Bachelor of Health Care, Paramedic Nurse, full-time studies, Lappeenranta, 240 op

Paramedic nurse – an expert in acute health care

As a paramedic nurse, you will help patients who are suddenly ill and need urgent care.

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 as a paramedic nurse will include non-urgent first aid tasks, where you assess the patient's needs and plan appropriate care.

The work of a paramedic nurse requires pressure tolerance and the readiness to act consistently even in difficult and unexpected situations. In addition, good physical and mental workability is required at work.

Paramedic nurses can find work in and out of hospitals

Most often paramedic nurses work in ambulances as care-level paramedics, but can also work, for example, in a hospital emergency room or intensive care unit. Paramedic nurses can also work in private and third-sector services in Finland and abroad or as entrepreneurs for example in ambulances.

As a graduate, you can build a career in various fields of social and health care, such as:

◆ primary health care
◆ specialist nursing
◆ outpatient emergency care
◆ social care.

As a graduate of the Bachelor of Health Care, Paramedic Nurse degree programme, you will also receive a Bachelor of Health Care (Nursing), which expands your career opportunities for various nursing positions.

Paramedic nursing studies – theory, practical exercise, and ambulance training

In the first year of your studies, you will learn about safe and ethical nursing theory, perform practical exercises, and rehearse client and patient situations.

As your studies progress, you will learn various skills needed in clinical work in our modern health care labs, simulation environment, and through clinical training. You will also study more about paramedics and special issues in nursing, such as childcare, emergency care and intensive care.

The studies are based on researched knowledge, that ensures the necessary theoretical and practical nursing skills.

Katso valintaperusteet ja hae koulutukseen Opintopolussa

Opintojaksojen kuvaukset

Opinto-opas

How to Apply?

If you have a Finnish qualification or an IB/EB/RP/DIA-diploma, apply for the programme through the Joint Application.

» Joint Application Guide

If you have completed your degree outside Finland, apply for the programme through the LAB Separate Application.

» LAB Separate Application

Do I have to pay tuition fees?

Higher education institutions in Finland charge tuition fees for students from outside the EU/EEA area. Be sure to check the details on tuition fees, available scholarships, and the early bird discount.

Tuition fees and scholarships

Apply to LAB – Application Spring 2025 💎

Take a look at the degree programmes and the schedules.

See the Degree Programmes

A girl holding a round mirror in front of her face

Joint Application Guide

See general information about admission criteria, entrance exams and tuition fees.

Joint application guide

Admission Services | Contact info

Lahti campus
+ 358 44 708 1386

Lappeenranta campus
+358 40 740 6735

admissions@lab.fi

Tutkinto

Bachelor of Health Care

Laajuus

240 opintopistettä

Kesto

4 vuotta

Kieli

Englanti

Paikka

Lappeenrannan kampus

Koulutuksen tavoite

The LAB University of Applied Sciences educates professional paramedic nurses, who are experts in emergency care with both paramedic and nursing skills. Our modern health care 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.

Studies include theoretical and practical training, the practical part of the education takes place in varying and multi-disciplinary areas of health care.

Paramedic nurses recognize, anticipate and assess patient care needs

The aim of the degree programme is to educate students to become Registered Nurses (RN) and Paramedics. Graduates of 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 and 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 of Applied Sciences are integral to our programme. The Paramedic Nurse degree 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.

+ –

Koulutuksen sisältö

The bachelor's degree programme in paramedic nursing is 240 ECTS and meets the competence requirements of future nursing and paramedic skills. The studies are based on researched knowledge, that ensures the necessary theoretical and practical nursing skills.

Paramedic nursing 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. 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.

General nursing studies are included in the degree programme

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.

+ –

Opintojen rakenne

CORE COMPETENCE 15 ECTS

PROFESSIONAL CORE COMPETENCE 100 ECTS

COMPLEMENTARY COMPETENCE 35 ECTS

CLINICAL TRAINING 75 ECTS

THESIS 15 ECTS

+ –

Pätevyys

The earned qualification is an undergraduate degree (a bachelor’s degree). The students will be qualified to work as a RN Nurse (in Finnish, Sairaanhoitaja AMK) and a Paramedic (in Finnish, Ensihoitaja 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).

+ –

Lisätietoa opetuskielistä

Theoretical studies are in English. During your studies, you will learn Finnish. Finnish and English languages are used in clinical training.

+ –

Opinnäytetyö

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.

+ –

Kansainvälistyminen

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.

+ –

Yhteistyö muiden toimijoiden kanssa

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.

+ –

Tutkimuksen painopisteet

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.

We focus on supporting responsible, regenerative growth through intangible value creation, multipurpose materials, and human well-being.

+ –

Uramahdollisuudet

Most often paramedic nurses work as care-level paramedics in ambulances. You can also work in various nursing and emergency care specialist positions that require basic or special skills.

Paramedic nurses can work in primary health care, specialist nursing, outpatient emergency care, social care and private and third-sector services both in Finland and abroad. Paramedic nurses can also work in the private sector as employees or entrepreneurs, for example in ambulances.

Students from the Bachelor of Health Care, Paramedic Nurse degree programme will also receive a Bachelor of Health Care (Nursing), which will expand students' career opportunities for various nursing positions.

+ –

Jatko-opintomahdollisuudet

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.

+ –

Toteutustapa

+ –