Bridging Theory and Practice
USN Hosts International Nursing BIP with Body Interact
The University of South-Eastern Norway (USN) recently hosted an inspiring international Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) in Nursing, developed in collaboration Portuguese Red Cross Higher School of Health (Lisbon), the University of Akureyri (Iceland), and Body Interact, a global leader in virtual patient simulation.
Global Perspectives in Nursing Education
The course “Global Perspectives in Nursing: Enhancing Clinical Reasoning, Critical Thinking & Physical Assessment” , was designed to strengthen nursing students’ ability to perform comprehensive patient assessments while fostering critical thinking and clinical reasoning. The program seamlessly combined virtual learning, simulation-based practice, and hands-on clinical experience.
A Collaborative Start to a Global Learning Journey
The in-person week at USN’s Drammen Campus marked the official opening of the programme physical component. The event was attended by faculty, students, and special guests, including Portuguese Ambassador Pedro Pessoa e Costa, who joined the opening session to celebrate the international partnership and support the students’ learning journey.
Throughout the week, students deepened their knowledge through theoretical and practical sessions on physical assessment, using Body Interact to train their skills in a safe and realistic environment. Guided by their instructors, they practice their skills in assessing the respiratory, cardiovascular, abdominal, and neurological systems. These are key techniques vital for patient evaluation in diverse clinical contexts.
From Virtual to Real-Life Practice
During this intensive week, the learning experience extended to USN’s Simulation Center in Gol, where volunteer patients were welcomed. Here, students put their newly acquired knowledge to the test, conducting full patient assessments and applying what they had trained using Body Interact. The transition from virtual patients to real individuals highlighted the value of simulation as a bridge between classroom learning and clinical reality.
Empowering Future Nurses through International Collaboration
By combining online interactive webinars, virtual simulation, and clinical immersion, the BIP fosters essential nursing competencies from critical reasoning to interprofessional communication while also promoting international collaboration.
Professor H.Ösp Egilsdottir and Professor Rita Li from University of South-Eastern Norway emphasized:
“Participating in the Blended Intensive Program in Norway was an enriching experience that strengthened both my clinical reasoning and collaborative skills. The use of Body Interact played a central role in this learning process, allowing students from Portugal, Norway, and Iceland to work together in a safe, simulated environment. Through virtual patient scenarios, we were able to apply comprehensive physical assessment skills, discuss nursing diagnoses and interventions, and make clinical decisions as a team. Beyond improving our clinical judgment, Body Interact fostered communication, teamwork, and mutual understanding among students from different cultural and educational backgrounds, making it a truly valuable and integrative experience.”
João Neves, second-year student of the Nursing degree at Portuguese Red Cross Higher School of Health (Lisbon)
A Shared Commitment to Advancing Nursing Education
This project exemplifies Body Interact’s mission: empowering learners worldwide to build confidence and competence in clinical decision-making.
The programme’s success reinforces how innovative digital tools, combined with strong international partnerships, can transform nursing education preparing the next generation of nurses to deliver high-quality, person-centered care across borders
