Carita Hand

Carita Hand is a Lecturer at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, specializing in gerontological nursing and health promotion. She holds a Master of Health Sciences (M.H.) and a Nursing degree (1991). Her roles include project management, pedagogical development, and expertise in non-drug methods for dementia care. She has led projects like the Gentle Care Project (2023–2025) and the MIKKO Project (2017–2020), focusing on sustainable work environments and healthcare innovation. Her research emphasizes creativity in nursing, patient-centered care, and interdisciplinary collaboration. She has published extensively on non-drug interventions, geriatric care, and healthcare sustainability.

Education:

• Master of Health Sciences (M.H.), Teacher Pedagogical Studies (1999)
• Nurse (1991)

Research Interests: Non-drug methods in healthcare, gerontology, project management in healthcare, sustainable work practices, and teaching development. She advocates for creative solutions in nursing to enhance both patient and caregiver well-being.

Projects & Grants:

• 2023–2025: Gentle Care Project (project manager), promoting non-drug methods in nursing homes
• 2017–2020: MIKKO Project (project manager), improving work well-being in SMEs
• Contributions to studies on resilience in healthcare education and sustainable healthcare practices

Labs/Teams: A core member of Metropolia's Aging Competence Center and pedagogical development working group.