title: Taking part in Nordic collaboration; nursing students' experiences and perceptions from a learning perspective: A qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nordic networking of different kinds has a long tradition aiming to increase collaboration and understanding between citizens in different countries. Cultural competence in relation to health care and nursing is important for clinical nurses and is a central issue in nurse education.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To gain an understanding of what nurse students experienced and learned during an intensive course in diabetes together with students and nurse educators from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the Faroe Islands.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2012, an intensive course within the Nordic network, Nordkvist, was conducted in Faroe Islands with the theme "Nursing - to live a good life with diabetes". To answer the objective of the study, 26 students conducted written reflections based on two questions. The data was analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Through meetings with nurse students and educators from the Nordic countries the intensive course strengthened the students' identification with the nursing profession. The students gained new perspectives on diabetes, such as how complex it can be to live with a chronic illness. Because of the difficulties in understanding one another and because of different mother tongues, the students gained a better understanding of patients' vulnerability in relation to hospital jargon and how it felt to be in an unfamiliar place.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intensive course increased the students' personal and professional growth, cross-cultural competence, and their identification with nursing. Students' understanding of health care in the Nordic countries improved as similarities and differences were recognized.
authors.affiliation: Sophiahemmet University, Box 5605, 114 86 Stockholm, Sweden; Sciences Karolinska Institutet, Division of Nursing, Department of Neurolobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Sweden. Electronic address: margareta.westerbotn@shh.se.
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Westerbotn
authors.affiliation: Sciences Karolinska Institutet, Division of Nursing, Department of Neurolobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Sweden; Ersta Sköndal University College, Department of Health Care, P.O. Box 11189, 10061 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: asa.kneck@esh.se.
authors.forename: Åsa
authors.initials: Å
authors.lastname: Kneck
authors.affiliation: University of Agder, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, Institute of Health and Nursing Science, Postbox 422, 4604 Kristiansand, Norway. Electronic address: johannes.hovland@uia.no.
authors.forename: Olav Johannes
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Hovland
authors.affiliation: University College Sjælland (UCSJ), Sygeplejerskeuddannelsen, Ingemannsvej 17, 4200 Slagelse, Denmark. Electronic address: mel@ucsj.dk.
authors.forename: Malene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elrond
authors.affiliation: University College Lillebaelt, 5220 Odense SØ, Denmark. Electronic address: inpe@ucl.dk.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.affiliation: Arcada University of Applied Sciences, Jan-Magnus Janssons plats 1, 00550 Helsingfors, Finland. Electronic address: gun-britt.lejonqvist@arcada.fi.
authors.forename: Gun-Britt
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Lejonqvist
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Natural and Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, University of the Faroe Islands, Jónas Broncksgøta 25, Fo 100 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands. Electronic address: johild.dulavik@skulin.fo.
authors.forename: Johild
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dulavik
authors.affiliation: University College Lillebaelt, Department of Nursing, Svendborg, Baagoesalle 8 b, 5700 Svendborg, Denmark. Electronic address: toke@ucl.dk.
authors.forename: Tove
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ecklon
authors.affiliation: University of Borås, School of Health Sciences, Allégatan 1, 501 90 Borås, Sweden. Electronic address: inga-lill.Nilsson@hb.se.
authors.forename: Inga-Lill
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Akureyri, Nordurslod, 600 Akureyri, Iceland. Electronic address: arun@unak.is.
authors.forename: Árún K
authors.initials: ÁK
authors.lastname: Sigurdardottir
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D054521:Cultural Competency / Q000523:psychology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000451:nursing*; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D006801:Humans; D007393:International Educational Exchange; D007858:Learning; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012537:Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Cultural competence; Diabetes; Exchange students; Intensive course; Nordic collaboration; Nurse education