The Finnish Association of Public Health Nurses
The Finnish Association of Public Health Nurses represents public health nurses, audionomis, and students in the field. Since 1938, we have been advancing our members’ expertise, careers, wellbeing, and working conditions. We actively contribute to stronger preventive care and to the promotion of health and wellbeing across society.
The Finnish Association of Public Health Nurses is made up of 15 regional public health nurse associations and a national association for audionomis. At the local level, these associations lead advocacy work and offer their members networking, training, events, and professional development opportunities. Together, they form a strong national community.
We also run a nationwide student network that connects student members from every university of applied sciences providing public health nurse education. The network ensures that students have a strong voice and meaningful opportunities to participate in the Association’s activities and decision-making.
What we do:
- Advocate for our members and offer expert advice on salaries and employment matters.
- Strengthen wellbeing and resilience at work.
- Shape the future of the profession, its practice, and education.
- Influence labour market, education, and health policy through active advocacy, statements, and initiatives.
- Support lifelong learning by providing continuing education and professional development opportunities
The Profession of Public Health Nurses
Public health nurses are highly skilled nursing professionals specialising in public health, health promotion, and preventive care across the entire life course. They hold a unique and essential position in primary health care as experts in prevention, supporting individuals at every stage of life.
At the heart of public health nursing is a strong focus on preventing illness while promoting and maintaining health. This work is carried out in close collaboration with individuals, families, communities, occupational groups, and the wider population. A key goal is to strengthen people’s own resources and empower them to take care of their health.
Public health nursing has a long and respected tradition in Finland, and the profession is highly valued by the public. Public health nurses work with a high level of independence, while multidisciplinary collaboration with professionals from other fields remains essential. Their work is people-centred and holistic, focusing on the comprehensive promotion of health and on providing timely, individual support to people of all ages and families.
Preventive health services delivered by public health nurses – such as those provided in child health clinics and schools – have a significant impact. Long-term care relationships and the trust built through them are vital for promoting overall health and wellbeing. These ongoing relationships make it possible to gain a comprehensive understanding of an individual’s situation, identify support needs at an early stage, and provide tailored, timely support.
Preventive health care is also highly cost-effective. By addressing needs early and supporting wellbeing proactively, it helps reduce the demand for more complex and costly corrective health care services.
The Education of Public Health Nurses in Finland
The programme features an extensive practical training component, totalling 100 ECTS credits, including a practice-based thesis (15 ECTS). At least 25 ECTS credits are dedicated to specialised public health nursing practice completed as part of the professional studies.
Students gain experience across a wide range of key healthcare environments, including internal medicine, surgery, mental health services, and work with children, young people, and families.
In addition, hands-on training takes place in diverse public health nursing settings, such as:
- Child health and maternity clinics, population-based services, and family centres
- School and student health services
- Primary health care units, outpatient clinics, and walk-in services
- Occupational health care units
- Community nursing
- Public health and patient organisations, as well as voluntary work
This broad, practice-driven approach equips graduates with strong clinical competence, a solid foundation in preventive care, and the versatility needed to work effectively across a wide range of health and social care settings.
Working as a Public Health Nurse in Finland
Public health nurses work in maternity and child health clinics, family planning clinics, schools, student and occupational health care, home care, and in a variety of settings, such as organizations, temporary project- specific tasks, and self-employment. The education meets the requirements laid down in EU directives, which means that it provides graduates with the necessary qualifications for working abroad.
The work performed by public health nurses is demanding expert work. The work is busy and many towns and cities have hired too few public health nurses in relation to the number of people living in the region and their need for services. In recent years, the shortage of public health nurses has grown and the recruitment of public health nurses has failed in parts of Finland. In general, people value the services provided by public health nurses highly and public health nurses like their job. The working conditions vary greatly, as does the possibility of working in a people-centered manner and by fully applying extensive expertise. The salaries of public health nurses must be developed further in order to make them match the salary paid to highly educated experts.
Public health nurses are motivated to take part in further and continuing education, so their career paths are very diverse. Further education is widely available. Continuing education is available at universities of applied sciences and other universities in the form of Master’s and doctoral degrees.