Abstract:

Laurea University of Applied Sciences and Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in co-operation carried out a national updating training to General upper secondary education the social and health care teachers. The training was funded by Finnish National Agency for Education and it was named as ’Proactive safety, ergonomy and occupational wellbeing know-how of a practical nurse’. The training consisted of three modules. In this article the modules undertaken by Laurea University of Applied Science are described.
The greatest profession group in social and health care are practical nurses who have completed the basic examination in social and health care. From the public health perspective this profession group is in a significant position in improving health, wellbeing and safety of Finnish people at all ages. From the public economy perspective the profession group is in a key position.
The aim of updating training was to increase the capabilities of second grade social and health care teachers to assess and execute preventive safety in care work. In addition, the purpose was to prevent and assess physical risk and burden factors related to the work of practical nurses, and recognize factors that affect occupational wellbeing and working ability in care work. Teachers performed as examples and developers in daily teaching and this way students got knowledge and tools to their forthcoming practical nurse work.
The main purpose of this study was to explore the meaning of social and health care teachers’ learning experiences in a multiprofessional updating training. The aim was also to describe the meaning of teachers for the development of professional and pedagogical skills and knowledge self-assessed.
The Qualitative approach was used in this study. The data were collected through the open questionnaires. N=25 second grade social and health care teachers participated in the study. The data were analyzed with inductive content analysis.
Teachers and students thought that the opening of the Law of Occupational Health Care meaning increased knowledge and understanding of the responsibilities of an employee and employer to take care of health and safety at work. Risk assessment techniques increased readiness to assess and execute preventive, risk based safety work in their work places.
The Social and Health Ministry (2018) describes occupation wellbeing as an entity that is affected by the work itself and sensibleness related to it, health, safety and wellbeing. Occupational wellbeing has an impact on work capability and it has been found to be related to work commitment, productivity and absence from work. As a result of tasks and common discussion, the teachers that participated the training found that they got necessary tools to speak and work on things with their students.
In the future strong needs for change are targeted to the education and work of practical nurses. The most significant changes will be the social and health care reform and the reform of professional education. Between different professions will be done task transfers and responsibilities will further increase. Because of diminishing resources, the aging of population and increase of average lifetime will create challenges.

Keywords:

Updating training, social and health care teacher, occupational health and safety