By Whitney Baxter
Students’ eyes were opened to how nursing and healthcare systems differ from those in the United States during the Nursing in Norway program.
Five RN-to-BSN nursing students from Iowa State University and six nurses from Mary Greeley Medical Center recently participated in the program alongside six nursing students from Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet) in Norway. The experience was organized and planned by Iowa State’s Dawn Bowker, director of nursing education and clinical associate professor, and Karla Kerkove, clinical assistant professor.
The Norway students arrived in Iowa in March for a month-long visit. Then, the Iowa nurses and nursing students traveled to Norway in May for a 10-day visit. Each saw local public health facilities, learned about the country’s healthcare system and explored the area.
Abbie Lee, who graduated in May with her bachelor of science in nursing, said participating in the Nursing in Norway program enhanced her understanding of the universal healthcare system. It has also made her rethink how she assists patients struggling with substance abuse withdrawal symptoms, especially after visiting a Norwegian Street Hospital that supports people with addiction.
“I genuinely appreciate their approach of allowing individuals to receive medical care that alleviates withdrawal symptoms. They emphasized, ‘We look beyond the addiction and treat the person,’” Lee said. “Providing judgment-free care, free from stigma and bias, allows those affected by substance abuse to receive the help they desperately need, ultimately benefiting the whole community.”
Bjørn Karlsen, an OsloMet nursing student, was impressed by how well hospital facilities in the U.S. are built, especially in rural areas.
“I feel like the standard of care is very high, and we met many people who are really passionate about their profession and go to great lengths to help their patients,” Karlsen said. “The program has given me some perspective on how different things can be and how people look at healthcare. My experience from the U.S is 100% something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my career.”
Opening future nurses’ eyes to healthcare approaches that go beyond what they’ve seen firsthand or are familiar with is a goal Bowker had in setting up the program.
“These types of experiences help our students become better providers and think more critically about how to provide holistic care to the population,” Bowker said.
Jazmin Melo-Vazquez, an Iowa State nursing student and emergency department nurse, appreciates Bowker and Kerkove for organizing this experience, which has encouraged her to approach her patients in a different way and advocate for them.
“They keep you accountable and make you want to be better,” Melo-Vazquez said.
Bowker plans to continue offering this life-changing experience to future Iowa State nursing students.
“I expect that this relationship with OsloMet will continue to grow, and I’m really excited about that,” Bowker said.