There are vast challenges in the current health care system and society needs highly qualified and socially committed nurses.

What is nursing?

Nursing is the professional care and treatment of people in temporary or permanent need. Nursing is assisting individuals to take care of their own basic needs. Understanding how individuals can do this, and cope with illness and suffering, is fundamental to nursing. The nurse interacts with people by understanding their personal history, experiences, resources, significant relationships, values and perceptions of illness or risk of becoming ill. The profession is based on various forms of knowledge, skills, judgement and wisdom.

How and where do nurses work?

As a nurse, you work with prevention, care, treatment and rehabilitation in close collaboration with other professionals. Your work may be at a hospital, in a nursing home, community health services, preventive, company or mental health care centres, with ambulance services or international relief agencies.

This is what you learn

The nursing discipline includes psychology, social studies, pedagogy, communication, anatomy, physiology and pathology, spirituality and worldviews, ethics, scientific theory and research methods. In the training centre at the University, you will practice skills, communication and collaboration through role-play and simulation of real-life situations with patients. Periods of clinical practice will teach you to apply theoretical and practical knowledge in face-to-face interactions with patients.

Clinical practice is important

Clinical practice education is an integral part of a nursing programme, and approximately 50 percent of your study takes place in practical settings. Clinical placements occur in a variety of settings: nursing homes, community care services and hospitals. Several of our students choose to study abroad for a short time, for example 8 weeks of clinical practice in the third year of study or three months of exchange-studies through the Erasmus+ programme.

What do I qualify for?

When you obtain your Bachelor's degree in Nursing, you become a registered nurse and a variety of national and international job-opportunities will be available to you. You may also continue your education by joining a Master's or PhD programme.

Why should I choose the nursing programme at VID?

• We have a long and proud history of nursing education
• We have distinct visions and high ambitions
• Highly qualified teachers who are committed to the students
• Documented results and a congenial student environment
• Flexible learning with alternatives from several elective courses.
• Courses that focus on ethics, religious literacy and communication
• Excellent clinical practice placements
• Opportunities for international exchange
• What does the diaconal profile imply?

VID is a diaconal university, which means that we are based on Christian values. However, our students do not have to belong to the Christian faith. We strive for openness and a wide horizon and welcome students of all backgrounds and religions.

What I like the most about studying nursing at VID is the close contact you get with the teachers, good guidance in advance of an exam, to be noticed by fellow students, and also that the number of students contribute to a pleasing learning environment.

– nursing student Birgitte Holm, VID

New name, same high quality

On January 1, 2016, a merger took place between Diakonhjemmet University College in Oslo, Haraldsplass Deaconess University College and Betanien Deaconal University College in Bergen. The new name is VID. On January 1, 2018, Diakonova University College became a part of VID. All four institutions have long and proud histories of nursing education.

Both Bergen and Oslo?

The bachelor programme may be taken in either Bergen or Oslo. Haraldsplass and Betanien at VID Bergen, and Diakonhjemmet or Diakonova at VID Oslo have educated nurses for 300 years combined. We now offer the nursing programme at two campuses. When you apply, you may choose either Bergen, Diakonhjemmet in Oslo or Diakonova in Oslo.