods. Regular review sessions of this program are organized by the teaching staff.

Online assessments, online homework submissions, in-class assignments, oral presentations of work, simulated situations, analyses of clinical situations during internships.

The IFSI ( Nursing Training Institute) is part of a training cluster that includes:

• Initial training programs : ambulance drivers, nursing assistants, medical radiographers
• Specialty training programs: nurse anesthetists, operating room nurses, pediatric nurses
• Health management training
• Medical training: medicine, pharmacy, midwifery, speech therapy

Bringing these training programs together on a single site, the “Health Training and Research Center ( PFRS ),” allows for the development of shared and innovative educational activities: multidisciplinary teaching and internships. The facilities are accessible to people with disabilities, and a disability liaison is also available at the Paramedical Training Center (contact details available upon request from the Institute's secretariat) .

Students at the institute benefit from numerous internship opportunities in the departments of the University Hospital, but also in peripheral public or private hospitals, home care facilities, mental health establishments and accommodation for dependent elderly people, schools, companies…

• The nursing school (IFSI) manages student placements for clinical internships. The three-year program adheres to the types and durations prescribed in the curriculum. Internships are scheduled for each semester. For some internships, students have the option of finding a placement independently
• In case of learning difficulties, the internship program can be adapted according to the student's situation.

A traineeship allowance and reimbursement of travel expenses are paid in accordance with the decree of July 31, 2009 relating to the State Diploma in Nursing.

The State Diploma in Nursing is obtained by acquiring 180 European credits. Students who have validated the first five semesters of training (i.e., 150 credits) and who have completed all the assessments and internships of semester 6 are authorized to appear before the regional jury for the awarding of the State Diploma in Nursing.

After obtaining the DEI, it is possible to access state diplomas in "specialties": pediatric nurse, operating room nurse, nurse anesthetist (Master 2 level), health manager (Master 2), or advanced practice nurse (Master 2).

The Bachelor of Science in Care facilitates access (pathways) to other medical and paramedical university courses.

Throughout their professional career, nurses can access training focused on professional developments: public health, quality, pain management, ethics…

You will find the public report of the Parcoursup 2025 below.

THREE WAYS TO ACCESS TRAINING:

• For those who have obtained their baccalaureate (or are in their final year of high school): registration via PARCOURSUP
  

PARCOURSUP 2026 Selection Calendar :

– Registration and submission of preferences by candidates: from 19/01/26 to 12/03/2026 23:59

– Finalization of files and confirmation of preferences: 01/04/2026 23:59

– Display of responses: 02/06/2026

– Limits of administrative registrations:

• July 17, 2026 – 12pm for candidates who have given a DEFINITIVE YES or a YES BUT with choices archived as of July 10, 2026
• August 24, 2026 – 6 p.m. for candidates who gave a DEFINITIVE YES between July 11, 2026 and August 23, 2026

• For people who can prove 3 years of contributions to a social protection scheme (high school graduates or not): registration via Continuing Professional Training (CPT)

FPC 2026 Selection Calendar :

– Registration: from 6/10/2025 to 21/11/2025 inclusive

– Written exams: 08/01/2026 (afternoon)

– Interviews: from 08/12/2025 to 14/01/2026

– Results: January 26, 2026, starting at 2:00 PM

FPC 2026 selection results:

PFRS reception

– Internet display, at the bottom of the page

• For individuals meeting the conditions defined by the decree of October 22, 2021, amending the decree of November 4, 2019, concerning access to medical, pharmacy, dental, and midwifery training: registration via the LAS Gateway

LAS Gateway Selection Calendar 2026 :

Registration: from May 11, 2026 to May 21, 2026, 12:00 PM inclusive

– Interviews: from 08/06/2026 to 12/06/2026

– Results: no later than 19/06/2026

You will find the registration form at the bottom of the page.

Since 2023, there has been a " Specific Caregiver Pathway " which allows caregivers, having been declared successful in the FPC selection and fulfilling certain conditions (see decree of July 3, 2023 and DGOS instructions of August 2, 2023 ), to access the second year of the Nursing Training Institute following a 12-week training course.

The terms and conditions for accessing this specific course are detailed in the FPC 2026 information booklet

In accordance with the decree of May 11, 2020, the ten IFSI of the Caen section are engaged in a process of university-level paramedical training.

Students entering the program are automatically enrolled at the Faculty of Health Sciences in Caen (without any additional steps) in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing , regardless of their entry route. This degree complements the State Diploma in Nursing.

You will find essential information about this project by following this link:

Licensed elite athletes may, under certain conditions, request adjustments to their training program. Each individual situation is reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the institute's director. Please note that these adjustments may result in an extension of the training period.

• Be at least 17 years old by December 31st of the year of entry into training
• To secure funding for the cost of their training.
• Students should check with their doctor that their mandatory vaccinations are up to date for the first day of school (taking into account the timeframe: several injections spaced one month apart for hepatitis B, with serological testing). Since May 13, 2023, Covid is no longer mandatory for all healthcare professionals (including students) .