Results
Background variables
Nursing teachers (n = 339) were working in 25 different poly- technics across Finland. The ages of nursing teachers ranged from 27 to 64, while the mean age was 51 years. In this sample, 3% of teachers were men. Most teachers had a diploma in nursing, but there were also public health nurses (13%) and midwifes (3%). One-sixth of teachers had more than one diploma and some had three diplomas. The academic degree for most teachers was a master's in nursing science, but 12% had a licentiate or doctoral degree in nursing science (Table 2). One-third of teachers had taken their highest degree less than five years ago. The mean time after the highest degree taken was eight years. Average experience in nursing practice was 12 years. Average experience in nursing education was 15 years. Most teachers were lecturers and one in ten was a principal lecturer. One-fifth were working in temporary posts.
Nursing teachers' further education, research, and development and publication activities