From the 28th to 29th of September 2026, Kadri Oras from Estonia visited Bergen, Norway. Her Short Term Scientific Mission focused on investigating innovative educational strategies and teaching methods to implement in clinical palliative care. The mission was hosted by Professor Linda Rykkje at VID Specialized University and Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, Norway.
On the first day, Professor Linda Rykkje and Associate Professor Maarja Vislapuu welcomed Kadri to VID, introducing the campus and the state-of-the-art simulation center. Together with Professor Trine Oksholm, they reviewed continuous education frameworks in palliative nursing. The afternoon was dedicated to clinical practices, including a site visit to the Vardesenteret at Haukeland University Hospital with center coordinator Marie Tjelta, exploring psycho-social interventions and prerehabilitation models for patients and their families.
The second day commenced with a meeting with Dr. Vidar Pettersen and the Sunniva palliative care team to analyze interdisciplinary teamwork and early integration models. Back at VID, Kadri met with Professor Rykkje’s research team to present and mutually share insights on their respective PhD frameworks, identifying common challenges and academic touchpoints. They were joined by Maarja Vislapuu, an Estonian nurse-scientist living in Norway, who provided a valuable comparative overview of the structural and cultural differences between the Estonian and Norwegian healthcare systems.
The mission concluded with an in-depth clinical visit to the Regional Centre of Excellence for Palliative Care (Western Norway), where network coordinator Grete Iversen, RN demonstrated the operational dynamics and professional training outcomes of the renowned “10/40 Model”.
“This was an exceptionally inspiring experience, made possible by the incredible kindness, warmth, and collaborative spirit of my hosts! The openness of the Norwegian colleagues has given me tremendous energy and new perspectives to bring back to Estonia: moving forward step by step, while remembering to be gentle with ourselves along the way.”
