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Background: Norway was a neutral country during the war. However, nurses from the Norwegian Nursing Organisation (NNO) took care of injured soldiers on both side of the conflict. Objective: The purpose of the article is to shed light on the nurses’ experiences and discuss what interest the NNO might have had in sending members away on this mission. Method: Content analysis of minutes from the NNO’s boarders meetings from the year 1914 to 1919 and publications in the magazine Sykepleien from the same period was carried out. All from the magazine concerning the matter, as well as letters and memoires written by those who travelled, have been reviewed. Results: Five nurses were located at the Eastern front, whereas nineteen were at military hospitals in London. In order to travel, they had to be approved for the task by the NNO and capable of speaking the local language. The nurses themselves experienced the time as valuable and rewarding, even though they faced with the cruelty of the war. They all felt that they mastered the major challenges they met, like taking care of a large number of wounded soldiers simultaneously. The NNO proved itself a responsible organisation both internationally and nationally. Conclusion: Norwegian educated nurses were competent and willing to help internationally during this catastrophe. The number of nurses travelling on behalf of the NNO was very high, compared to the total number of members. This strengthened the union for what they worked for at home at the time.

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