Nurses are the most highly qualified care professionals. Their work is performed independently and responsibly, based on nursing science.
With the term nurse we refer to registered nurse (RN), who has the required education, licensing, and registration by Valvira, the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health. Also public health nurses, midwives and paramedics (UAS) are registered nurses in Finland.
Nurses work in a holistic way
Nurses work with a patient-centered, health-focused, and holistic approach.
The nurse’s tasks:
- promoting and maintaining health
- preventing and treating illness
- alleviating suffering.
Nurses’ expertise is based on evidence-based nursing care. In addition, nurses bring a nursing-specific perspective to a multidisciplinary team.
Nurses have a wide range of job profiles. Many work in clinical nursing with patients/clients, with a wide range of specialties and settings. Through further training, others work as teachers, researchers, policy makers, developers or managers, for example. Society needs people with a nursing background for a variety of roles.
Nurse
You can study to become a nurse at a University of Applied Sciences (UAS). The degree program lasts about 3.5 years and comprises a total of 210 ECTS credits.
A nursing degree is a Bachelor’s degree. See the national competence requirements and contents for general nurse education. More detailed syllabuses are available on the websites of the different Universities of Applied Sciences. Check the list of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences at Study in Finland.
National legislation closely regulates the education and professional practice of health care personnel. Nursing training in Finland is also based on the European Union’s Directive 2005/36/EC, amended by Directive 2013/55/EU. Therefore, the requirements in Finland are similar to those elsewhere in the European Union and other collaborating European countries.
You will be licensed and registered as a nurse by Valvira, the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health. The practice of the professions is restricted to licensed professionals only.
Public Health Nurse
You can study to become a public health nurse (PHN) at a University of Applied Sciences (UAS). PHN students receive two degree titles upon graduation: nurse and public health nurse. The duration of the studies is about 4 years and comprises 240 ECTS credits. The public health nursing degree is a Bachelor’s degree.
See the national competence requirements and contents for general nurse education. More detailed PHN syllabuses are available on the websites of the different Universities of Applied Sciences. Check the list of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences at Study in Finland.
You will be licensed and registered as a nurse and as a public health nurse by Valvira, the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health. The practice of these professions is restricted to licensed professionals only.
In addition to national legislation, for nurse education part the PHN training is also based on the European Union’s Directive 2005/36/EC, amended by Directive 2013/55/EU. Therefore, the requirements in Finland are similar to those elsewhere in the European Union and other collaborating European countries.
PHNs have a specialization in public health and health promotion. Working environments cover various stages of people’s lives, such as maternity and child health clinics, schools, occupational health and home care settings. PHNs have an independent work description in multi-professional teams, mostly in primary health care settings. See more on the web page of the Finnish Association of Public Health Nurses.
Paramedic
You can study to become a paramedic (specialist nurse in emergency care) at a University of Applied Sciences (UAS). Studying to become a paramedic gives you two degree titles upon graduation: nurse and paramedic. The degree program takes about 4 years and comprises 240 ECTS credits. The degree is a Bachelor’s degree.
You will be licensed and registered as a nurse by Valvira, the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health. Paramedic is not one of the licensed professions. The practice of the RN professions is restricted to licensed professionals only.
See the national competence requirements and contents for general nurse education. More detailed paramedic syllabuses are available on the websites of the different Universities of Applied Sciences. Check the list of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences at Study in Finland.
In addition to national legislation, for nurse education part the paramedic training is also based on the European Union’s Directive 2005/36/EC, amended by Directive 2013/55/EU. Therefore, the requirements in Finland are similar to those elsewhere in the European Union and other collaborating European countries.
There are many work opportunities for paramedics, such as emergency medical services, and hospital ER, intensive care and surgery wards.
Midwife
You can study to become a midwife at a University of Applied Sciences (UAS). Studying to become a midwife gives you two degree titles upon graduation: nurse and midwife. The degree program takes about 4.5 years and comprises 270 ECTS credits. The midwifery degree is a Bachelor’s degree.
See the national competence requirements and contents for general nurse education. More detailed midwife curricula are available on the websites of the different Universities of Applied Sciences. Check the list of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences at Study in Finland.
You will be licensed and registered as a nurse and as a midwife by Valvira, the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health. The practice of these professions is restricted to licensed professionals only.
In addition to national legislation, midwifery training in Finland is also based on the European Union’s Directive 2005/36/EC, amended by Directive 2013/55/EU. Therefore, the requirements in Finland are similar to those elsewhere in the European Union and other collaborating European countries.
Midwives are experts in sexual and reproductive health. They work in various settings, such as maternity and contraceptive clinics, antenatal, labour and postnatal wards and gynecology clinics and wards. See more on the web page of the Federation of Finnish Midwives.
