Before starting her nursing studies, Thisari Thalagala worked as a nurse in a pharmacy in her home country, Sri Lanka. However, she wanted to become more directly involved in patient care. She also hoped to gain experience living in another country, which led her to apply for studies in Finland.
Thisari began her nursing studies at Jamk University of Applied Sciences in 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she completed her first year remotely. In the autumn of 2021, she moved to Jyväskylä and was finally able to attend courses on campus.
Her studies provided a strong foundation for working life. She found the various simulation exercises particularly beneficial. Thisari notes that language occasionally presented challenges. Course materials were available only in English, and not all clinical terms had Finnish translations. From a professional perspective, however, one of the most valuable outcomes of her studies was the improvement of her Finnish language skills. Clinical placements, in particular, rapidly expanded her healthcare vocabulary.
Clinical Placements Led to Employment During Studies
Thisari’s first clinical placements took place in elderly care services at Jokikartano and Mainiokoti Kaunisharju residential care homes. Her placement at Mainiokoti Kaunisharju also resulted in a part-time job.
Placements completed at Hospital Nova in Jyväskylä provided Thisari with diverse experience in different wards, including infectious diseases, rehabilitation, and orthopaedics. Following these placements, she was offered a summer job and was able to complete her next placement at Hospital Nova as a paid internship.
Her final placement took place in Tampere after she moved there from Jyväskylä. She received a temporary employment contract at Hatanpää Hospital, and the placement was paid. According to Thisari, she never specifically applied for paid placements.
“Supervisors provide feedback about students to ward managers. They then assess who might also be suitable for employment. I was very proactive and motivated. I had a genuine interest in learning, which is why I asked a lot of questions. My Finnish language skills helped in every aspect,” she explains.
