About me
Elina Haavisto, PhD, RN, Professor (Nursing Science) at Faculty of Social Sciences/Health Sciences in University of Tampere since 2021. She is also a Nurse director (part-time) at Tampere University Hospital and an Editor-in-Chief of Hoitotiede (Journal of Nursing Sciece). Prior to that, in 2015-2021, she works as a Professor at the Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku. For twelve years (2003-2015) she held the position of director at the Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences (the biggest University of Applied Sciences in Finland), in the faculty of health care and nursing. Since 2005 she has been a member of the Advisory Board and since 2019 a docent of the Tallinn Health College in Estonia.
Her main research area concern seriously ill patients and their families (Evidence-based Palliative Care and Competence; Family Members of Cancer Patients in the Acute Care Phase and health care education (Learning Clinical Reasoning – CR; Reforming Student Selection in Nursing Education (ReSSNE). She is also a principal investigator of the projects “Knowledge, skills and attitude of evidence-based practice” and “Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers”. She has several researchers in her team including senior researchers, post-doc researchers, master students and bachelor students. She has nearly 120 scientific publications, over 80 other publications, and over 220 conference presentations.
Research projects:
I Seriously ill patients and their families
1) Evidence-based Palliative Care and Competence (including end-of-life care, EOL) aims to define, evaluate and enhance evidence-based palliative care in terms of patient care, families as part of patient care and professional requirements.
The first part, patient care, includes ongoing studies related to dignity of care, shared decision-making and advanced care plans.
The second part, family as a part of patient care, consists of studies regarding family support and participation in palliative hospital care, development and psychometric testing of FamSuPar -instrument psychosocial support interventions for adult family members of palliative care cancer patients in inpatient care, end-of-life care at home provided by informal caregivers and coping by family members.
The third part, professional requirements, is related to EOL care and palliative care competences in health care centres, nurses’ experiences of patient’s end of life care, interprofessional competence and nurses’ tasks and attitudes regarding palliative sedation.
2) Fmily Members of Cancer Patients in the Acute Care Phase aims to study the coping of cancer patients and their families, their participation in care and the professional support these groups receive.
Research team
Professor, PhD, RN Elina Haavisto, Tampere University, Head of the research project
Professor, PhD, RN Kaija Saranto, University of Eastern Finland
Professor, PhD, MD Päivi Korhonen, University of Turku
Professor, PhD, RN, Leena Salminen, University of Turku
President, Managing Director, Dr.Tech. Jari Multisilta, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences
Post doc – researcher, PhD, RN Jaana-Maija Koivisto, Tampere University
Post doc – researcher, PhD, RN Anne Kuusisto, University of Turku
Post doc – researcher, PhD, Kaisa Mishina, University of Turku
Rector, PhD, RN, Ulle Ernits, Nursing College (higher education), Estonia
Chief Nurse, PhD, RN, Kristi Rannus, Oncology and Hematology Clinic, North Estonia Medical Centre
Professor, PhD Hanne Konradsen from the University of Copenhagen
Associate professor, PhD, Andreas Charalambous, Cyprus University of Technology, the chair of the Nursing Department, Oncology and Palliative Care and the president of the European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS), Adjunct Professor, University of Turku, Finland
Professor, PhD Angela Kydd, Robert Gordon University, Scotland
Professor, PhD Catriona Kennedy, Robert Gordon University, Scotland
PhD-research related to topic
Pauliina Kesonen, Interprofessional competence in palliative care
Lotta Kuosmanen, Patient participation in shared decision making in palliative care
Johanna Kero, Effectiveness of the digital learning environment on the knowledge and attitudes of nurses working in the palliative care unit in hospitals
Satu Laine, Dying patients´ dignity in palliative hospital care
Anu Soikkeli-Jalonen, Development and psychometric testing of Family members support and participation instrument in palliative hospital care
Master theses related to topic (University of Turku)
Linda Heino, Palliative sedation
Petra Auramo, Hospice at home
Johanna Saarinen, Family members’ participation in palliative inpatient care
Ani Lesonen, Nurses’ experiences of patient’s end of life care in health care center
Selected publications
1. Kesonen P, Salminen L, Kero J, Aappola J, Haavisto E. An integrative review of interprofessional teamwork and required competence in specialized palliative care Accepted for publication in OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying.
2. Saarinen J, Mishina K, Soikkeli-Jalonen A, Haavisto E. Family participation in the palliative inpatient care: an integrative review. Accepted for publication in Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences.
3. Haavisto E, Eriksson S, Koivisto J-M, Cleland Silva T, Kausamo K, Soikkeli-Jalonen A. 2022. Patients receiving palliative care and their experiences of encounters with healthcare professionals. OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying. https:/doi.org 0.1177/00302228221077486
4. Kesonen P, Salminen L, Haavisto E. 2022. Patients and family members perceptions of interprofessional teamwork in palliative care: A qualitative descriptive study. Journal of Clinical Nursing. https:/doi.org 10.1111/jocn.16192.
5. Kuusisto A, Saranto K, Korhonen P, Haavisto E. 2021. Accessibility of information on patients’ and family members’ end-of-life wishes in advance care planning. Nursing Open. https:/doi.org 10.1002/nop2.1081.
6. Soikkeli-Jalonen A, Mishina K, Virtanen H, Charalambous A, Haavisto E. 2021. Supportive interventions for family members of very seriously ill patients in inpatient care – A systematic review. Journal of Clinical Nursing 30, 2179-2201. https:/doi.org 10.1111/jocn.15725. IF 1.972
7. Kuusisto A, Santavirta J, Saranto K, Haavisto E. 2021. Health care professionals' perception of advance care planning in palliative care unit: a qualitative descriptive study. Journal Clinical Nursing 30: 633-644. https:/doi.org 10.1111/jocn.15578. IF 1.972.
8. Kuosmanen L, Hupli M, Ahtiluoto S, Haavisto E. 2021. Patient participation in shared decision making in palliative care – an integrative review. Journal of Clinical Nursing. https:/doi.org 10.1111/jocn.15866. IF 1.972
9. Heino L, Stolt M, Haavisto E. 2021. Nurses` practice and attitudes regarding palliative sedation: A scoping review. International Journal of Nursing Studies 117 (2021) 103859
10. Lemetti T, Hupli M, Partanen E, Haavisto E. 2020. Cancer patients’ experiences of realization of relatives’ participation in hospital care: a qualitative interview study. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Science. https:/doi.org/10.1111/scs.12918. IF 1.525
11. Haavisto E, Soikkeli-Jalonen A, Tonteri M, Hupli M. 2020. Nurses´ required and-of-life care competence in health centres inpatient ward – a qualitative descriptive study. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Science. https://doi.org10.1111/scs.12874. IF 1.525
12. Kuusisto A, Santavirta J, Saranto K, Korhonen P, Haavisto E. 2020. Advance care planning in cancer patient palliative care: A scoping review. Journal of Clinical Nursing. https://doi.org 10.1111/jocn.15216. IF 1.972
13. Soikkeli-Jalonen A, Stolt M, Hupli M, Lemetti T, Kydd A, Kennedy C, Haavisto E. 2019. Instruments for assessing nurses´ palliative care knowledge and skills in specialised care setting: an integrative review. Journal of Clinical Nursing. https://doi.org 10.1111/jocn.15146. IF 1.972
II Health care education
1) Learning Clinical Reasoning (CR) aims to evaluate CR skills and develop effective learning methods.
Simulation games and virtual reality applications in nursing education and the clinical environment
The research project is led by PhD, post doc researcher Jaana-Maija Koivisto in cooperation with Professor Elina Haavisto.
The research project focuses on developing simulation games and virtual reality applications for learning clinical reasoning skills, knowledge, and empathy, and determining the effectiveness, usefulness, and user experiences of these solutions.
2) Reforming Student Selection in Nursing Education (ReSSNE) aims to develop and test a new national nursing education entrance exam that is evidence-based, cost-effective, objective and reliable.
It is based on our longitudinal study, which aimed to compare two on-site selection methods (psychological test, literature-based exam) to identify predictive factors of knowledge and skills and study the success of nursing students. We have evaluated nursing applicants’ reasoning skills based on the developed and validated reasoning (Reski) test, and we are currently evaluating nursing applicants’ desire to work as nurses based on the previously validated self-evaluation desire to work as a nurse -instrument (DeWoNu-I), and developing and evaluating an emotional intelligent test (EIT) for health care education applicants. In addition, we have developed a ubiquitous learning environment in which applicants have the opportunity to gain knowledge about nurses’ work, education and career opportunities to help ensure they are making the right choice by pursuing nursing education.
Research team
Professor, PhD, RN Elina Haavisto, Tampere University, Head of the research project
President, Managing Director, Dr.Tech. Jari Multisilta, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences
Post doc – researcher, PhD, RN Jaana-Maija Koivisto, Tampere University
Post doc – researcher, PhD, RN Kirsi Talman, University of Turku
Lecturer (Nursing Science), PhD,RN Maija Hupli, University of Turku
Principal lecturer, PhD, RN Jonna Vierula, Laurea University of Applied Sciences
PhD-research related to topic
Sara Havola, Nursing students´ scenario performance in learning clinical reasoning skills in a simulation game
Linda Hublin, Multiplayer virtual reality simulation in learning collaborative clinical reasoning
Kristiina Rosqvist, evaluating nursing students´ knowledge and clinical reasoning skills of basic vital signs in the final exam by using simulation game
Niina Glerean, promoting realistic perception of nursing profession via interactive online platform: quasi-experimental intervention study (University of Turku)
Anne Pienimaa, The assessment of emotional intelligence in nursing student selection (University of Turku)
Master theses related to topic
Sanna-Mari Kämäräinen
Katri Mattsson (University of Turku)
Other Researchers
Kirsi Halme, MNSc, Nursing students emergency department triage knowledge and skills - Development and evaluation of the effectiveness of a virtual escape gam
Henna Mäntylä, MNSc, Nursing students’ desire to work in nursing – a follow-up study from student selection to graduation
Selected publications
1. Rosqvist K, Koivisto J-M, Vierula J, Haavisto E. Contents and instruments used in graduating nursing students´ exit exam: An integrative review. Accepted for publication in Contemporary Nurse.
2. Pienimaa A, Talman K, Haavisto E. 2021. The assessment of emotional intelligence in social and health care student selection: a qualitative descriptive study. Educational Research 63 (3): 302-318.
3. Vierula J, Hupli M, Engblom J, Laakkonen E, Talman K, Haavisto E. 2021. Nursing applicants´ reasoning skills and factors related to them: A cross-sectional study. Nurse Education Today. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2021.104890
4. Havola S, Haavisto E, Mäkinen H, Koivisto, J-M. 2021. The effects of computer-based simulation game and virtual reality simulation in nursing students’ self-evaluated clinical reasoning skills. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing. https:/doi.org 10.1097/CIN.0000000000000748
5. Pienimaa A, Haavisto E, Talman K. Emotional intelligence instruments used in healthcare education: A systematic review. Accepted for publication in Journal of Nursing Education.
6. Vierula J, Talman K, Hupli M, Engblom J, Laakkonen E, Haavisto E. 2021. Reasoning skills (ReSki) instrument for nursing student selection: development process, psychometric and usability testing. Journal Advanced Nursing. https:/doi.org 10.1111/jan.14799
7. Talman K, Kanerva A-M, Vierula J, Virkki O, Koivisto J-M, Haavisto E. 2020. Instruments of assessing reasoning skills in higher education: A scoping review. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2020.1776212. IF2.320
8. Havola S, Koivisto J-M, Mäkinen H, Haavisto E. 2020. Game elements and instruments for assessing experiences of learning clinical reasoning by using simulation games: An integrative review. Clinical Simulation in Nursing 46:1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2020.04.003. IF1.713
9. Vierula J, Hupli M, Talman K, Haavisto E.2020. Identifying clinical reasoning skills in undergraduate nursing student selection: a focus group study. Contemporary Nurse. https/doi.org/10.1080/10376178.2020.1743732. IF 0.925
10. Talman K, Hupli M, Rankin B, Engblom J, Haavisto E. 2019. Emotional intelligence of nursing applicants and factors related to it: A cross-sectional study. Nurse Education Today. Nurse Education Today 8. https://doi.org 10.1016/j.nedt.2019.104271. IF 2.490