International student exchange in higher education has substantial impact on students' personal and professional lives. Using a critical hermeneutic approach, this case study explores how undertaking international practice modules abroad might even enhance nurse students' abilities as carers, which is an essential element of nursing practice. The context is a nurse education programme in Norway from 2005 to 2017. The empirical material were analysed with a directed content analysis applying elements of the virtuous circle of intelligent kindness. The findings indicate that relational characteristics like attentiveness and attunement with others are strengthened whilst abroad. The discussion explores how international practice modules influence nurse education: embarking on the nursing profession in another country and the development potential in feeling lost is opening new views of education.
Keywords: Intelligent kindness; Internationalisation; Nurse students; Study abroad.
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