A Comprehensive Guide on How to Become a Foreign Nurse in Finland

Finland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, which is why it is no surprise why it has been ranked as the happiest place in the world for four years in a row. The rankings are made based on the income of citizens, safety, freedom, healthy life expectancy, etc. In fact, many tourists choose to travel to the country to see the very famous Northern Lights. Aside from the magnificent tourist attractions that the country has to offer, the interesting activities and unique culture could convince you to work in the country. In addition, there is also a constant need for nurses in Finland, which could allow you to have higher chances of landing a nurse job in the country. There is also a wide range of nursing job opportunities in the country, as well as high salaries for nurses. These are just some of the few reasons on why you should choose to work as a nurse in Finland.

About the Country

A great majority of individuals from English-speaking countries are unfamiliar with the culture and practices in Finland. If you are not from Finland, you may know little to nothing about the country. This section will discuss what it is like to live in Finland. 

Finland is a northern European country, with a population of 5.5 million people living in the country, making it the eighth largest country in Europe. Finland is known for its large amount of nature, which makes it a dream destination for outdoor enthusiasts. In fact, two thirds of the country is made up of forests, and there are 40 national parks, which include lakes, forests, meadows, and coastlines. With this, you could expect clean air and water if you reside in the country. Some of the popular activities in these areas are hiking, biking, boating, and camping. On the other hand, when the winter season approaches, the enigmatic beauty of the country will be revealed. There are several ski slopes, as well as sites for snowshoeing and seeing the famous Northern Lights. 

Finland also offers a great healthcare system to its citizens. Just like the other Nordic countries, Finland provides advanced medicine, and high-technology facilities in their healthcare system. In fact, many Filipino nurses have chosen to migrate to Finland, and work in the country as nursing assistants or practical nurses, even if they have completed a nursing degree in the Philippines. Due to the many Filipino nurses in the country, the Filipino Nurses Association-Nordic (FiNAN) was created. This non-profit organization strives to collaborate closely with the Filipino nurses in Nordic countries, in order to determine their needs and concerns. These are critical so that the policymakers and decision-makers could comprehend them.

Type of Nurses

There is a wide range of job opportunities for nurses in Finland. Some of the types of nurses that you could choose to become are registered nurses, and clinical nurse specialists. 

Registered Nurse (RN)

Some of the responsibilities of a registered nurse include monitoring patients, dispensing drugs, maintaining records, discussing with healthcare providers, educating patients, and fulfilling other important responsibilities that involve patient care.

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Clinical nurse specialists work across several disciplines to assure and enhance nursing quality, encourage evidence-based nursing, and promote the strategic goals of the organization.

Salary

According to salaryexplorer.com, the average salary of nurses per month is 4,530 EUR (₱258,673.74). The salary of nurses in Finland is dependent on their qualifications, skills, and experiences. Nurses with more clinical experience could generally acquire jobs with higher salaries. For instance, entry-level nurses earn an average salary of 2,910 EUR (₱166,167.9) monthly, whereas senior level nurses earn as much as 8,720 EUR (₱497,932.68) per month.

Demand for Nurses

he demand for nurses in Finland continuously increases due to nurse retirements, the aging population and the additional obligations that are included in the proposal of the government in order to amend the social and healthcare services law made for the elderly. With this, the country is expected to hire an estimate of 30,000 more nurses before the year 2030. Nursing shortages are especially prevalent in home care and geriatric nursing, therefore there is a high demand for nurses in elderly care homes.

Hospitals

In 2017, there were 247 hospitals in Finland, which is the lowest figure of hospitals in the country within a decade. Most of the hospitals in the country are public hospitals, and only a limited number of the country are private facilities. The healthcare system in the country is highly decentralized, wherein there are three separate levels that are all publicly funded. In fact, the federal government is in charge of most of the regulations and procedures in the three-tier structure, whereas the municipalities are mostly responsible for providing real healthcare. 

There are four university teaching hospitals in Finland, which are found in the largest cities of the country. These provide individuals with advanced medicine and high-technology facilities. The university hospitals in the country are Tampere University Hospital, Kuopio University Hospital, Turku University Hospital, and Oulu University Hospital.

Most of the excellent hospitals are found in Finland’s capital, Helsinki. In these hospitals, there are many healthcare workers that are able to speak English. The hospitals in the city include Forum Medical Center Mannerheimintie, Hakaniemen Medical Center, Kielotien Medical Center, Mehilainen Hospital, and Mehilainen Medical Center.

Educational Requirement

To become a foreign nurse in Finland, you must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing from a Finnish university, or an equivalent degree that meets the standards of the country. In addition, you must have a valid nursing license issued by a recognized institution.

Language Requirement

The official languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish, therefore if you wish to work in the country, it is essential for you to be able to speak at least one of the languages. It is not necessary for you to be an expert in the languages, but you must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the languages. As a nurse in the country, you will be speaking with your co-workers, patients, and their families. You will have to speak with your patient to ask them how they are feeling, or you may have to follow the orders of the doctors. These are just some of the tasks that will require you to communicate effectively with the Finnish or Swedish language. 

Healthcare professionals who wish to work in the country are required to acquire a Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate or a National Certificate Language Proficiency. The Civil Service Language Proficiency demands at least an acceptable level of skill in the Finnish language, whereas the National Certificate of Language Proficiency requires you to pass levels 3-4 in the skills section.

Registration

In order to be able to work as a nurse in Finland, you must first register with the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) to obtain a license to practice nursing in the country. Valvira gives the permission to practice in the country as a licensed or approved professional and authorizes the use of the title of a healthcare professional upon application. Some of the requirements that you will need for the application are an identification card, proof of education documents, certificate of language proficiency, certificate of current professional status (which verifies your right to work as a nurse), and an authority-issued certificate certifying your professional qualifications.

You will be asked to pay the necessary fees that correspond to the procedure. If you were trained in EU/EEA countries, it may take up to four months for your documents to be processed by Valvira. On the other hand, if you obtained your degree from outside of EU/EEA countries, the time it will take to process your documents may be longer. This is because the documents that you submitted will be further verified by the Finnish Institute of Education to check for the validation of the credentials you provided. If any of your documents are missing, you will be notified within 30 days after receiving the original materials provided. Missing papers will be asked in order to ensure compliance and completion of the requirements. You may find the complete list of fees that you will have to pay on the Valvira website.

However, it is important to keep in mind that if you are not a citizen of an EU/EEA country, you must secure a job prior to migrating to Finland. 

Once you have accomplished and submitted all the necessary documents, and Valvira has approved your registration to work as a nurse, you will be able to pursue your dream career in Finland. Don’t forget to learn the language so that you can understand your future patients and colleagues better. Good luck!

References

• 7 Steps to Become a Nurse in Finland. (2022). Retrieved 30 May 2022, from https://uscollegeinternational.com/steps-become-nurse-finland/
• About | Filipino Nurses Association in the Nordic Region. (2022). Retrieved 27 May 2022, from https://filnan.com/aboutfinan/#:~:text=The%
• Become a Nurse in Finland. Retrieved 26 May 2022, from https://www.edunation.co/blog/finland-the-best-place-to-kick-start-your-nursing-degree/
• Decision Fees & Delivery – valvira englanti. (2022). Retrieved 30 May 2022, from https://www.valvira.fi/en/web/en/healthcare
• Dissertation: The paths of Filipino nurses to Finland: Their qualifications are largely underutilized | Tampere universities. (2022). Retrieved 27 May 2022, from https://www.tuni.fi/en/news/dissertation-paths-filipino-nurses-finland-their-qualifications-are-largely-underutilized
• Expert: Finland needs 30k more healthcare workers by 2030. (2021). Retrieved 26 May 2022, from https://yle.fi/news/3-11782213#:~:text=Finland%20is%20expected%20to%20need,healthcare%20services%20for%20the%20elderly.
• Filipino Nurses Association in the Nordic Region. (2022). Retrieved 27 May 2022, from https://filnan.com/#:~:text=The%20Filipino%
• Finland ranked happiest country in the world – again. (2022). Retrieved 27 May 2022, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56457295
• Hospitals in Finland. (2022). Retrieved 26 May 2022, from https://www.internationalinsurance.com/hospitals/finland/
• Nursing Average Salaries in Finland 2022 – The Complete Guide. (2022). Retrieved 26 May 2022, from http://www.salaryexplorer.com/salary-survey.php?loc=73&loctype=1&job=12&jobtype=2
• Registered Nurse Job Description. (2022). Retrieved 27 May 2022, from https://www.betterteam.com/registered-nurse-job-description
• The Pros And Cons Of Living In Finland As An Expat. (2020). Retrieved 27 May 2022, from https://scandification.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-living-in-finland/
• Working as a nurse in Finland – Suomen sairaanhoitajaliitto ry. (2022). Retrieved 26 May 2022, from https://www.nurses.fi/nursing_and_nurse_education_in_f/working-as-a-nurse-in-finland/#:~:text=In%20Finland%20you%20have%20to,for%20the%20right%20to%20practice.