In February, the first round of Karolinska Institutet's executive and professional education course Gynecology for Nurses (7.5 credits) began. The course was developed in response to a clearly identified competence need within women's healthcare, following dialogue with Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge. The course is offered in Swedish, at an advanced level, fully online and at quarter pace, enabling around 30 nurses from across Sweden to combine studies with clinical work.
The need for academic specialisation for nurses in gynecology has been highlighted for several years within gynaecological services nationally. When Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge initiated further discussions with KI, the foundations were laid for the course to become a reality.
Through close collaboration between the hospital, the Department of Women's and Children's Health, and KI's Unit for Executive and Professional Education, a new targeted course was developed-one that fills a significant gap.
"We want nurses in our organisation to feel that there is a dedicated pathway for specialisation in gynaecology-without needing to become midwives. This is where KI's course fills an important gap, particularly within pre- and postoperative nursing, where the needs are substantial," say Nursing Managers Isabelle Sundin Joandi and Louise Kalholm.
They emphasise that the initiative is not an alternative to the midwifery profession, but a complement that strengthens the team and benefits patients:
"It's not about competing with midwives, but about complementing each other so that together we can offer the best possible care."
A flexible structure that works in clinical practice
The course is designed to create immediate value in clinical settings. In addition to deepening their clinical knowledge, participants complete a quality and improvement project linked to their own workplaces. This structure ensures that new knowledge is quickly integrated into everyday practice-for example in nursing related to gynaecological surgery, abortion care, and the management of common gynaecological conditions.
"Our goal is for the nurses who complete the course to contribute to quality development in gynaecological care from a nursing perspective when they return to their units," say Isabelle Sundin Joandi and Louise Kalholm.
Course director Sofia Alsing at the Department of Women's and Children's Health highlights that flexibility has been central. With digital sessions via Zoom and a schedule adapted to clinical workflows, the aim is for participants to complete the course without needing to leave their regular duties for extended periods. Several components are scheduled as half-days, and communication and coursework take place in the learning platform Canvas, supporting a steady and manageable study pace alongside work.
"By offering an accessible learning format and content that reflects real clinical needs, we hope participants will feel more knowledgeable and confident when meeting patients with gynaecological conditions-and that the course will make a meaningful difference for patients," says Sofia Alsing.
Participants from across Sweden
Sofia Alsing also notes that the course has had a strong national reach from the outset. Participants come from across Sweden-from Region Västerbotten in the north to Region Halland in the south-representing a total of eleven regions.
"It's fantastic that participants truly come from all parts of the country. The geographical diversity greatly enriches the course through shared experiences and varied organisational perspectives, while also ensuring that new knowledge spreads broadly throughout Sweden," says Sofia Alsing.
