Finnish language for healthcare
The “Continuing Professional Education for Nurses Granted with a Diploma in General Nursing Outside the EU/EEA” project has created open learning materials to support Finnish language acquisition.
As part of the project, the Finnish for the Healthcare Sector 1, 2, and 3 online courses were developed and piloted, along with online skill workshops and simulations for various nursing scenarios. A CV workshop material was also developed.
Finnish for the Healthcare Sector online courses support the development of nurses' professional language
Students begin with a course level suited to their language skills after receiving guidance from a Finnish language teacher at their university. The goal is to deepen professional Finnish language skills. The Finnish for the Healthcare Sector courses form a 15-credit module, divided as follows:
- Finnish for the Healthcare Sector 1, A2 level
- Finnish for the Healthcare Sector 2, B1 level
- Finnish for the Healthcare Sector 3, B2 level
Learning Objectives of Finnish for the Healthcare Sector Courses:
Finnish for the Healthcare Sector A2 Level | 5 ECTS | Learning objectives
The student:
- Can use healthcare-related Finnish in settings like hospitals and health centers
- Can give information, request, guide, and explain actions in various situations
- Knows how to ask for repetition or clarification when something isn’t understood
- Communicates effectively with patients, family members, professional staff, and the work community
- Understands some spoken Finnish
- Grasps the main points of healthcare documents, such as patient records and simplified care instructions
- Can document some patient information and care events in healthcare Finnish
- Understands workplace norms within the Finnish healthcare sector
- Is motivated to improve their Finnish as part of their professional skills
Finnish for the Healthcare Sector B1 Level | 5 ECTS | Learning objectives
The student:
- Can use healthcare-related Finnish in general situations in hospitals, health centers, and home care
- Can give information, request, guide, and justify care actions politely and appropriately
- Communicates effectively with patients, family members, professional staff, and the work community
- Understands colloquial expressions and some Finnish dialects
- Understands speech from various patients (adults, children, elderly)
- Can understand the main points of healthcare documents like patient records, care instructions, medical statements, and procedure descriptions
- Can document and verbally report patient information and care events to ensure patient safety
- Follows workplace norms within the Finnish healthcare sector
- Is motivated to improve their Finnish as part of their professional skills
Finnish for the Healthcare Sector B2 Level | 5 ECTS | Learning objectives
The student:
- Can use healthcare Finnish effectively in a variety of nursing contexts
- Communicates fluently and appropriately with patients, family members, professional staff, and the work community
- Can handle phone conversations and communicate via chat in remote appointments
- Understands and uses colloquial language and expressions, with some knowledge of Finnish dialects
- Can communicate with diverse patient groups: adults, children, elderly, people with developmental disabilities, and those who speak other native languages
- Understands and can produce healthcare documents like patient records, care instructions, and procedure descriptions
- Can document and verbally report patient information and care events to ensure patient safety
- Follows workplace norms in the Finnish healthcare sector and can explain their actions from an ethical perspective in Finnish
- Is motivated to improve their Finnish as part of their professional skills
Online skill workshops, simulations, and CV workshop
The Finnish for the Healthcare Sector courses are complemented by Online skill workshops and simulations for communication in clinical tasks and a CV workshop focused on job applications.
Topics for the workshops and simulations include:
- PEG tube
- PCA infusion pump
- Ventrogluteal injection
- Cannulation and initiating fluid therapy
- ABCDE systematic patient assessment
- ISBAR handover method
Each topic is covered with video scenarios, dialogues in colloquial and simplified Finnish, background materials, online exercises, and documentation instructions.
Online CV workshop materials are available to support qualified professionals in securing internships and future job placements.
All the materials mentioned above are planned to be published under open licenses for non-commercial use by the end of 2024. Courses can also be accessed via Savonia University of Applied Sciences’ Open University, where they are free of charge. Completion records are logged in the national My Studyinfo portal, where students can obtain certificates for job applications, internships, or professional qualification processes.
Content compiled by: Kukka-Maaria Raatikainen, Lecturer in Finnish Language and Communication, Savonia University of Applied Sciences. Contact: kukka-maaria.raatikainen@savonia.fi
The training has been funded by the Service Centre for Continuous Learning and Employment. The Service Centre promotes the competence development of working-age people and the availability of skilled labour. The operations of the Service Centre are overseen by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.