Migrating to Finland as a Nurse - What to Expect?
Thousands of nurses are needed in Finland to address the severe shortage in the nursing labour force, and the issue is only escalating. Nurses from overseas require approval from the Finnish healthcare authority, Valvira, to work as registered or practical nurses. Please read the article and learn from my first-hand experiences of what it is like to be a nurse in Finland.
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Finland - a Country Where Every Nurse Is Hired
Many Filipinos and other foreigners seek employment as nurses in Finland. Finland got global attention after consistently being voted the world's happiest country for 6 years. However, not much is known about Finland for a foreigner whose origin is outside Europe. Honestly, this was my case when I immigrated to Finland almost a decade ago. The only knowledge I knew then about Finland was that it is known for inventing Nokia.
Finland has a total population of 5,600,000, and the ageing population is increasing tremendously yearly, while authorities are concerned about the low birth rates. For example, the statistics published on December 31, 2022, show that 20.2% of Finland's total population was aged 65–84, while 2.8% is aged 85 and above. Regarding mortality, deaths rose during the first half of 2022, which is 3,166 more fatalities than during the same period the previous year. Thanks to increasing immigration in Finland, it gives hope for the country to see an increase in birth rate and, at the same time, an increase in the population in the workforce, especially in the healthcare sector, which remains a big challenge to the lack of nurses.
Location
Finland is one of the Nordic countries located in Northern Europe. Helsinki is Finland's capital located in the southern part of the country. With a latitude of 60.1,7, Helsinki I am the world's second northernmost country per capita,l just a bit lower than Reykjavik, Iceland,d whose latitude is 64.13.
Language
Finland's official languages are Finnish and Swedish. The Finnish language is natively spoken by 91.7% of the total population, while Swedish-speaking Finns are 5.2%. Foreign languages are spoken by 8.3% of Finland's population, dominated by Russian speakers (1.6%), Estonian (0.9%) and Arabic (0.7%), while English speakers are just 0.5%. The other foreign languages most widely spoken are Somali, Farsi, Persian, Kurdish, Chinese, Albanian, and Vietnamese. Most employers require their employees to be able to communicate in Finnish or Swedish, including those in the healthcare sector and office jobs that require constant communication with customers. IT-related jobs, cleaners and delivery jobs are just some exceptions where an employee can work without having Finnish or Swedish language skills.
Nurses: Finland's Most Needed Workforce
According to Finland's Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the country needs 200,000 new health and social care workers by 2030. At least 10% of this will be recruited abroad. Like many other Western countries, Finland has had a perennial problem with the shortage of nursing staff for many years already. The problem worsened during the pandemic, and such a crisis is still a continuous challenge.
Hiring foreign nurses has been proposed as part of the solution to the nursing shortage in Finland. Many cities and municipalities have embarked on recruitment drives to bring nurses from abroad to fill their healthcare institutions' employment gap. This has led to the establishment of many new recruitment agencies aiming to bring more nurses from abroad, with the top choice for nurses from the Philippines. There are some recruitment for nurses also from other developing nations like India, Nepal and Kenya.
Nursing Positions
Nurse Assistant
In most cases, nurses recruited from abroad starts working as nurse assistant when they arrive in Finland. As an assistant nurse, your scope of responsibility is limited. For example, you are not allowed to administer medicines. You can't function at the workplace independently from the word' assistant' itself. Instead, it would be best to be supervised by a qualified healthcare practitioner, a practical nurse or a registered nurse. From an immigrant's perspective, the major reason for this is the language barrier. Even having gone basic language training in Finnish or Swedish doesn't automatically mean you can handle fully client-nurse interaction situations as the written Finnish language is quite different from the spoken language. It takes time to learn the language; therefore, you'll have a named instructor throughout.
The work settings for nurse assistants are often placed in work for older people. The tasks of the nurse assistant are related to taking care of the important basic needs of patients. These include, for example, helping the patient with washing, eating, dressing, moving, and cleaning. Nurse assistants also maintain the clients' ability to function and provide stimulation, such as outdoor recreational and socialisation activities. Socialisation, with the help of nurse assistants, provides holistic patient care so registered nurses can focus on their nursing tasks. Again, nurse assistants can not work on tasks related to medical treatment.
To qualify as a nurse assistant in Finland, you should have completed training in any training specifically meant for educating a care assistant, home care worker or practical nurse. Nursing students with work or internship experience caring for older people can also work as nurse assistants.
Licensed Practical Nurse
As mentioned earlier, practical nurses (lähihoitaja in Finnish) need a license from Valvira (National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health) to be able to practice as one because a practical nurse is a title-protected health and social care profession. This title protection means that only those who have completed the required training can use the professional title of lähihoitaja. Becoming a practical nurse in Finland usually takes about 2–3 years. However, by considering some factors, you can graduate faster, i.e. your previous work experience and studies will be reviewed with the teacher in charge, and you will be drawn up with a personal competence development plan for the duration of your studies. For Filipino nurses already holding a degree in nursing from the Philippines, you would be able to complete the training for a shortened period, like 1.5 years, at the same time while working. Studies are usually conducted online, while practicums happen at the workplace under the guidance of a personal mentor, usually one of your colleagues. The scope of studies to become a practical nurse in Finland is 180 credits.
Shortages for practical nurses are usually in nursing care homes, home care, daycare centres and different hospital wards.
Registered Nurse
Same as the case for practical nurses, also registered nurses need a license from Valvira to be able to practice as it is a title-protected health and social care profession. So, you can't directly convert your foreign nursing license into a Finnish one. The scope of studies required to become a registered nurse in Finland is 210 credits, and the planned duration is 3.5 years. Implementing programs by the different schools of applied sciences in Finland has helped address the nursing shortage. These applied sciences schools offer training intended for students with an immigrant background living in Finland who have completed a nursing degree outside of Europe or in another EU country with a shorter duration of about two years.
In Finland, registered nurses can work in hospitals, health care stations, polyclinics, nursing care homes, home care, and other health care facilities.
Nurse's Salary in Finland
The average salary for a registered nurse in Finland is 3,250 euros, for a practical nurse it is 2,850 euros and for a child's nurse 2,400 euros. The average starting salary for nurse assistants is 2300 euros. These numbers include the supplements paid on top of the basic salary. There is a slight variation in the salary between the private and public sectors. Calculated in the Philippines pesos, a registered nurse can earn up to 200,000, but it is good to understand that you must pay about 25 per cent taxes.
The compensation paid for evening work is usually 15% of the hourly wage and is paid between 18:00 and 22:00. Night shift often means work done between 22:00 and 07:00, and the compensation paid for it is 30–45%. The compensation paid for a normal Saturday shift is usually 20% of the hourly wage and is paid between 06:00 and 18:00.
The gross monthly salary differs every month depending on how many weekends, evenings or night shifts you have done in a certain period. Some nurses earn less than average, and others earn much more depending on their working hours. Depending on the employer, basic salaries are usually paid on the 15th day or the end of the month. In contrast, compensations can be paid separately or together with your basic salary, but payment slips are sent to you via online banking at the latest of the payment date. The payment slip must show the wage due and how it was calculated. For example, it must read how many working hours are done during the payment period and the employee's hourly rate. The payment slip must also reflect the number of increments such as evening or night work and the number of working hours entitled for compensation.
Again, it is, therefore, vital and imperative to check the details of your payment slips every payday to ensure you are paid precisely for the work done. You must contact your supervisor/manager and the accountant/clerk for any inconsistencies. Read details about the taxation in Finland in our other article describing how to immigrate to Finland.
The salaries were updated in 2023.
Terms in Finnish
It is good to know the correct terms for different nursing positions in the Finnish language.
- Registered Nurse = Sairaanhoitaja
- Practical Nurse = Lähihoitaja
- Child Nurse = Lastenhoitaja
- Nurse Assistant = Hoiva-avustaja
How to Become a Nurse in Finland?
Requirements for Nurses
Currently, a foreign nurse who obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from outside the EU is not directly qualified to practice as a professional nurse in Finland. This results from a gap in the nursing syllabus of foreign nursing schools outside the EU and the Finnish curriculum. A nurse will qualify in Finland as a practical nurse or registered nurse after the applicant obtains professional practice rights from Valvira in Finland. Employers can easily check online if an employee has obtained the qualification from the registers of social welfare and healthcare professional's website. This link to the registry is open to the public as well.
Another significant factor for a foreign nurse not being able to practice directly the professional rights as a nurse in Finland is the language barrier. As earlier mentioned, Finnish and Swedish are the official languages used in Finland. This means nurses should be able to speak either of these two languages to carry out the tasks of a nurse. It is important to note that communication is the central core of the nursing practice, not forgetting the essence of patient safety. Swedish is easier to learn, but you will need Finnish skills if you intend to work in big cities.
Residence Permit
To become a nurse in Finland, you need to have a residence permit and job and fulfil the qualifications. Quite often, more training is needed. Because the process is complicated, using a professional agency is the easiest way to immigrate to Finland as a nurse.
Finnish Immigration Service, after a long time of being criticised for slow visas, has appointed a new director general. The new director general of the Finnish Immigration Service committed to speeding up the permit processes for foreigners applying to Finland with the help of automation. He also hopes for a greater sense of community from the integration services that promote language skills, education and employment. The agency intends to reform its operating methods, overall consideration in processing and decision-making, consultation with clients, and the practices of concealing decisions.
Have thorough research about the trustworthiness of the recruitment agency you are applying with. The best way to find out about such an agency is by asking some of their previous applicants directly about their experience.
Challenges Foreign Nurses May Face
Learning the Finnish Language
For an immigrant moving to Finland and wanting to work as a nurse, one of the biggest challenges is learning the Finnish language, considered one of the world's most difficult languages to learn. Good communication between nurses and patients is essential for delivering safe care and successful outcomes for individualised nursing for individualised patients. Also, communication involves individualised care around the client's family members, significant others, and other healthcare team members. This is why all those involved should understand the language of communication. Therefore, one must commit to learning and communicating adequately in Finnish or Swedish healthcare settings to achieve a successful nursing career in Finland.
Burnout
Burnout is a common problem for nurses, not forgetting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has even elevated the risks among healthcare workers worldwide. Burnout is never the sum of just one factor. Although too much workload or too stressful work tasks are often mentioned as the main reasons, another strong causative factor can also be perceived as bad/unfair treatment by the employee in the workplace.
Bad Management
A new employee in any organisation would be organised if you feel welcomed and valued. However, it is organisations which have bad management. For example, one study conducted by a researcher at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health says that perceived bullying and unfair or inappropriate treatment in the workplace predicts depression. Sometimes, the fact that the same rules do not apply to all employees or there is an inconsistency in the treatment of employees can also indicate abuse of power in the workplace. For example, one employee does not have to submit a sick leave certificate in a certain situation. Still, another must submit a certificate, even if his situation is completely similar, which indicates unjust treatment between employees, which is entirely wrong.
Another concrete example of the abuse of power in the workplace is in the division of work tasks. There is constantly a situation where others get praised, and one person is always left with a task that is not valued or that no one else would have wanted. It is also an alarming sign if, in workplace meetings, one employee never gets to speak or this employee's ideas are constantly seen as bad or ignored. In contrast, another colleague later gets credit for the same idea. When repeated, This situation causes one employee to be labelled as less important than others because it has been shown that he does not have the same value in the workplace. Another sign of bad management is that your superior does not hear what the employees are saying. Every employee has a different situation in life. For example, one could be a morning person who prefers the morning shift, and the other could be willing to do only evening or night shifts. However, the employer still doesn't consider anything when planning the work shift schedules, negatively affecting the employee's well-being.
Overcoming Challenges
Luckily, it has been taught to nursing students that problems can be solved with a nursing care plan. The same is true in your immigration life. The challenge of the language can be overcome with thorough dedication and commitment to learning it. Practice makes perfect, so speaking the language as much as possible is the best way to develop your Finnish language skills. As a newbie at your workplace, your Finnish colleagues would strongly appreciate it if you tried hard to express yourself in Finnish. They'll understand well if you commit mistakes. Remember that by speaking the language, you develop your language skills. At the same time, the people around you will appreciate it more as it's one way to get integrated into the Finnish community effectively. Later, with consistent language practice, you'll see yourself improving.
With regards to preventing and managing burnout problems. Fortunately, employers and nursing staff can implement practices together to help prevent burnout. This requires strategies to prevent burnout among nurses. You can talk to your supervisor if you feel stressed and overwhelmed due to work-related matters. You can contact your employer's occupational health care (työterveydenhuolto). As an employee, these health care services are free, but you need to verify from your written work contract the broad range of health care services covered by your employer.
Also, one essential thing to know is, in the Finnish workplace, there's always a chosen person to be workplace steward/shop steward, also called luottamusmies in Finnish, whose powers are based on a collective agreement between an employer's association. In short, the function of a workplace steward is to represent the employees.
Don't you like your employer, and solving problems is challenging? If your contract allows, it is recommended to apply for a position in another organisation
Fiorganisation Employer
In my almost decade of work in Finland, I have encountered different employers, and yes, I have had different experiences with each of them. A good employer is someone who is a good listener and does their job and someone who is not good at forgetting their promises. For example, an employer who fails to pay your salary on time is a bad sign of being not concerned about an employee's basic rights. Employers in Finland are obliged by law to pay salaries on time as agreed on your working contract. Luckily, it is rare for salaries to be paid late. Another alarming sign of a bad employer is someone who fails to compensate you for a task done as you have originally mutually agreed. For example, you are not paying extra bonuses for previously asking you to extend your shifts and making promises for certain compensation. It is essential to check your pay slips every time that you are being paid the right salary you're entitled to. Consider the number of working hours done, and update possible changes to your working hours in your workplace's official work shift plan. A good employer won't have any issues paying an employee's correct salary and on time.
Always make a written work contract.
Knowing the Employees' Rights
In Finland, every employee has four major rights: To join a union (Tehy and Super are the two unions mainly for health care staff); To receive remuneration by the collective agreement and other minimum provisions (An employee has the right to be paid the agreed wage on the agreed date and time.); Right for protection provided by acts and contracts; Lastly, the right to a healthy and safe working environment.
Employee Rights Advice for Immigrants in Finland
As an immigrant employee in Finland, it's good to know that you have access to the employee rights advisory service from which you can raise your concerns or problems related to work, such as employment contracts, wages or working hours, which a lawyer will answer. This service is being provided for free by the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions, SAK. You can use the service even if you are not an official trade union member. The service is in Finnish or English; you can contact them by phone or email.
Where to Start?
Now you have a picture of what it is like to work as a nurse in Finland. If you are interested and have decided to start your nursing career in Finland, you can start by finding a reliable agency. We advise comparing agencies carefully to find a trustworthy one. Before paying any money, ask for the experiences of nurses who have availed of the services of your chosen agency. Spending a lot of money on the immigration process is an investment whose risk you want to minimise
Do you have questions about Finland, or are you worried about something that does not feel right? Contact us and let us see if we can help.
Common Questions
- How can I be a nurse in Finland from the Philippines?
- The easiest way is to contact a reliable agency that provides the essential training and handles the immigration process.
- What is a nurse assistant in Finland?
- A foreign nurse in Finland often starts as a nurse assistant because one does not have the professional rights to work as a registered nurse. By completing the required training prescribed by VALVIRA, a nurse assistant can become a practical nurse or a registered nurse.
- What is a practical nurse?
- Practical nurses support patients by providing basic nursing and medical care. They have fewer responsibilities than registered nurses.
- What is a registered nurse?
- Registered nurses primarily administer medication and treatments and offer patients educational advice. They have more responsibilities than practical nurses, thus higher salaries.
- How much does a nurse earn in Finland?
- A practical nurse can earn up to 2,860€ per month, and a registered nurse can earn up to 3,250€. About 25% will be deducted from the gross salary, which will be used for income-related earnings deductions.
- What are the living costs in Finland?
- The living costs depend on your lifestyle, but you need at least 1,000 euros monthly.
- How long are nurses paid for vacations in Finland?
- Nurses in Finland usually have 4 to 6 weeks of paid annual leave, depending on the length of experience and whether they are working for a private or public employer.
- Where is the best place to be a nurse in Finland?
- It depends on your preferences. If you are city-oriented, then Helsinki is the only right place. If you like the countryside, many open positions exist in Lapland and Finland.
- Are there many foreign nurses in Finland?
- Yes, there are. You will quickly encounter other immigrants working as nurses almost anywhere in Finland.
Bottom Line
Nursing, in general, is a highly respected profession. Filipino nurses around the world are highly valued for their strong work ethics. While Finland lacks nurses due to the ageing population, Finnish nursing staff are changing careers, and healthcare staff are retiring, immigrants are seen as a solution to help ease the nursing labour shortage in the country. Finland is known worldwide for quality health care, clean air and being the happiest country in the world. For aspiring applicants ready to start their dream career in the healthcare field in a safe country like Finland, the safest way to start is by availing yourself of the help of a trusted human resource company with the needed expertise to help you along the way.
Are you a nurse in Finland? What is your advice for a new nurse? You may also want to join our Finland-related Facebook group: Travelling and Living in Finland and start a discussion there.
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Comments (1)
wonderful and detail
But please can you recommend any agency for me?
Will really appreciate if you can respond
Thanks for the comment.
We prefer not to recommend any agency. We do not know them well enough so it would be unethical to recommend any. The costs for an applicant are so high.
Before signing any paper, study your rights and find experiences from many sources. Do not sign a paper that you don't understand. If some details are missing, ask for them. If somethings sounds too good to be true, it is probably not true.