New Rector of Tallinn Health Care College: Modern Students Are Very Inquisitive
Ulvi Kärgmaa, the new rector of Tallinn Health Care College, highlights the curiosity of today's students and the shift toward patient-centered nursing, while addressing workforce challenges and the role of technology.
On July 1, Ulvi Kärgmaa started her first day as the new rector of Tallinn Health Care College, where she has worked since 2003. In an interview on the radio program "Vikerhommik," she said that working in an educational institution is fascinating because students are constantly changing—each new generation is different, which requires adaptation and brings development.
According to Kärgmaa, today's students are much more inquisitive than her own generation was. With the internet and artificial intelligence, accessing information has become easier but also requires constant monitoring.
This year, Kärgmaa defended her doctoral dissertation, which studied the development of nursing over three decades. One major finding is that the vast majority of nurses now have higher education, which has positively impacted nursing. The curriculum has also shifted from procedure-oriented teaching to more patient-centered care. Kärgmaa noted that today's nurses see the patient as a whole with all their needs, making the holistic approach much deeper.
Although the number of patients per nurse has decreased, the subjective workload has increased. Nurses are more knowledgeable and skilled, but patients have become "more complex," leading to a higher perceived workload.
Regarding technology, Kärgmaa does not believe it will completely replace human presence in care. She is a strong supporter of technology and thinks it will help more in the future, but caring for a person requires another person's involvement. However, the college actively uses robots in simulation training, allowing students to make mistakes safely without harming patients.
The nursing shortage remains a problem, but Kärgmaa hopes that increasing the number of graduates—over 700 nursing students are admitted annually together with Tartu Health Care College—will soon alleviate the situation. She also suggests improving teamwork and task distribution in healthcare institutions.
Kärgmaa identified institutional accreditation this autumn and the development of a new strategic plan as the first major challenges in her new position.
