We began our morning today by meeting at LDUC (Lovisenberg Diaconole University College) University for a healthy breakfast of yogurt and fruit and to participate in a Virtual Reality (VR) simulation. Many of us enjoyed our breakfast on the LDUC rooftop terrace and enjoyed the amazing view of Oslo, Norway while we rotated through the simulation.
View from the rooftop of LDUC.
The virtual reality simulation “We Live Here”, was about a woman who was experiencing homelessness and living in a tent. The police officers were kicking her and her neighbors out of the area. It had us go through her belongings, like her journal and photos, as well as her memories. The VR simulation helped humanize people experiencing homelessness and make them more relatable. This relates to sustainable development goal (SDG) #11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Healthcare workers may not be able to change the law, but we can put our own judgments and stigma aside to provide quality healthcare to everyone.
After VR simulation, our day was filled with key informant informa
tion lectures and discussions. We discussed healthcare in the prison system, the emergency shelter for women, Kirkens Bymisjon, and poverty in Norway. We learned about the migrant populations in Norway and the biggest ethnic group, the Roma people. The lectures promoted SDG goal #1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere, SDG goal #10: Reduce inequality within and among cities, and SDG goal #16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.
A booklet we were given on the Roma people.
Later in the evening, we had a social activity with pizza and a nursing clinical game with the Norwegian students, some of which are part of the LDUC student parliament. The nursing game “SYKEPLEIER SPILLET,” was created for nursing students and helped us refresh our knowledge on what we have learned in our nursing education. We divided in groups to be sure we had students from the U.S (United States) and Norway mixing in the groups. We also had students join from Slovenia and Australia who are also working with LDUC. We all loved the game! I know for me it improved my confidence in my nursing knowledge and it was also a wonderful opportunity to get to know the international students. This event also reinforced SDG #3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
Overall, today was great for learning about diverse groups of people. Not only did we learn from the key informant lectures, but a lot of us were having great conversations getting to know the Norwegian students. In closing, I think this trip has motivated us all to continue learning about new cultures and populations.
The diversity of populations you are working with seems like a great experience. What a valuable summer.