Research group

Developing Better Health Care in the Hybrid World

What we research and develop

1

High-quality and safe nursing

We promote the quality of nursing and patient safety by developing, testing and evaluating new operating methods together with partners from the world of work. We focus, but are not limited to, leveraging digital solutions.

2

Digital learning environments (simulation and XR technology)

We develop, test and evaluate learning environments using simulation and XR technologies.

3

Professional development and ethical competence as a driving and retention force

We support the professional development and career retention of healthcare workers in education and employment, and develop measures to increase the attractiveness and ethical safety of the sector. We promote and support the competence supplementation and integration of care workers with an immigrant background into the world of work.

Our Experts

The experts in our research group have a broad range of expertise in health care and a wide range of research methods. In particular, we are developing methods for usability research.

  • Tuuli Paija

    Senior Lecturer
    +358 44 907 5495
    tuuli.paija@turkuamk.fi
  • Tuija Leinonen

    Principal Lecturer
    +358 40 355 0415
    tuija.leinonen@turkuamk.fi
  • Tiina Nurmela

    Principal Lecturer, Degree Programme Leader
    +358 44 907 5476
    tiina.nurmela@turkuamk.fi
  • Tiina Pelander

    Principal Lecturer, Principal Lecturer
    +358 44 907 5486
    tiina.pelander@turkuamk.fi
  • Saara Laaksonen

    Senior Lecturer
    +358 40 355 0146
    saara.laaksonen@turkuamk.fi
  • Riikka Teuri

    Senior Lecturer
    +358 40 355 0423
    riikka.teuri@turkuamk.fi
  • Riitta-Liisa Lakanmaa

    Head of Education and Research
    +358 44 907 4580
    riitta-liisa.lakanmaa@turkuamk.fi
  • Päivi Matikainen

    Senior Lecturer
    +358 44 907 5498
    paivi.matikainen@turkuamk.fi
  • Nina Korsström

    Senior Lecturer
    +358 44 907 5474
    nina.korsstrom@turkuamk.fi
  • Mirka Toivonen

    Principal Lecturer, Research Group Leader
    +358 50 598 5882
    mirka.toivonen@turkuamk.fi
  • Minna Nurminen

    Lecturer (Main occupation)
    +358 50 475 4737
    minna.nurminen@turkuamk.fi
  • Mervi Rasilainen

    Senior Lecturer
    +358 40 355 0424
    mervi.rasilainen@turkuamk.fi

Education

Internship: project internships in research group projects

Theses: in the research group’s projects, you can do both an Bachelor’s and Master’s thesis.

Digital methods are becoming more common in the care sector

Getting to know the operating theatre through simulation

We have a simulation centre called SimuCenter, an education department and Campus Home Merihelmi in Salo and the Sun Hyvä Elämä clinic on the Kupittaa campus in Turku. These learning and testing environments provide an authentic or near-authentic multi-professional environment for usability testing.

We use a range of wearable XR devices, including Microsoft HoloLens 2 glasses, VR glasses and the Realwear HMT-1 camera. We also use a 360 camera in our projects.

Our partners include several Finnish and international higher education institutions, such as Laurea University of Applied Sciences, Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences, Tartu Health Care College, and the University of Stavanger. We also cooperate with social and health care organisations such as the wellbeing county of Southwest Finland and Karolinska University Hospital.

The Turku University of Applied Sciences Project Office offers support and guidance throughout the life cycle of an RDI project. Our project experts have years of experience and strong expertise in national and international funding programmes. We have more than 200 projects running every year, and our RDI activities have received more than €10 million in external funding.