Public health nurses in Finland: A life-course approach to the prevention of noncommunicable diseases (2018)

In Finland, registered public health nurses manage and deliver high quality preventive health services throughout a person’s life-course. The Finnish system is exemplary, as an integrated, effective life-course approach to health through its emphasis on prevention and health promotion, interprofessional collaboration and task-shifting from doctors to nurses, while safeguarding the quality of care and achievement of good health outcomes in the Finnish population, including the satisfaction of its citizens. An integrated chain of public health services is delivered through maternal and child health, school health and student health clinics, occupational health and adult and elderly health care facilities. The services offered reflect national life-course-related health goals that are defined for different age groups.