Nursing Education in the Wind of Changes: Estonian Experience

Abstract

. The purpose of the research is to analyse the development of professional nursing and nurses’ training in Estonia in the context of social, ethnic-cultural and political changes. The research shows how this knowledge contributes to the future of nursing profession. The analysis of historical documents was conducted between 2015 and 2018. The development of nursing in Western Europe, Scandinavia, Russia and the Baltic States gives the contextual background in which Estonian nursing started and progressed. The data used in the study are based on summarising and analysing relevant studies, which have been conducted in several European countries. There are four distinct periods in the development of Estonian nursing. The main emphasis of the article is on the last period of development (since 1991), when Estonian nursing became a professional field of study and practice. Curricula have changed, internationalisation has taken place, modern learning methods (NANDA-I, simulation, etc.) have been introduced. Migration of nurses has been a problem in recent years. The reform of higher education and internationalisation has also brought about changes.