Last Tuesday, a traditional pig autopsy lecture was held on  Molde campus.

This lecture is designated for a first year students of the nursing degree. Every year it looks the same. A number of pork entrails is laid out on the table for students to dissect further and study.  Hans Inderhaug, one of the teachers leading this class , said:

«Pork entrails are surprisingly similar to those of humans.»

And according to him this lecture serves very well the anatomical education of the nursing students. It also provides them with the experience of what their future job might be like.

All the nursing students seemed to be dedicated to their education and overcame this unpleasant morning. And with the room filled with 90% female students and only few faces revealing a feeling of disgust, it could be considered a success. And it is not that the teachers were not trying.

«Anyone care for some pesto?» said Stein Erik Meisingset, the other lecturer, with a smile as he pulled out pungent, greenish and gooey looking paste on a tip of a scalpel out of one of the organs on the table. Then he proceeded to let students sniff it. Well, at least those brave enough to follow through.

One might expect that this experience might lead to various students dropping out. But according to Inderhaug that is not the case. Overall this tradition, which every college in Norway offering nursing education participate in, seems to be well justified.