Impact of COIL: Learning From Student Nurses in Norway Who Collaborated With U.S. Students

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the experience of Norwegian nursing students with internationalization through participation in a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) course.

Background: Educators in Norway and the United States collaborated to incorporate internationalization and population health concepts into virtual courses during the pandemic. Literature gaps exist in post-implementation assessment data that ascertain internationalization through the COIL experience.

Design: This was a qualitative study with a descriptive design. Data were collected from focus group interviews and analyzed conventional content-analysis approaches.

Methods: Fifteen Norwegian undergraduate nursing students who participated in the COIL opportunity completed focus group interviews.

Findings: The themes identified included, “virtual conversation builds collaborations and enhances learning,” and “this opened my eyes.”

Conclusions: Norwegian students acknowledged they had learned transferable lessons from their global partners that could be applied to patient care of the marginalized population in Norway.