Filipino nurses working in the wellbeing services county graduated from university of applied sciences 

The first group of Filipino nurses working in hospital services can apply for the right to work as a registered nurse in Finland in the future since they have now completed additional studies alongside their work.

All the nurses who arrived in Finland already had qualifications and work experience as a nurse from their home country of the Philippines. However, the process of registering nurses from outside the EU and EEA countries is long and demanding in Finland. Qualifying as a registered nurse requires an assessment of supplementary studies from the Valvira supervisory agency, participation in additional education and taking the YKI language test.

"It is wonderful that we can now celebrate the progress of the first group on their path as registered nurses. I consider it particularly important that we have been able to offer registration studies to our internationally recruited personnel, and in this way have been able to support their education in tasks corresponding to their profession," says HR Specialist Hanna-Kaisa Rämä.

The Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County has employed Filipino nurses who have arrived through international recruitment since autumn 2022.

"Two groups of internationally recruited personnel in the wellbeing services county have qualified as practical nurses this year through an apprenticeship. The qualified practical nurses work in the housing units for older people and services for the disabled in the wellbeing services county," says Rämä.

The nurses working at the wellbeing services county completed additional training required for registration at Laurea University of Applied Sciences.

Hanna-Kaisa Rämä praises Laurea for its excellent cooperation.

"Cooperation with Laurea University of Applied Sciences in the supplementary module aiming at registration has gone excellently. We have met with the lecturers responsible for the education module at regular intervals to examine the stage of the studies and to discuss solutions to questions that have arisen during the education process together. Our personnel have also received support and guidance from the educational institution in the application process related to registration," Rämä says, grateful for the cooperation.

Lecturer Marja Tanskanen served as the lecturer in charge of the Filipino student group at Laurea.

"The cooperation was very smooth and successful. The meetings worked well and the students received good placements for traineeships,” says Tanskanen.

The studies that started in February 2023 in Espoo progressed fully on schedule in accordance with the study plan. The studies included theoretical studies in nursing, online studies, workshops, simulations, and competence demonstrations.

"The entire group performed very well in the demanding programme. The students were committed and motivated and approached their studies in a goal-oriented manner. They were always on time, and there was a very nice and positive atmosphere in the classroom. We can talk about a high-class group of students. They received excellent feedback from both lecturers and workplace instructors," says Tanskanen.

Thanks for the completed work are also due to the personnel of the wellbeing services county. Our experts responsible for international recruitment have carried out significant development cooperation when planning additional study opportunities and supporting work communities and supervisors in organising the education module.

"Hospital service supervisors, workplace instructors and other members of the work community have done invaluable work to support internationally recruited personnel in a situation where we have all been faced with something new. The warm reception, professional guidance and committed and long-term work have promoted and supported the progress of internationally recruited personnel throughout their studies," Rämä says.

However, the greatest work has been done by the nurses who completed their supplementary studies.

"Completing studies in a new country in a foreign language is an achievement that requires perseverance, courage and the ability to absorb a great deal of information. We are happy and grateful that we have received internationally recruited personnel for the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County who work in a committed and professional manner," says Hanna-Kaisa Rämä.

Jenifer Amistad, who arrived from the Philippines and has now completed her studies, says that her studies at Laurea went well.

"Studying in Finland is more relaxed than in the Philippines, where there are much more assignments. I felt that studying in Finland was appropriately demanding.

In Finland, you're allowed to voice your opinions, and there may not be a wrong answer to a question. You can also learn about different areas of work diversely."

According to Jenifer, the studies also helped her learn more about Finland.

"I learned about employment and legislation in Finland. My studies naturally also helped me learn more Finnish, even though my language skills have improved most by working at Espoo Hospital."

Jonna Ruoho, nurse manager at Espoo Hospital, says that Filipino nurses have quickly become part of the work community. Ruoho believes that this is partly due to the positive and adaptive attitude of the new nurses.

"They started working shortly after their arrival in Finland. At Espoo Hospital, we designed and implemented an extensive orientation programme for them. We also organised weekly discussions led by a supervisor for the first months. The appointed supervisors and the entire work community have supported and encouraged them,” says Ruoho.

According to Ruoho, the only challenges have been related to language skills. The nurses' responsibilities have been increased gradually as their language proficiency has strengthened.

"The Filipino nurses have been working as primary nurses for some time. I hope that they will be able to work as registered nurses as soon as possible now that they have their qualifications. That would require fairly good language skills and more extensive responsibilities."

Marika Taanonen, nurse manager at Espoo Hospital, says that the Filipino nurses are extremely hard-working and motivated employees. The entire work community has welcomed them warmly.

"The Filipino nurses quickly adapted to our ward, and they are well-liked colleagues. The challenges at the beginning were related to language skills and, consequently, tasks that require a lot of talking. At the moment, it seems that nurses from the Philippines speak the new language better than they even realise,” says Taanonen.