Welcome to Springnation
An insiders guide to hospital life
SpringNation is your trusted companion to:
Explore every European country — one at a time — with deep dives into licensing, salaries, and working conditions.
Discover real job openings (yes, the good ones!)
Stay ahead with reviews on new tech — electronic records, AI support tools, decision aids
Find out about medical conferences and how to score scholarships.
Get insider guides to hospital life: from EMR systems to on-call rotations and canteen ratings.
Pick up cultural tips — whether it’s mastering fika in Sweden or perfecting your French shrug
Navigate residency and training — from application tricks to deciding whether a PhD is worth the hassle.
Subscribe country by country or follow them all! Your medical career in Europe deserves a sidekick that’s curious, clever, and slightly caffeinated.
Primary Care Doctors (Allmennleger)
What it’s like?
In cities: Think sleek clinics, cappuccino machines, and EMR systems that (mostly) work. You’ll often work alongside other GPs, physiotherapists, and that one nurse who knows everything.
In rural areas: More like ”Doctor + Swiss Army Knife.” You’ll handle everything from coughs to trauma with bigger scopes of practice and often a cabin included.
Where are the jobs?
Easier to find openings in the north and inland areas (read: snowy, stunning, and surprisingly sociable).
Urban roles exist, but competition is tighter than a pair of Norwegian hiking socks.
Working Conditions & Pay
Around 37.5 hours/week — actual, not aspirational
You’re self-employed but work under public contract. Pay is a mix of government funding + patient co-pays
Average GP income: NOK 1.3–1.8 million/year (€110k–€155k). Not bad for a job that ends before dinner.
Lunch Culture
Yes, Norwegians eat lunch. Quietly. In silence. Often involving a slice of brown cheese (brunost) on open rye bread. You’re invited. Just don’t talk too loudly.
How to Register
B2 Norwegian (yes, the language with 47 vowel sounds) Apply for authorisation at: helsedirektoratet.no
Where to Apply
legejobber.no, NAV.no, EURES, Dedicare Current Jobs GP in Lofoten – housing, sea views, snow boots provided. Urban GP, Oslo – multidisciplinary team, cappuccino machine unconfirmed
Current Jobs
How to Register B2 Norwegian (yes, the language with 47 vowel sounds) Apply for authorisation at: helsedirektoratet.no Where to Apply legejobber.no, NAV.no, EURES, Dedicare Current Jobs GP in Lofoten – housing, sea views, snow boots provided. Urban GP, Oslo – multidisciplinary team, cappuccino machine unconfirmed
Hospital Doctors (Surgeons, Orthopaedics, Emergency Medicine)
Who’s Hiring?
In cities: Think sleek clinics, cappuccino machines, and EMR systems that (mostly) work. You’ll often work alongside other GPs, physiotherapists, and that one nurse who knows everything.
In rural areas: More like ”Doctor + Swiss Army Knife.” You’ll handle everything from coughs to trauma with bigger scopes of practice and often a cabin included.
Top Hospitals
Easier to find openings in the north and inland areas (read: snowy, stunning, and surprisingly sociable).
Urban roles exist, but competition is tighter than a pair of Norwegian hiking socks.
Hospital Life: What to Expect
Around 37.5 hours/week — actual, not aspirational
You’re self-employed but work under public contract. Pay is a mix of government funding + patient co-pays
Average GP income: NOK 1.3–1.8 million/year (€110k–€155k). Not bad for a job that ends before dinner.
Salary & Shifts
Yes, Norwegians eat lunch. Quietly. In silence. Often involving a slice of brown cheese (brunost) on open rye bread. You’re invited. Just don’t talk too loudly.
How to Register
B2 Norwegian required (yes, you’ll need to say "skulderledd" with confidence) Apply at sak.no
Where to Apply
legejobber.no, Finn.no, NAV
Current Jobs
General Surgeon, Stavanger, Ortho Surgeon, Bergen – robotics and fjord views, ER Doctor, Finnmark – fly-in, fly-out + housing, Locum Ortho, Ålesund – 3-month post, housing with a view
Cultural Note:
Norwegians love three things: skiing, personal space, and complaining about the weather while being outside in it.