Reinforcing nurses’ professional skills, Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) roles, and clear career models in the social, health, and rescue services sectors are currently a matter of significant social importance. The sudden need for human resources for health (HRH) caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, combined with the worsening HRH crisis, has highlighted the crucial role of nurses in maintaining preparedness and contingency planning across society and in supporting people’s health and wellbeing.
The professional development of nurses and the broad use of their skills are important competitive factors in building the Finnish welfare society – especially now that, since the beginning of 2023, the largest reform in Finland’s history in health, social, and rescue services has commenced. One of the main goals of the reform is to secure the supply of skilled employees. Career advancement, continuous development of clinical expertise, and the implementation of APN roles are also included in the Finnish Nurses Association lobby goals for the national government program 2023-2027. Therefore, it is our collective social responsibility to ensure that the nursing profession is valued and remains attractive for future professionals in health, social, and rescue services.
This report provides an update on the current national situation regarding the job description of Advanced Practice Nurses in Finland. The report makes new recommendations for national-level goals, including aligning APN roles with education, promoting synergy between education and working life, adopting APN job descriptions, involving nursing experts in the development of health and social services, and evaluating their effectiveness. The report aims to support the promotion of the clinical nursing career model in terms of managing working life, education, and national guidance. The nursing career model and the recommendations will only become a reality if they are implemented.
New roles for nurses – quality to future social welfare and health care services (original publication in Finnish 2016, English translation in 2018).
Facts about Finland and abbreviations
Facts about Finland
- Finland is located in Northern Europe, and has a population of approximately6 million.
- Finnish higher education system follows a dual model, comprising universities and universities of applied sciences (UASs). Universities engage both in education and research, while UASs focus on applied research and development.
- Graduate nursing education takes place at UAS and is worth 210 ECTS.
- Registered nurses (RNs) have the opportunity to pursue a postgraduate master’s degree, either in a university (120 ECTS) or in a UAS (90 ECTS). Following either path, they can pursue a Ph.D. degree in health sciences at a university.
- Education for RNs’ limited right to prescribe is worth 45 ECTS and on FiNQF level 7. This education is at the same FiNQF level as master’s degrees, although it is not a full master’s programme.
Abbreviations:
- ECTS = European Credit Transfer System
One ECTS credit is 27 hours of student’s work. 60 ECTS credits are the equivalent of a full year of study or work. - FiNQF = Finnish National Framework for Qualifications
Bachelor’s level degree (Registered Nurse education) is at level 6, master’s level degree at level 7, and Doctoral degree at level 8.
Note: Throughout the report, the term “nurse” is used to refer to a registered nurse (RN) with the required education, licensing, and registration by Valvira, the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health. Public health nurses, midwives, and paramedics (with a bachelor’s degree) are also registered as nurses in Finland.
