Finnish sleep apnea nurse named national nurse of the year for patient-centred care

Finnish sleep apnea specialist Markku Keski-Rahkonen has been named the country’s national nurse of the year, public broadcaster Yle reports. The award, presented for the first time this year, recognises his decades-long work in developing sleep apnea treatment and his personal experience with the condition.

Keski-Rahkonen, who works at Central Ostrobothnia Central Hospital, described the recognition as unexpected. “It came a bit out of the blue,” he said. “I see myself as a field worker—there are so many of us at the grassroots level doing this work, so it’s a great honour.”

Colleagues praised his dedication, describing him as a positive, humorous, and helpful team member who actively shares knowledge and introduces new working methods. The award citation highlighted his role as a mentor to other nurses and his positive impact on the workplace.

His own struggle with sleep apnea gives him unique insight into patient care. “Personal experience is a big help. You know what you’re talking about and can give practical tips you won’t find in any manual,” Keski-Rahkonen explained.

A major health setback nearly ended his career a decade ago when a spinal surgery went wrong, leaving him temporarily wheelchair-bound. After two years of medical leave, he relearned to walk through persistent rehabilitation. “I understood that even with support, you have to do the work yourself. No one else will lift you up—you have to help yourself,” he said.

Now back at work part-time, Keski-Rahkonen has witnessed the dramatic growth of sleep apnea treatment in Finland. When he started, there were 10,000 patients nationwide; today, there are hundreds of thousands. At his hospital alone, 500 new patients begin treatment annually.

He emphasised the psychological challenges of adapting to treatment, noting that success depends on building patient confidence and ensuring a positive first experience. “We do everything to avoid early setbacks. The first night should be as good as possible to keep moving forward,” he said.

Looking ahead, Keski-Rahkonen believes wearable devices like smartwatches and rings will play a larger role in diagnostics and monitoring, providing additional data to improve care.