Research programme focuses on improving the quality of health care education and health care educator education and training. For the improvement, the programme aims to analyze, evaluate and develop the quality of learning outcomes in health care education, in the clinical learning environment and the competence of health care educators.
The specific goals of this research programme is to evaluate different learning outcomes in basic health care education; to develop instruments for the evaluation of the quality of learning outcomes; to improve the quality of health care education; to evaluate and develop the clinical learning environment; to evaluate and develop the competence of health care educators, and to maintain discussion about the quality of health care education.
Research is conducted in collaboration with national and international partners. National partners consists of different universities and universities of applied science, vocational institutions of social and health care and health care organizations. International partners consist of researchers and teachers in different universities.
RENE research group (Research in Nursing Education) is established to promote and strengthen the research in the field of health care education. The RENE research group started at 2012.
Heads of the Programme
Helena Leino-Kilpi Professor emerita and Nurse Director (part-time)heleiki@utu.fi
Team members Maija Hupli, PhD, RN, University Lecturer Asta Heikkilä, PhD, Researcher Sanna Koskinen, PhD, Post-doc researcher Arja Suikkala, PhD, Post-doc researcher Satu Kajander-Unkuri, PhD, Post-doc researcher
Statistician Jouko Katajisto, MSocSci Elisa Löyttyniemi, MSocSci
Researchers or post-doc researchers Asta Heikkilä, Evidence-based nursing- use of research evidence Abstract of Doctoral thesis Sanna Koskinen, Learning with Older People Doctoral thesis Arja Suikkala, Nursing student-patient relationship Doctoral thesis Satu Kajander-Unkuri, Nursing competence Doctoral thesis Camilla Strandell-Laine Doctoral thesis Virpi Sulosaari Doctoral thesis Mika Alastalo Anu-Marja Kaihlanen
Current Doctoral candidates and their research topics
Mika Alhonkoski: 3D technology in nursing education Pia Kukkonen: Student attrition in nursing education Pia Lahtinen: European health care educator education Hanna Repo: Cultural competence of nursing students Jenni Rinne. Social and health care educators’ Work wellbeing Karoliina Tuomela: Interprofessional education Nina Glerean: Iida Laakso: Learning Evidence-based practice Jonna Suominen: Kaisa Hartikainen: Tanja Hakkarainen. of Degree programme in nursing online education and its association on nursing students’ competence
There are many graduated master students in the programme.
Education
Research in this field is made in close collaboration with the Programme for Nurse Educator, one main field of the masters’ education in the Department of Nursing Science. Nowadays interprofessional education is one of the main topics in the educator training and it is conducted both in health care organisations and educational institutions.
Every year, there is a public education day, the Day of Didactics, where also the results of the research in this field are presented to new students, educators and all interested.
The international intensive Programme, Empowering learning environments in nursing – Elene IP (10 ECTS) aims to bring together university students in different countries to ensure high quality health care educator education related to evidence-based teaching and outcomes concerning social media as a learning environment in health care education in multicultural European context.
Publication of the Elene IP: Salminen et al. 2015. Nurse teacher candidates learned to use social media during the international teacher training course. Nurse Education Today doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2015.08.026.
Talman Kirsi. 2014. Hoitotyön koulutuksen opiskelijavalinnat. Seurantatutkimus kahden valintakoemenetelmän yhteydestä opiskelijoiden osaamiseen ja opiskelumotivaatioon. Student selection in nursing education – A follow-up study of two selection methods and their relations to the knowledge, skills and study motivation of nursing students (original in Finnish). Doctoral thesis.
Lankinen Iira. 2013. Päivystyshoitotyön osaaminen valmistuvien sairaanhoitajaopiskelijoiden arvioimana. The emergency nursing competence of graduating nursing students (original in Finnish). Doctoral thesis.
Laine Päivi. 2010. Verenpaineen mittaamisen opettaminen sairaanhoitaja- ja terveydenhoitajaopiskelijoille.Teaching the measurement of blood pressure for both nursing and public health nursing students (original in Finnish). Doctoral thesis.
Numminen Olivia. 2010. Nursing Ethics Education in Finland from the Perspective of Codes of Ethics. Doctoral thesis.
Brunou Sinikka. 2009. Sairaanhoitajaopiskelijoiden ohjattujen käytännön harjoittelujen aikana ilmenneet eettiset ongelmat. Ethical problems occurring during the practical training period of Finnish nursing students (original in Finnish). Doctoral thesis.
Grandell-Niemi Heidi. 2005. The Medication Calculation Skills of Nursing Students and Nurses – Developing a Medication Calculation Skills Test.
Heikkilä Asta. 2005. Ammattikorkeakoulusta valmistuvien hoitotyön opiskelijoiden tutkitun tiedon käyttö.Research knowledge utilisation of polytechnic nursing students on graduation (original in Finnish).
von Schantz Marjale. 2005. Sairaalainfektioiden torjunta hoitotyön toimintona; hoitotyön opiskelijoiden, hoitotyöntekijöiden sekä potilaiden tiedot ja käsitykset. Infection control as a nursing intervention – Nurse students’, nurses’ and patients’ knowledge and perceptions (original Finnish).
Salmela Marjo. 2004. Sairaanhoitajaopiskelijoiden hoitamisen taidot ja niiden opetus ammattikorkeakoulussa: Opiskelijoiden, opettajien ja ohjaajien arviot. The nursing skills of nurse students and the teaching of these skills at polytechnic – students’, teachers’ and mentors’ ratings (original Finnish).
Elomaa Leena. 2003. Research evidence implementation and its requirements in nursing education.
Räisänen Anu. 2002. Hoitotyöntekijöiksi valmistuvien osaaminen, vertailututkimus opistoasteelta ja ammattikorkeakouluista valmistuvien hoitotyöntekijöiden hoitotyön toimintojen hallinnasta sekä opetuksen ja opiskelun painotuksista. Level of know-how of persons graduating nurses. A comparison study on nurses graduating from post-secondary institutions and polytechnics regarding their command on the functions involved in care work and the areas of emphasis in instruction and study (original Finnish).
Saarikoski Mikko. 2002. Clinical learning environment and supervision. Development and validation of the CLES evaluation scale. Doctoral thesis.
Juvonen Soile. 2001. Hoitotyön päätöksenteko; päätöksenteon opetus ja sairaanhoitaja- ja terveydenhoitajaopiskelijoiden päätöksenteko. Teaching of clinical decision making in nursing education and decision making of nursing students (original in Finnish).
Salminen Leena. 2000. Hoitotyön opettajan muotokuva – opettajaan kohdistuvat vaatimukset ja niiden arviointi. Portrait of Nurse Teacher – Requirements for Teachers Evaluated (original in Finnish).
Hupli Maija. 1996. Sairaanhoitajan ja sairaanhoitajaopiskelijan hoitotyön päätöksenteko kolmella eri menetelmällä tutkittuna. Decision-making by nurses and student nurses: a comparison based on three sources of information (original in Finnish).
Leino-Kilpi Helena.1990. Good nursing care – On what basis?
Doctoral theses can be bought from University of Turku Library
Instruments
INSTRUMENTS DEVELOPED IN THE PROGRAMME:
The Clinical Learning Environment, Supervision and Nurse Teacher Scale, CLES+T The original version, Clinical Learning Environment and Supervision Scale (CLES), was published in 2002 by Mikko Saarikoski. The more extensive version of the Scale, CLES+T Scale (2008), includes also the sub-dimension of the role of the nurse teacher in the clinical practice. The CLES scales are translated altogether into 30 languages and have been used in over 50 countries by approx. 100 researchers.
Evaluation of Requirements of Nurse Teachers Scale, ERNT The ERNT Scale was published in 2000 by Leena Salminen and it is translated altogether into five languagaes (English, German, Norwegian, Swedish, Russian).
Student-Patient Relationship Scales, SPR The SPR Scale was published in 2007 by Arja Suikkala. The scale examines the relationship between nursing students and patients and the factors associated with the type of this relationship. The SPR Scale is translated into English.
Competence in Research Utilization Scale, CompRU The CompRU Scale was published in 2005 by Asta Heikkilä. The scale examines the research utilization competence in nursing. The CompRU Scale is translated into English, Polish and Slovenien.
Request of using the Scales:
The scales are free to use after formal permission to use.
The aim of this three phased research and innovation project is to improve and unify the nurse educator education within Europe. The purpose of the first phase of the project is to explore and describe the education and competence of nurse educators within Europe and to find out the areas with most need for improvement in nurse educator education and continuing professional education of the educators. The purpose of the second phase of the project is to develop, implement and evaluate an international nurse educator study program worth 30 ECTS. The purpose of the third phase of the research project is to form common recommendations for nurse educator education and write a handbook for nurse educators in Europe.
This research and innovation project is a European collaboration project between six countries and seven universities. The partners in the project are University of Turku and University of Eastern Finland from Finland, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Humboldt University of Berlin from Germany, The University of Edinburgh from Scotland, University of Malta from Malta, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra from Slovakia and International University of Catalunya from Spain.
The project was launched in September 2020. All the partner countries were members of the European Union at the time of the initiation of the project. EU Directive 2005/36/EC, Directive 2013/55/EU and the European Qualifications Framework (EC 2008) guide nursing education. The project is co-funded by Erasmus+ of the European Union.
The foundation of this research project was laid in the doctoral thesis (2016) of the PI Sanna Koskinen. The starting points of this research project are a novel, evidence-based educational programme Learning with Older People Programme (LOPP) and Nursing Students’ Interest in Nursing Older People Scale (SINOPS) developed and tested in the doctoral thesis. In this research project, it is hypothesized that the involvement of older people in nursing students’ learning increases their understanding of and interest in working in older people nursing (OPN).
Nursing students are part of the future healthcare workforce; thus, being aware of their career intentions and interest in working in OPN give valuable insights to nursing education and practice. Valid and reliable instruments are needed to measure these aspects. New partnerships between older people and nursing education are also needed to meet the workforce demands in OPN due to ageing population, to strengthen professional nursing and to secure the quality of patient care for older people.
Currently, this research project consists of two parts. In the first part, new educational partnership is developed between older people in institutional care and nursing education. This study is financed by the Finnish Cultural Foundation (2016). In the second part, a shorter version of the Students’ Interest in Nursing Older People (SINOPS) instrument is developed and validated for the national and international use.
The Bachelor and Master students of Nursing Science, if you are interested in conducting your thesis related to these topics, please feel free to contact PI Sanna Koskinen smtkos@utu.fi for the exchange of thoughts about the tentative topic and supervision. Similarly, national and international scholars with similar research interests, you are welcome to make contact to discuss a possible collaboration opportunity.
Research team
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher Sanna Koskinen smtkos@utu.fi Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku
Senior researchers
PhD, Professor Helena Leino-Kilpi helena.leino-kilpi@utu.fi Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku
PhD, Docent, University Lecturer Leena Salminen leesalmi@utu.fi Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku
PhD, Principal Lecturer Arja Suikkala arja.suikkala@utu.fi Nursing and Health Promotion, Diaconia University of Applied Sciences
Competence of nursing students in Europe, COMPEUnurse
The study focuses on competence of nursing students at the point of graduation and in early years of practice in Europe. This post doc study is continuation of PhD study (Kajander-Unkuri 2015), where competence of graduating nursing students with related factors was evaluated in Finland as an outcome of nurse education. The study is an independent part of the project PROCOMPnurse (principal investigator professor Helena Leino-Kilpi, PhD) in University of Turku, Department of Nursing Science
This study will produce new knowledge about the competence during transition period from nurse education to early years of practice in Europe. The aim of this study is to evaluate the nurse competence of GNSs at the point of graduation and competence of NGNs in early years of practice in Europe and to identify factors related to nurse competence.
This study has started in 2017. There are several partners from Europe, where we are collecting the data (Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain). In all these countries nurse education is guided by EU Directives (2005/36/EC and 2013/55/EU) and its competence requirements.
Head of the Programme
Satu Kajander-Unkuri Post doc researcher sahaka@utu.fi
Research team University of Turku, Department of Nursing Science
Researchers
Helena Leino-Kilpi, Professor
Satu Kajander-Unkuri, PhD, post-doc researcher
Leena Salminen, Professor
Riitta Suhonen, Professor
Eliisa Löyttyniemi, MSc Mathematics, Biostatistician (Department of Clinical Medicine / Biostatistics)
Zeleníková R, Gurková E, Pěrůžková R, Štureková L, Jarošová,D, Kajander-Unkuri S. 2023. Selfassessed competence of final-year nursing students. Nursing Open. 2023. Early view. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1708
Turjamaa R, Simon-Bellamy J, Salminen L, Löyttyniemi E, Kajander-Unkuri S. 2022. Graduating nursing students’ competence in nursing patients with acute coronary syndrome. Central European Journal of Nursing and Midwifery, 13 (4), 741–753. https://doi.org/10.15452/CEJNM.2022.13.0007
Pěrůžková R, Zeleníková R, Gurková E, Kajander-Unkuri S, Štureková L, Jarošová D. 2022. Adaptation and psychometric analysis of the Czech version of the Nurse Competence Scale. Kontakt / Journal of nursing and social sciences related to health and illness, 24(4), 264–272. https://doi.org/10.32725/kont.2022.033
Palese A, Brugnolli, A, Achil I, Mattiussi A, Fabris S, Kajander-Unkuri S, Dimonte A, Grassetti L & Daniels M. 2022. The first COVID-19 new graduate nurses generation: Findings from an Italian cross-sectional study. BMC Nursing 21, Article 101. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-022-00885-3
Visiers-Jiménez L, Kuokkanen L, Leino-Kilpi H, Löyttyniemi E, Turjamaa R, Brugnolli A, Gaspar F, Nemcova J, Palese A, Rua M, Zelenikova R, & Kajander-Unkuri S. 2022. Graduating nursing students’ empowerment and related factors: comparative study in six European countries. Healthcare, 10 (5), 754. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10050754
Visiers-Jiménez L, Palese A, Brugnolli A, Cadorin L, Salminen L, Leino-Kilpi H, Löyttyniemi E, Nemcova J, Simão de Oliveira C, Rua M, Zelenikova R, & Kajander-Unkuri S. 2022. Nursing students’ self-directed learning abilities and related factors at graduation: A multi-country cross-sectional study. Nursing Open, 9 (3), 1688–1699. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1193
Nemcová J, Hlinková E, Ovšonková A, Grendár M, Dernarová, L, Botíková A, Poliaková N, Kadu-cáková H, Slamková A, Janjechová M & Kajander-Unkuri S. 2021. Self-assessment of clinical com-petence of nursing students at Slovak universities. Zdravotnícke listy, 9 (2), 19–26.
Visiers-Jiménez L, Suikkala A, Salminen L, Leino-Kilpi H, Löyttyniemi E, Henriques M, Jiménez Herrera MF, Nemcova J, Pedrotti D, Rua M, Tommasini C, Zeleníková R & Kajander-Unkuri S. 2021. Clinical learning environment and graduating nursing students’ competence: A multi-country cross-sectional study. Nursing & Health Sciences, 23 (2), 398–410. https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12819
Kajander-Unkuri S, Koskinen S, Brugnolli A, Cerezuela Torre M, Elonen I, Kielė V, Lehwaldt D, Löyttyniemi E, Nemcová J, Palese A, Rua M, Salminen L, Šateková L, Simão de Oliveira C, Stubner J, Sveinsdóttir H, Visiers-Jiménez L, & Leino-Kilpi H. 2021. The level of competence of graduating nursing students in 10 European countries – comparison between countries. Nursing Open, 8 (3), 1048–1062. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.712
Kajander-Unkuri S, Meretoja R, Katajisto J, Leino-Kilpi H, & Suikkala A. 2020. Students’ selfassessed competence levels during nursing education continuum – a cross-sectional survey. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship 17 (1). https://doi.org/10.1515/ijnes-2019-0050
Nemcová J, Hlinková E, Ovšonková A, Grendár M, Poliaková N, & Kajander-Unkuri S. 2020. Validation of Slovak version nurses´ competencies: Nurse competence scale. Zdravotnícke listy, 8 (3), 6–13.
Visiers-Jiménez L, Peña Otero D, Baeza Monedero I, Recio Vivas A M, Kajander-Unkuri S, & García-Pozo A. 2019. Evaluación de competencias entre los profesionales formados en España. Validación al castellano de la escala Nursing Competence Scale. Tesela 25 (1), e12105
Visiers-Jiménez L, Baeza Monedero I, Recio Vivas A M, Peña Otero D, Kajander-Unkuri S, & García-Pozo A. 2018. Evaluación del autoaprendizaje de los profesionales de enfermería formados en España. Validación al castellano de la versión italiana de la escala Self-rating scale of selfdirected learning (SRSSDL_ITA). Paraninfo Digital 12 (28), e151.
G Theses
G2 Master’s thesis, polytechnic Master’s thesis
Hublin L. 2019. Sairaanhoitajaopiskelijoiden infektiontorjunnan kompetenssi. Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Finland. http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2019120946254
Simon-Bellamy J. 2019. Valmistuvien sairaanhoitajaopiskelijoiden tiedollinen osaaminen äkilliseen sepelvaltimotautikohtaukseen sairastuneen potilaan hoitotyössä. Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Finland. http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2019120946262
Abstracts in national and international conferences (also symposiums, workshops etc.)
2022
Kajander-Unkuri S, Brugnolli A, Nemcová J, Rua M, Šáteková L, Simão de Oliveira C, Palese A, Visiers-Jiménez L, Leino-Kilpi H. Competence of graduating nursing students and related factors in six European countries. 8th International Nurse Education Conference NETNEP2022; Transforming nursing and midwifery education: Leadership innovation and diversity for global healthcare impact, 19‒23.10.2022 Sitges, Espanja. Poster presentation.
Kajander-Unkuri S. 2022. How competent are graduating nursing students in Europe? Findings from the European cross-cultural study project, COMPEUnurse. The 10th EORNA Congress. 12.-15.5.2022 Stavanger, Norway. Oral presentation.
Kajander-Unkuri S. ja COMPEUnurse konsortio 2022. Eurooppalaisten valmistumisvaiheessa olevien sairaanhoitajaopiskelijoiden itseohjautuva oppiminen ja siihen yhteydessä olevat tekijät. The 3rd RENE-Symposium. Research in Nursing Education (RENE), Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku. 10.2.2022 Virtual meeting. Poster presentation.
2021
Kajander-Unkuri S. 2021. Competence of nursing students in Europe, COMPEUnurse. 3IN Insights into Quality of Health Care Education. 29.9.2021 Virtual meeting. Oral presentation.
Kajander-Unkuri S. 2021. Findings from the European cross-cultural study project, COMPEUnurse. Florence Network Annual Meeting. 21.5.2021 Virtual meeting. Oral presentation.
2020
Kajander-Unkuri S, Brugnolli A, Nemcová J, Rua M, Šáteková L, Simão de Oliveira C, Palese A, & Visiers-Jiménez L. 2020. Viimeisen harjoittelun yhteys sairaanhoitajaopiskelijoiden kompetenssiin ja alanvaihtosuunnitelmiin – kansainvälinen vertailututkimus. HTTS2020 – 16. Kansallinen hoitotieteellinen konferenssi PERUSTUTKIMUKSESTA INNOVAATIOIHIN HOITOTIETEESSÄ. 30.9.-1.10.2020 Kuopio, Finland. Oral presentation.
Simon-Bellamy, Salminen L, & Kajander-Unkuri S. 2020. Valmistumassa olevien sairaanhoitajaopiskelijoiden itsearvioidun kompetenssin ja ACS-tietotestin yhteys. HTTS2020 – 16. Kansallinen hoitotieteellinen konferenssi PERUSTUTKIMUKSESTA INNOVAATIOIHIN HOITOTIETEESSÄ. 30.9.-1.10.2020 Kuopio, Finland. Poster presentation.
Simon-Bellamy, Salminen L, & Kajander-Unkuri S. 2020. Limited knowledge of ACS – results of the knowledge test. 2nd International Conference of the German Society of Nursing Science. 8.-9.5.2020 Berlin, Germany. Accepted as poster presentation [Cancelled due to the COVID19 outbreak].
Kajander-Unkuri S, Brugnolli A, Nemcová J, Rua M, Šáteková L, Simão de Oliveira C, Palese A, Visiers-Jiménez L, & Leino-Kilpi H. 2020. Competence of graduating nursing students and related factors in six European countries. NETNEP2020. Transforming nursing and midwifery education: Leadership innovation and diversity for global healthcare impact. 26‒29.4.2020 Sitges, Barcelona, Spain. Accepted as oral presentation [Cancelled due to the COVID19 outbreak].
Simon-Bellamy, Salminen L, & Kajander-Unkuri S. 2020. Congruence between graduating nursing students’ self-assessed nurse competence and ACS knowledge. NETNEP2020. Transforming nursing and midwifery education: Leadership innovation and diversity for global healthcare impact. 26‒29.4.2020 Sitges, Barcelona, Spain. Accepted as poster presentation [Cancelled due to the COVID19 outbreak].
2019
Visiers-Jiménez L, Peña Otero D, García-Pozo A, Recio Vivas A M, Baeza Monedero I, & Kajander-Unkuri S 2019. Autoevaluación de competencias de los estudiantes egresados de enfermería en Europa. 20.11.2019. 23rd International Nursing Research Conference, Barcelona, Spain. Oral presentation.
Kajander-Unkuri S 2019. Kuinka kompetentteja valmistuvat sairaanhoitajaopiskelijat ovat Euroopassa? The 2nd RENE-Symposium. Research in Nursing Education (RENE), Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku. 23.9.2019, Diaconia University of Applied Sciences (DIAK), Helsinki, Finland. Oral presentation.
Hublin L, Salminen L, & Kajander-Unkuri S 2019. Sairaanhoitajaopiskelijoiden infektiontorjunnan kompetenssi. The 2nd RENE-Symposium. Research in Nursing Education (RENE), Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku. 23.9.2019, Diaconia University of Applied Sciences (DIAK), Helsinki, Finland. Poster presentation.
Simon-Bellamy J, Salminen L, & Kajander-Unkuri S 2019. Valmistuvien sairaanhoitajaopiskelijoiden tiedollinen osaaminen äkilliseen sepelvaltimotautikohtaukseen sairastuneen potilaan hoitotyössä. The 2nd RENE-Symposium. Research in Nursing Education (RENE), Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku. 23.9.2019, Diaconia University of Applied Sciences (DIAK), Helsinki, Finland. Poster presentation.
Kajander-Unkuri S, Meretoja R, Brugnolli A, Nemcová J, Rua M, Šáteková L, Oliveira C, Palese A, Visiers-Jiménez L, & Leino-Kilpi H 2019. How competent are graduating nursing students in Competence of nursing students in Europe, COMPEUnurse Europe? The 30th International Networking for Healthcare Education Conference NET2019. 3.–5.9.2019 Keele University, Keele, United Kingdom. Poster presentation.
2018
Visiers-Jiménez L, García Pozo A M, Pena Otero D, Recio Vivas A M, Baeza Monedero M I, Meretoja R, & Kajander-Unkuri S 2018. Evaluación de competencias entre los professionals formadoe en espana-validación al castellano de la escala nursing competence scale. 29 Jordanas Nationales de Enfermeras Gestoras. 8.6.2018. San Sebastian, Spain. Oral presentation.
Kajander-Unkuri S, Meretoja R, Katajisto J, Leino-Kilpi H, & Suikkala A 2018. Development of professional competence during nurse education. NETNEP2018. Research, scholarship and evaluation: ensuring nursing leadership in education, practice and healthcare. 7th International Nurse Education Conference 6-9.5.2018. Banff, Canada. Oral presentation.
Kajander-Unkuri S, Meretoja R, Katajisto J, Leino-Kilpi H, & Suikkala A 2018. Kompetenssin kehittyminen sairaanhoitajakoulutuksen aikana. The 1st RENE-Symposium. Research in Nursing Education (RENE), Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku. 13.3.2018, Diaconia University of Applied Sciences (DIAK), Helsinki, Finland. Oral presentation.
Professional Competence in Nursing, PROCOMPnurse
This research is started in 2016 with international cooperation. In this study, we are working in the European arena: we will conduct the data collection in Finland, Spain, Germany, Lithuania, Iceland and in Ireland. All these countries are EU members, and we have the same Directive 2005/36/EC, Directive 2013/55/EU and the European Qualifications Framework (EC 2008) guiding nursing education. In all of these countries, nursing education is on bachelor-level (general nurse=180ECTS). PROCOMPnurse has gotten funding from Academy of Finland.
The aim of this research is
to assess and compare the level of competence development at the transition period in Finland and five other European countries;
to explore individual, educational, organizational and value-based factors connected with the level of competence at the transition period, and to
model factors contributing high level of competence and successful begin of transition period and the nurse-career.
Moreover, during this research project aim is
to produce and evaluate instruments assessing competence and factors connected, both self-assessment and objective tests, and
to establish a cohort for follow-up studies in future, responding to the need for longitudinal studies.
Competence in Research Utilization
Research in this field started in 2005, mainly by creating an instrument CompRU for evaluating the Competence in Research Utilization by graduating nursing students, in the doctoral thesis of Asta Heikkilä.
The aim of this research is
to asses and compare in three European countries the research utilization competence of nursing students on graduation and of the nurses working in the hospitals,
to assess the research utilization competence of the master level nursing science students in the beginning and in the final phase of their studies, and
to explore the factors related to the research utilization competence.
Moreover, during this research project the aim is
to test, validate and develop further the CompRU instrument (Heikkilä 2005).
This study will produce new knowledge that can be used in the development of teaching in universities, in-service training and competence management in work communities regarding the evidence-based nursing and RU. In addition, the objective is to validate and develop the web based CompRU instrument which could be systematically used to assess the research utilization competence in Finland and internationally.
In this study, we are working in the European arena: we will conduct the data collection in Finland, Poland and Slovenia in cooperation with international partners.
Language versions of the CompRU instrument: Finnish, English, Polish, Slovenian
Research team University of Turku, Department of Nursing Science
Researchers
Asta Heikkilä, PhD, Researcher
Helena Leino-Kilpi, PhD, Professor and chair
Maija Hupli, PhD, University Lecturer
Leena Salminen, PhD, Professor
Sanna Koskinen, PhD, University Teacher
Jouko Katajisto, MSc, Lecturer, Statistics (Department of Mathematics and Statistics)
Master students
Johanna Jalonen
Säde Huhtanen
Tiina Himmelroos
International research team
Katarzyna Kwiecień-Jaguś, PhD (Department of General Nursing, Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland)
Boris Miha Kaučič, PhD (College of Nursing in Celje, Slovenia)
Bojana Filej, PhD (College of Nursing in Celje, Slovenia)
Publications
Journal article (refereed), original research
Salminen L, Kaučič BM, Filej B, Leino-Kilpi H, Katajisto J, Heikkilä A. 2021. Slovenian nurses’ research utilization competence and received support from nurse managers. Pielegniarstwo XXI wieku / Nursing in the 21st Century 21(1):5–11. DOI: 10.2478/pielxxiw-2022-0002
Heikkilä A, Kaučič BM, Filej B, Salminen L, Katajisto J, Leino-Kilpi H. 2021. Slovenian nursing students’ competence in research utilization, and the support they received during clinical practice. Cent. Eur. J. Nurs. Midwifery 12(2):376–384. DOI: 10.15452/cejnm.2021.12.0013
Heikkilä A, Kwiecień–Jaguś K, Hupli M, Kero J, Katajisto J, Salminen L, Leino-Kilpi H. 2019. Polish and Finnish nursing students’ attitudes, knowledge and skills related to research utilization. Medycyna Ogólna i Nauki o Zdrowiu [General Medicine and Health Sciences] 25(3):181–186. Doi: https://doi.org/10.26444/monz/111726
Heikkilä A, Hupli M, Katajisto J, Leino-Kilpi H. 2019. Yliopistosairaaloiden hoitotyöntekijöiden tutkimustiedon käytön osaaminen. Tutkiva Hoitotyö 17(1):31–40.
Heikkilä A, Hupli M, Katajisto J, Leino-Kilpi H. 2018. Finnish graduating nursing students´ research utilization competence. J Nurs Educ Pract 8(8):119–127. Doi: https://doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v8n8p119
Heikkilä A, Hupli M, Leino-Kilpi H. 2008. Verkkokysely tutkimusaineiston keruumenetelmänä. Hoitotiede 20(2):101–110.
Theses
Doctoral dissertations
Heikkilä A. 2005. Ammattikorkeakoulusta valmistuvien hoitotyön opiskelijoiden tutkitun tiedon käyttö [Research knowledge utilisation of polytechnic nursing students on graduation]. Annales Universitatis Turkuensis, sarja C, osa 237. Turku: Painosalama Oy. (In Finnish, with English abstract)
Master’s thesis
Jalonen J. 2014. Puolalaisten valmistumisvaiheessa olevien sairaanhoitajaopiskelijoiden tutkitun tiedon käytön osaaminen [The knowledge of research utilization of polish nursing students]. Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Finland.
Huhtanen S. 2021. Hoitotieteen alkuvaiheen opiskelijoiden näyttöön perustuvan toiminnan osaaminen – tutkimustiedon käytön näkökulma. Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Finland. https://www.utupub.fi/handle/10024/151449
Abstracts in national and international conferences (also symposiums, etc.)
Heikkilä A, File, B, Leino-Kilpi H, Salminen L, Katajisto J. & Kaučič BM. Slovenian nursing student´s research utilization competence and received support in clinical practice. Accepted for NETNEP conference (2020).
Heikkilä A. & Leino-Kilpi H. 2018. Tutkimustiedon käytön osaaminen – näyttöön perustuvan toiminnan edellytys. Ihminen keskiössä, terveydenhuollossa ja hoitotieteessä. XV Kansallinen hoitotieteellinen konferenssi 26.–27.9.2018, Vaasa. Hoitotieteiden tutkimusseura HTTS r.y. & Åbo Akademi, Enheten för vårdvetenskap, 89. Oral presentation.
Heikkilä A, Virtanen H, Jalonen J. & Salminen L. 2018. Mittarin kääntäminen kansainvälisessä hoitotyön koulutustutkimuksessa. Ihminen keskiössä, terveydenhuollossa ja hoitotieteessä. XV Kansallinen hoitotieteellinen konferenssi 26.–27.9.2018, Vaasa. Hoitotieteiden tutkimusseura HTTS r.y. & Åbo Akademi, Enheten för vårdvetenskap, 156. Oral presentation.
Heikkilä A, Jalonen J, Kwiecień–Jaguś K, Katajisto J, Hupli M, Salminen L. & Leino-Kilpi H. 2016. Tutkimustiedon käyttö hoitotyössä – vertaileva arviointi puolalaisten ja suomalaisten hoitotyön opiskelijoiden osaamisesta. XIV Kansallinen hoitotieteellinen konferenssi: Hoitotiede – Vahva ja Vapaa 28.–29.9.2016, Turku, 166. Poster presentation.
Jalonen J, Heikkilä A. & Salminen L. 2015. Mittarin käännös kansainvälisessä tutkimuksessa Brislinin käännösmallia mukaillen. Vaikuttavat oppimisympäristöt terveysalalla. III terveysalan koulutuksen kansallinen konferenssi 1.- 2.6.2015. Metropolia ammattikorkeakoulu ja Turun yliopisto. Helsinki, 100–101. Poster presentation.
Heikkilä A, Hupli M, Katajisto J. & Leino-Kilpi H. 2014. Qualifications in research knowledge utilization by the Finnish nurses working at university hospitals. The 8th International Nurse Practitioner / Advanced Practice Nursing Network Conference 18.–.20.8.2014. Helsinki, 61. Oral presentation.
Heikkilä A, Hupli M, Katajisto J. & Leino-Kilpi H. 2014. Testing the nursing students´ knowledge in research utilization using web-based ReKnow measurement tool. Netnep 2014 – The 5th international nurse education conference. The complexities of learning and caring: Evaluating the impact of nursing and healthcare education on student learning and patient care. –.25.6.2014, Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands, [P1.02]. Poster presentation.
Heikkilä A, Hupli M, Katajisto J. & Leino-Kilpi H. 2014. Valmistuvien hoitotyön opiskelijoiden tutkitun tiedon käytön osaaminen vuosina 2003 ja 2012. XIII Kansallinen hoitotieteellinen konferenssi, Perhe yhteiskunta ja hoitotiede 12.–. 13.6.2014 Tampere, 65. Oral presentation.
Heikkilä A, Hupli M, Katajisto J. & Leino-Kilpi H. 2013. Qualifications in research knowledge utilization by the nursing students – Have the outcomes of evidence-based nursing education changed over a decade? 24th International Networking for Healthcare Education Conference. 3.–.5.9.2013, Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. Oral presentation.
Heikkilä A, Hupli M, Katajisto J. & Leino-Kilpi H. 2013. Tutkitun tiedon käyttö näyttöön perustuvassa hoitotyössä – valmistuvien hoitotyön opiskelijoiden osaaminen ja oppiminen kliinisessä harjoittelussa. Vaikuttavat oppimisympäristöt terveysalalla. II terveysalan koulutuksen kansallinen konferenssi 3.–4.6.2013. Metropolia ammattikorkeakoulu ja Turun yliopisto. Helsinki, 87. Poster presentation.
Heikkilä A. & Leino-Kilpi, H. 2007. Research knowledge utilisation of midwife students in nursing education. Suomen kätilöliitto – Finlands Barnmorskeförbund ry. Nordisk jordemor congress 4.-6.5. 2007, Åbo, Finland, 131. Poster presentation.
Heikkilä A. 2007. Tutkimustiedon käytön oppiminen hoitotyön koulutuksessa. Sairaanhoitajapäivät 2007 – Voi hyvin, hoida hyvin. 22.–23.3.2007 Helsingin Messukeskus. Helsinki: Edita Prima Oy, 22. Oral presentation.
Heikkilä A. 2006. Valmistuvien hoitotyön opiskelijoiden tutkimustiedon käyttö. IX kansallinen hoitotieteellinen konferenssi ”Viisas vaikuttaja” 22.–23.9.2006. Turun yliopisto, 51. Oral presentation.
Clinical Learning Environment, CLES
Research in the field of clinical learning environment started in early 2002, mainly by creating an instrument for evaluating the quality of clinical learning environment, Clinical Learning Environment Scale CLES, in the doctoral thesis of docent Mikko Saarikoski. Since that, docent Saarikoski has continued to study the quality of learning environment. The more extensive version of the CLES+T Scale (2008) with 39 items, includes also the sub-dimension of the role of the nurse teacher. The work has been done in the University of Turku in a long-lasting cooperation with Professor Helena Leino-Kilpi. The CLES scales are translated altogether into 33 languages and have been used in over 55 countries by over 120 reserachers since 2003.
Published doctoral dissertations
Mikko Saarikoski. 2002. Clinical learning environment and supervision. Development and validation of the CLES evaluation scale, Doctoral thesis
Satu Kajander-Unkuri. 2015. Nurse Competence of Graduating Nursing Students, Doctoral thesis
National research group
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS Mikko Saarikoski, PhD, RN, Docent Helena Leino-Kilpi, PhD, RN, FEANS, Professor and chair, Nurse Director, Turku University Hospital helena.leino-kilpi@utu.fi Camilla Strandell-Laine, MNSc, RN, Doctoral candidate camilla.strandell-laine@utu.fi
There is a national CLES-network for health care organizations using the CLES Scale. The network holds national meetings once a year. The leader of the CLES-network is PhD, RN, Docent Riitta Meretoja.
International CLES researcher network
The CLES researcher network has met every second year since 2008 in CLES Symposiums. The main goal of the Symposium is to offer participants a possibility to share research ideas of clinical learning environment and experiences with other researches over the world. The leader of the international CLES reserach network is MNSc, Doctoral candidate Camilla Strandell-Laine. The 10th CLES2018 Symposium was held in Chieti, Italy, 24-25th September 2018 in cooperation with the “IPASVI” Nursing Board of Chieti and the Master in Nursing and Midwifery of Chieti University.
Student-Patient Relationship
Health care delivery founded on the principles of patient-centredness is widely held as a core aim of healthcare providers around the world. Equally, nursing education has to keep pace with the challenges that the patient–centred approach poses in order to guarantee the knowledge and skills new graduates need in rapidly evolving health care and changing scope of clinical practice. Patients as experts of their own situation offer students valuable perspectives with which to enrich and facilitate students’ clinical learning and assessment. Thus, the involvement of patients should be established across the educational continuum of nursing education.
Scholars and students of Nursing Science with similar research interests are warmly welcome to make contact to discuss possible collaboration opportunities.
This research area started in early 1990 by establishing an evaluative instrument for evaluating the competence of health care educators, in the doctoral thesis of docent Leena Salminen in 2000: Hoitotyön opettajan muotokuva; Portrait of nurse teachers – requirements for teachers evaluated, see the abstract. Since that, the instrument has been used and developed for evaluate the competence and work of health care educators.
The research is carried out in co-operation with all five Finnish universities, where nursing science is taught and where health care educators are educated. Members of the national research group:
Published doctoral dissertations
Leena Salminen. 2000. Hoitotyön opettajan muotokuva; Portrait of nurse teachers – requirements for teachers evaluated.
Pia Lahtinen: European health care educator education
National research group
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR Leena Salminen, PhD, RN, PHN, Professor, University Lecturer leena.kaarina.salminen@utu.fi
The research is carried out in co-operation with all five Finnish universities, where nursing science is taught and where health care educators are educated. Members of the national research group:
University of Turku: Leena Salminen, Professor; Helena Leino-Kilpi, Professor
University of Kuopio: Terhi Saaranen, Docent
University of Oulu: Maria Kääriäinen, Professor; Marjorita Sirmunen, Docent; Kristina Mikkonen, PhD
University of Tampere: Meeri Koivula, Docent
Åbo Akademi University: Camilla Koskinen, Docent
University of Jyväskylä: Tuulikki Sjögren, PhD
Competent teachers together – TerOpe 2017-2019
TerOpe-project is a national project. The project’s aim is to define national competence requirements for health science and social service teachers, develop and integrate a model for continuous education and develop a international network for health science, social service and rehabilitation teachers.
The project is coordinated by the Research Unit of Nursing Science and Health Management at the University of Oulu in collaboration with the University of Eastern Finland, the University of Tampere, the University of Turku, the University of Jyväskylä, Åbo Academi University and Tampere University of Applied Sciences. The project includes four stages I – IV.
STAGE NATIONAL HEALTH SCIENCE AND SOCIAL SERVICE TEACHERS’ COMPETENCE
STAGE CONTINUOUS EDUCATION MODEL
STAGE DIGITAL LEARNING MODULE
STAGE DIGITAL HEALTH SCIENCE AND SOCIAL SERVICE TEACHERS’ NETWORK
Project duration is 1.9.2017-31.12.2019. Project is funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture in Finland.
Research team:
Maria Kääriäinen, professor, University of Oulu
Kristina Mikkonen, PhD, researcher, University of Oulu
Leena Salminen, PhD, professor, University of Turku
Iina Ryhtä, MSNc-student, University of Turku
Imane Elonen, MSNc-student, University of Turku
Kukka-Maaria Kokkonen, MSNc-student, University of Eastern Finland
Janette Kiikeri, MSNc-student, University of Eastern Finland
Marjorita Sormunen, PhD, university researcher, University of Eastern Finland
Terhi Saaranen, docent, lector, University of Eastern Finland
Meeri Koivula, docent, lector, University of Tampere
Minna Koskimäki, MNSc, doctoral student, University of Tampere
Marja-Leena Lähteenmäki, PhD, university teacher, Tampere University of Applied Sciences
Tuulikki Sjögren, PhD, lector, University of Jyväskylä
Hilkka Korpi, PhD, lector, University of Jyväskylä
Camilla Koskinen, PhD, assistant professor, Åbo Akademi University
Monika Koskinen, MNSc, doctoral student, Åbo Akademi University
