Diploma in General Nursing outside the EU/EEA project's MOOC has been published for the use of the project's students on DigiCampus.

In the Continuing Professional Education for Nurses Granted with a Diploma in General Nursing outside the EU/EEA project, the Orientation to Finnish Social and Healthcare MOOC has been developed to support nurses who graduated outside the EU/EEA in qualifying as registered nurses in Finland. This MOOC introduces students in qualification training to ethics in nursing, patient safety in nursing, and the Finnish social and healthcare system.

The MOOC has been developed on the DigiCampus online platform, allowing it to be published as open educational material after the project concludes. The MOOC can be used as part of qualification training, but it also serves as an independent course for anyone interested in these topics.

The goal of the study module is for the student to: 

• Be familiar with the ethical guidelines in healthcare in Finland.
• Understand the significance of ethical guidelines in Finnish nursing.
• Understands the importance of patient safety in healthcare for the work of a nurse.
• Be acquainted with the various service systems and legislation in the Finnish social and healthcare sector.
• Can effectively search for necessary information regarding the social and healthcare service systems in Finland.

The study module is designed so that the student can log in independently and complete the module at their own pace. The material in the MOOC has been translated into both Finnish and English, allowing students to choose their preferred language. While there are minor differences between language versions, the content is mostly the same in both versions. Each section of the MOOC includes theoretical content with reference materials, exercises, and knowledge tests. Model answers have been provided for some exercises, and students can track their progress. At the end of the study module, there is a statement-based exam, and upon passing, the student can print a certificate of completion. 

The MOOC has been piloted with students from the Diploma in General Nursing outside the EU/EEA project, and feedback from students has been positive. They were satisfied with the content and felt that the MOOC supported their qualification as nurses. Students expressed a desire for more exercises in the MOOC and additional support for learning the Finnish language. The MOOC will be piloted in the spring of 2024 as part of the English-language nursing education at Savonia University of Applied Sciences. Further development of the MOOC will be based on these pilots, and the MOOC will be available on DigiCampus as open educational material for everyone in January 2025.

Niina Glerean, Lecturer, Laurea University of Applied Sciences