Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Nursing Education and Nurse Education Research in Finland

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Leadership in Nursing: Experiences from the European Nordic Countries

Abstract

In this chapter, the nursing education and nurse education research in Finland are introduced. First, the system and the structure of the nursing education and postgraduate education are described. Furthermore, the meaning of the educational outcomes of the development and research projects focusing on education and use in the educational and clinical practice are described. In addition, some examples of the research projects are described. Our aim is to emphasize the importance of good education, as a basis for the quality of patient care. Nursing education in Finland is bachelor level and conducted in the universities of applied sciences. After graduation registered nurses can continue and enter a Master’s level in academic universities or in the universities of applied sciences. In Finland, research concerning nurse education has always been an essential part of nursing science research. Approximately 12% of all doctoral dissertations focuses on nursing education.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Statistics Finland. Labour force survey. Helsinki: Statistics Finland; 2018. Available at http://www.stat.fi/til/tyti/index_en.html. Accessed 15 May 2018.

  2. Statistics Finland. Health: Registered health care professionals of working age, 1995–2015, and Largest groups of health care professionals with protected occupational title (of working age), 1995–2015, vol. 112 (new series). Helsinki: Statistical Yearbook of Finland 2017; 2017. Available at http://pxhopea2.stat.fi/sahkoiset_julkaisut/vuosikirja2017/html/engl0010.htm. Accessed 31 May 2018.

  3. OECD. Health workforce. Health at a Glance 2017: OECD indicators. Paris: OECD Publishing; 2017. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1787/health_glance-2017-en. Accessed 31 May 2018.

  4. Ministry of Education and Culture. Vocational education and training in Finland. Higher education and science. Helsinki: Ministry of Education and Culture; 2018. Available at: http://minedu.fi/en/. Accessed 22 Apr 2018.

  5. Numminen O, Laine T, Isoaho H, Hupli M, Leino-Kilpi H, Meretoja R. Do educational outcomes correspond with the requirements of nursing practice: educators’ and managers’ assessments of novice nurses’ professional competence. Scand J Caring Sci. 2014;28(4):812–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Heinen MM, van Achterberg T, Schwendimann R, Zander B, Matthews A, Kózka M, Ensio A, Strømseng Sjetne I, Moreno Casbas T, Ball J, Schoonhoven L. Nurses’ intention to leave their profession: a cross sectional observational study in 10 European countries. Int J Nurs Stud. 2013;50(2):174–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Flinkman M. Young registered nurses’ intent to leave the profession in Finland – a mixed-method study. Annales Universitatis Turkuensis D 1107. Academic dissertation, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku; 2014. Available at http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-29-5694-4.

  8. WHO. Health workforce. Data and statistics. 2015. Available at: http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/Health-systems/health-workforce/data-and-statistics. Accessed 31 May 2018.

  9. Eriksson E, Korhonen T, Merasto M, Moisio E-L. Sairaanhoitajan ammatillinen osaaminen – Sairaanhoitajakoulutuksen tulevaisuus -hanke [Professional competence of a nurse – the future of nursing education -project]. Ammattikorkeakoulujen terveysalan verkosto ja Suomen sairaanhoitajaliitto ry. Porvoo: Bookwell Oy; 2015 [in Finnish].

    Google Scholar 

  10. European Union. Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the recognition of professional qualifications. Off J Eur Union 2005. Available at: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2005/36/oj. Accessed 26 Mar 2018.

  11. Universities Act 558/2009. Finlex Data Bank. Ministry of Justice. Available at http://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/2009/en20090558. Accessed 31 May 2018.

  12. University of Applied Sciences Act 932/2014. Finlex Data Bank. Ministry of Justice. Available at http://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/2014/en20140932. Accessed 31 May 2018.

  13. Health Care Act 1326/2010. Finlex Data Bank. Ministry of Justice. Available at http://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/2010/en20101326. Accessed 31 May 2018.

  14. Act on Health Care Professionals 559/1994. Finlex Data Bank. Ministry of Justice. Available at http://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/1994/en19940559. Accessed 31 May 2018.

  15. European Union. Directive 2013/55/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications. Off J Eur Union 2013. Available at: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2013/55/oj. Accessed 25 Feb 2018.

  16. Finnish Government. Health and social services reform. 2018. Available at: http://alueuudistus.fi/en/services-and-freedom-of-choice/language-rights. Accessed 22 Apr 2018.

  17. European Commission. Learning opportunities and qualifications in Europe. Descriptors defining levels in the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). 2008. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/ploteus/content/descriptors-page. Accessed 28 Mar 2018.

  18. Leino-Kilpi H. Good nursing care – on what basis? Annales Universitatis Turkuensis D 49. Academic dissertation, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku; 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Stolt M, Tuomi J, Salminen L, Suhonen R, Koskinen S, Vierula J, Leino-Kilpi H. First three decades of Finnish nursing science – a document analysis of abstracts in doctoral dissertations during years 1984–2015. Hoitotiede 2018;30(1):3–14 (in Finnish, English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Vierula J, Stolt M, Salminen L, Leino-Kilpi H, Tuomi J. Nursing education research in Finland – a review of doctoral dissertations. Nurse Educ Today. 2016;37:145–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Salminen L. Portrait of nurse teacher – requirements for teachers evaluated. Annales Universitatis Turkuensis C158. Academic dissertation, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku; 2000 (in Finnish, English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Salminen L, Stolt M, Koskinen S, Leino-Kilpi H. The competence and the co-operation of Finnish nurse educators. Nurse Educ Today. 2013;33(11):1376–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. TerOpe Project. Osaavat opettajat yhdessä! – valtakunnallinen terveystieteiden opettajankoulutuksen ja soteku-opettajien täydennyskoulutuksen uudistaminen. Research Unit of Nursing Science and Health Management. University of Oulu; 2018. Available at (in English): https://teropehanke.wordpress.com/. Accessed 31 May 2018.

  24. Flinkman M, Leino-Kilpi H, Numminen O, Jeon Y, Kuokkanen L, Meretoja R. Nurse competence scale: a systematic and psychometric review. J Adv Nurs. 2017;73(5):1035–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Meretoja R, Isoaho H, Leino-Kilpi H. Nurse competence scale: development and psychometric testing. J Adv Nurs. 2004a;47(2):124–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Meretoja R, Leino-Kilpi H, Kaira AM. Comparison of nurse competence in different hospital work environments. J Nurs Manag. 2004b;12:329–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Pijl-Zieber EM, Barton S, Konkin J, Awosoga O, Caine V. Competence and competency-based nursing education: finding our way. Nurse Educ Today. 2013;34(5):676–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Räisänen A. A comparison study on nurses graduating from post-secondary institutions and polytechnics regarding their command of the functions involved in care work and the areas of emphasis in instruction and study. Annales Universitatis Turkuensis C 178. Academic dissertation, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku; 2002 (in Finnish, English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  29. Kajander-Unkuri S. Nurse competence of graduating nursing students. Annales Universitatis Turkuensis D 1158. Academic dissertation, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku; 2015. Available at http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-29-6003-3.

  30. Heikkilä A. Research knowledge utilisation of polytechnic nursing students on graduation. Annales Universitatis Turkuensis C 237. Academic dissertation, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku; 2005 (in Finnish, English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  31. Heikkilä A, Hupli M, Katajisto J, Leino-Kilpi H. Finnish graduating nursing students’ research utilization competence. J Nurs Educ Pract. 2018;8(8):119–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Korhonen T, Siltanen H, Hahtela N, Holopainen A. Toteutuuko näyttöön perustuva toiminta Suomessa? Raportti nykytilasta hoitotyön edustajien kuvaamana. Nursing Research Foundation & Finnish Nurses Association; 2018. Available at https://sairaanhoitajat.fi/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/npt_raportti-_digi.pdf. Accessed 31 May 2018 (in Finnish).

  33. Suikkala A, Koskinen S, Leino-Kilpi H. Patients’ involvement in nursing students’ clinical education: a scoping review. Int J Nurs Stud. 2018;84:40–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Suikkala A. Nursing student-patient relationship and associated factors. Annales Universitatis Turkuensis D 788. Academic dissertation, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku; 2008. Available at http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-29-3463-8.

  35. PROCOMPNurse Project. Professional competence in nursing. Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku; 2018. Available at: https://www.utu.fi/procompnurse. Accessed 31 May 2018.

  36. Salanterä S. Caring for children in pain – nursing knowledge, activities and outcomes. Annales Universitatis Turkuensis D 345. Academic dissertation, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku; 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Lakanmaa R-L. Competence in intensive and critical care nursing - development of a basic assessment scale for graduating nursing students. Annales Universitatis Turkuensis D 1014. Academic dissertation, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku; 2012. Available at http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-29-5019-5.

  38. Jeon Y, Lahtinen P, Meretoja R, Leino-Kilpi H. Anaesthesia nursing education in the Nordic countries: literature review. Nurse Educ Today. 2015;35(5):680–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Grandell-Niemi H. The medication calculation skills of nursing students and nurses – developing a medication calculation skills test. Annales Universitatis Turkuensis D 682. Academic dissertation, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku; 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Sulosaari V. Medication competence of nursing students in Finland. Annales Universitatis Turkuensis D1232. Academic dissertation, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku; 2016. Available at http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-29-6501-4.

  41. Härkänen M. Medication-related adverse outcomes and contributing factors among hospital patients: an analysis using hospitals incident reports, the Global Trigger Tool method, and observations with record reviews. Dissertations in Health Sciences 260, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland; 2014. Available at http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-61-1636-5.

  42. Nikula A. Vaccination competence – the concept and evaluation. Annales Universitatis Turkuensis D 995. Academic dissertation, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku; 2011. Available at http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-29-4829-1

  43. Koskinen S. Nursing students and older people nursing. Towards a future career. Annales Universitatis Turkuensis D 1224. Academic dissertation, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku; 2016. Available at http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-29-6438-3.

  44. Garbrah W, Välimäki T, Palovaara M, Kankkunen P. Nursing curriculums may hinder a career in gerontological nursing: an integrative review. Int J Older People Nursing. 2017;12(3):e12152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Holopainen A, Hakulinen-Viitanen T, Tossavainen K. Nurse teacherhood: systematic descriptive review and content analysis. Int J Nurs Stud. 2007;44(4):611–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Mc Allistair M, Flynn T. The Capabilities of Nurse Educators (CONE) questionnaire: development and evaluation. Nurse Educ Today. 2016;39:122–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. van Laar E, van Deursen AJAM, Dijk JAGM, de Haan J. The relation between 21st-century skills and digital skills: a systematic literature review. Comput Hum Behav. 2017;72:577–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Salminen L, Stolt M, Metsämäki R, Rinne J, Kasen A, Leino-Kilpi H. Ethical principles in the work of nurse educator – a cross-sectional study. Nurse Educ Today. 2016;36:18–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. WHO. Nurse educator core competencies. 2016. Available at: http://www.who.int/hrh/nursing_midwifery/nurse_educ_core_competencies/en/. Accessed 31 May 2018.

  50. Harri M. Nurse educators’ well-being at work in Finland. Academic dissertation, Department of Nursing Science, University of Kuopio; 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Janhonen S. The core of nursing as seen by the nurse teachers in Finland, Norway and Sweden. Academic dissertation, Department of Nursing, University of Oulu; 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Turunen H. Critical learning incidents and use as a learning method: A comparison of Finnish and British nurse student teachers. E. Social Sciences 93. Academic dissertation, Department of Nursing Science, University of Kuopio; 2002. Available at: http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:951-781-932-3.

  53. Koivula M, Tarkka M-T, Simonen M, Katajisto J, Salminen L. Research utilization among nursing teachers in Finland: a national survey. Nurse Educ Today. 2011;31(1):24–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Helminen K, Coco K, Johnson M, Turunen H, Tossavainen K. Summative assessment of clinical practice of student nurses: a review of the literature. Int J Nurs Stud. 2016;53:308–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Talman K. Student selection in nursing education – A follow-up study of two selection methods and their relations to the knowledge, skills and study motivation of nursing students. Annales Universitatis Turkuensis C 383. Academic dissertation, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku; 2014. Available at http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-29-5731-6 (in Finnish, English abstract).

  56. Saarikoski M, Warne T, Kaila P, Leino-Kilpi H. The role of the nurse teacher in clinical practice: an empirical study of Finnish student nurse experiences. Nurse Educ Today. 2009;29(6):595–600.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Mattila LR, Rekola L, Koponen L, Eriksson E. Journal club intervention in promoting evidence-based nursing: perceptions of nursing students. Nurse Educ Pract. 2013;13(5):423–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Häggman-Laitila A, Eriksson E, Meretoja R, Sillanpää K, Rekola L. Nursing students in clinical practice–developing a model for clinical supervision. Nurse Educ Pract. 2007;7(6):381–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Luojus K. Ammattitaitoa edistävän harjoittelun ohjauksen toimintamalli – ohjaajien näkökulma. Acta Electronica Universitatis Tamperensis 1032. Academic dissertation, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tampere; 2011. Available at: http://urn.fi/urn:isbn:978-951-44-8315-8.

  60. Saaranen T, Vaajoki A, Kellomäki M, Hyvärinen ML. The simulation method in learning interpersonal communication competence–experiences of masters’ degree students of health sciences. Nurse Educ Today. 2015;35(2):8–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Laakso I, Strandell-Laine C, Eckardt M, Salminen L. Using videoconferencing in teaching competence areas of evidence-based nursing: experiences of nursing students. Hoitotiede 2018. Accepted to publication (in Finnish, English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  62. Strandell-Laine C, Saarikoski M, Löyttyniemi E, Meretoja R, Salminen L, Leino-Kilpi H. Effectiveness of the mobile cooperation intervention on students’ clinical learning outcomes: a randomized controlled trial. J Adv Nurs. 2018;74(6):1319–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. Karapuu AM, Gustafsson ML, Kanerva AM, Hannula E & Salminen L. Blogistako opettajan ja ohjaajan yhteydenpidon väline [Blog as a cooperation tool between teacher and mentor]. Pro Terveys 2015;42(4):16–7 (in Finnish).

    Google Scholar 

  64. Sainio J, Carver E, Kangas T. Eväitä hyvän työuran rakentamiseen. Aarresaari-verkoston maisteriuraseuranta 2016. 2017. Retrieved 22 Apr 2018 from https://www.aarresaari.net/download/71/ev%C3%A4it%C3%A4_hyv%C3%A4n_ty%C3%B6uran_rakentamiseen_maisteriuraseuranta_2016/pdf%2026.3.2018 (in Finnish).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    Leena Salminen, Sanna Koskinen, Asta Heikkilä, Camilla Strandell-Laine, Elina Haavisto & Helena Leino-Kilpi

  2. Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland

    Helena Leino-Kilpi

Authors
  1. Leena Salminen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sanna Koskinen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Asta Heikkilä
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Camilla Strandell-Laine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Elina Haavisto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Helena Leino-Kilpi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Leena Salminen .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland

    Thóra B. Hafsteinsdóttir

  2. School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland

    Helga Jónsdóttir

  3. Department of Nursing Science, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Olso, Norway

    Marit Kirkevold

  4. Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    Helena Leino-Kilpi

  5. Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

    Kirsten Lomborg

  6. Lund University, Lund, Sweden

    Ingalill Rahm Hallberg

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Salminen, L., Koskinen, S., Heikkilä, A., Strandell-Laine, C., Haavisto, E., Leino-Kilpi, H. (2019). Nursing Education and Nurse Education Research in Finland. In: Hafsteinsdóttir, T., Jónsdóttir, H., Kirkevold, M., Leino-Kilpi, H., Lomborg, K., Rahm Hallberg, I. (eds) Leadership in Nursing: Experiences from the European Nordic Countries. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10964-6_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10964-6_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-10963-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-10964-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation