What is it like to be an exchange student in a clinical placement at Oslo University College ?
Many of our exchange students come here to experience the Norwegian culture of nursing in real life situations. Students can be placed in community health service, on hospital wards or in institutions caring for the elderly. During your placement you will meet a faculty adviser, on-site nurse, fellow students, and different health workers.
It is important to be aware of language and cultural differences in these situations. Our faculty, your fellow students and the on site clinical placement nurses do their best to facilitate, but as an exchange student, a clinical placement in a foreign culture will challenge you in special ways.
A faculty member explains what you can expect, and what is expected of you during this kind of exchange:
“I try to send information to incoming students by email. Sometimes I need to translate this information before it is sent. My goal is, together with the on site clinical placement nurse, to design a clinical placement period for the student that fulfils Oslo University College’s learning goals for clinical placements.
I expect students coming here for clinical placements to be prepared. They should have read any information I have sent to them prior to their arrival, as well as information they receive during their placement period. They need to find out what the rules and regulations at the clinical placement post are. I also expect them to deliver any assignments on time. Of course, if they have some problem with this they need to inform me so that we, together, can find a solution. This is also true if for some reason the student can not attend his or her placement post.
A core theme in nursing education at Oslo University College is that students take initiative and are responsible for their own learning. I love it when students ask constructive questions, and that students actively engage with fellow students and colleagues at their placement post. Most importantly, I want to see that students make the most out of their clinical placement period, and that they demonstrate an understanding for how important this experience is for their future as professional nurses.
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I meet incoming exchange students for a preliminary planning meeting, then once a week for follow-up meetings. We have an evaluation meeting halfway through the placement period, as well as a final evaluation meeting. I am happy to meet students more often if that is necessary.
Students are given different assignments during their placement. The faculty adviser to whom you are assigned will advise and guide you as you work on these assignments. You will also be assigned to an on-site clinical placement nurse who will inform you about routines and procedures at your particular post, as well as help you learn about nursing in “the real world”. You will work together with the faculty adviser and on-site nurse as a team throughout the clinical placement period. Evaluation of your performance during the placement is also done together as a team.