As a paramedic, you will help trauma patients or people who suddenly fall ill and need urgent care, both in and out of the hospital. You recognise and anticipate situations threatening the patient's life, and know how to act as the situation requires. In addition to alert tasks, your job will include non-urgent care: examining patients, mapping situations, and planning follow-up care. You will make nursing decisions and also be able to lead a team.
The work of a paramedic requires stress management skills, good interaction skills, and physical fitness. At work, you must be able to make quick independent decisions based on researched information and care instructions. Many paramedics work in ambulances, but you can also find work in, for example, a hospital emergency room or intensive care unit.
Paramedic studies at the LAB University of Applied Sciences meet the competence requirements of a paramedic, both in theory and in practice. More than a third of the studies take place in real nursing environments and, for example, in simulation exercises. Clinical training in authentic healthcare environments is an integral part of your studies.
During your studies, you will learn about the technical innovations in nursing, such as nursing robotics and intelligent self-care applications, and how to utilise them to help your client and patient in the best possible way.
The Degree Programme in Paramedic Nursing (RN) will open up a wide range of possibilities to work as a paramedic nurse or a registered nurse in Finland and elsewhere in the European Union.
LAB University of Applied Sciences educates professional paramedics who are experts in emergency care with both paramedic and nursing skills. Our modern healthcare labs and simulation environment enable the development of skills, knowledge and decision-making abilities together with lecturers, experts, and fellow multicultural students. Flexible e-learning possibilities are also employed.
Meanwhile, studies include theoretical and practical training, the practical part of the education takes place in varying and multi-disciplinary areas of health care.
Paramedics recognize, anticipate and assess patient care needs
The aim of the degree programme is to educate students to become registered nurses (RN) and Paramedics. The graduates from this programme can help patients who are suddenly ill and need urgent care, both in and out of the hospital.
During studies, students learn how to recognize and anticipate situations that threaten a patient's life and know how to act as required by the situation. With non-urgent first aid tasks, paramedics are able to assess the patient's need for service and care, plan follow-up care and refer the patient to appropriate care.
A paramedic must be able to work both independently and as a part of a multi-professional team. Paramedics are able to make independent decisions based on researched information and care guidelines. As a paramedic, you can also work as a team leader.
The job requires pressure tolerance, as well as the readiness to act consistently even in difficult and unexpected situations. In addition, good physical and mental workability is required at work.
International opportunities
Good contacts with different partners both within and beyond the university are integral to our programme. The paramedic programme offers the opportunity to meet people from around the world, learn about different cultures, and study to become a competent nurse. All students are encouraged to take part in exchange programmes to deepen their intercultural competence.
Bachelor's Degree Programme, Paramedic is 240 ECTS and meets the competence requirements of a future paramedic. The studies are based on researched knowledge that ensures the necessary theoretical and practical nursing skills.
Paramedic studies – theory, practical exercise, and ambulance training
In the first study year, you will become acquainted with safe and ethical nursing in theory, practical exercises and the right client and patient situations. In addition, you will strengthen your knowledge acquisition and communication skills.
As your studies progress, you will learn a variety of skills needed in clinical work. In your second study year, you will be able to apply what you have learned in basic first-aid practice in an ambulance. At the end of the second academic year, an assessment of basic paramedic skills is held, and after that, you can apply for summer work as a basic-level paramedic.
During the last two years, you will study more about paramedics and special issues in nursing, such as childcare, emergency care and intensive care. The main emphasis is on paramedic studies, cooperation with authorities and situation management in emergency care.
A nationwide paramedic exam
At the end of your studies, you will complete a nationwide paramedic exam and demonstrate your skills in simulated emergency care situations.
Paramedic studies include studies of a general nurse
Paramedical training also includes the studies required for the work of a general nurse. At LAB, nurse training focuses on strong clinical expertise and patient safety, whose expertise is reinforced throughout our studies at our modern simulation centre.
Tuition fees
Non-EU/EEA students are subject to tuition fees. The annual tuition fee for students in Bachelor's degree programmes is € 8 000 per year. Applying for the 50 % scholarship is possible after the first academic year. To be able to use the given option, you must be able to study full-time during the first academic year – meaning, that you must complete a minimum of 60 ECTS credits of studies that are included in your personal study plan.
The earned qualification is an undergraduate degree (a bachelor’s degree). The students will be qualified to work as a Paramedic (in Finnish Ensihoitaja AMK) and Registered Nurse (RN) (in Finnish sairaanhoitaja AMK). The qualification meets the requirements of the European Union directives, which also means interesting career opportunities abroad. Both Paramedic and Registered Nurse are regulated professions overseen by the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira).
The bachelor’s degree programme includes a 15-ECTS thesis. This can either be a research-based project or a so-called functional thesis project. The thesis project aims to broaden and deepen your professional expertise and knowledge and provide you with the expertise needed to operate in development tasks in your field. The thesis project improves your information retrieval and problem-solving skills.
The thesis can be conducted as a project commissioned by an external organisation, or as part of a development project. The thesis project can be carried out individually, in pairs or in a group, including a written report. At its best, the thesis project can serve as a pathway to your future career.
We offer you excellent opportunities to gain valuable international expertise and language skills for your future career. Future workplaces and positions require multicultural skills, language skills and international understanding. Learning takes place in an international, multicultural environment, as our degree students come from all over the world.
Go international!
You can complete part of your studies at our partner institutions in different countries around the world or do your practical training abroad. Every year, we welcome a large number of students from different countries, so the programme is genuinely international.
Your studies will be closely connected with the development of working-life practices, together with businesses and work communities. Multidisciplinary working-life projects and different learning environments, such as student cooperatives, will strengthen your connections with authentic working-life interactions throughout the programme.
At LAB University of Applied Sciences, our goal is to renew the working life and ways of working. Together with our partners, we test new innovations and ways of doing things.
Our strengths include the circular economy, design, innovations and health.
Most often Paramedics work as care-level paramedics in ambulances. You can also work in a variety of nursing and emergency care specialist positions that require basic or special skills.
Paramedics can work in primary health care, specialist nursing, outpatient emergency care, social care and private and third sector services both in Finland and abroad. Paramedics can also work in the private sector as an employee or an entrepreneur, for example in ambulances.
Students from Bachelor of Health Care, Paramedic, will also receive a Bachelor of Science (Nursing), which will expand students' career opportunities for various nursing positions.
After earning a bachelor’s degree and having two years of professional work experience, you are eligible to apply to the university of applied sciences (UAS) master’s degree programmes. You are also eligible to apply to master’s degree programmes offered by universities.
lab [dot] fi