Radboudumc has more than thirty nurse scientists. Colleagues who combine the best of two worlds: patient care and scientific research. It’s high time to get to know this professional group better, through four practice-based studies.
'We don’t research whether a new drug works, but what care means to the patient,' says nurse scientist Getty de Waal. 'Nurse scientists focus on questions like: how does the patient experience treatment? How do we contribute to sustainability and appropriate care?' The goal: to improve healthcare and make it future proof.
Their research complements that of physicians and other researchers. While physicians focus on diagnostics and cure, nurse scientists look at quality of life, lifestyle, and acceptance of illness. Most nurse scientists work in patient care and implement innovations and scientific knowledge in practice.
Research as an answer to societal challenges
Healthcare is under pressure due to double aging and staff shortages. 'In Nijmegen, one in five people already work in healthcare. That shows things need to change,' says Huisman - de Waal. Research helps make choices: not everything that is possible works, nor should it. Appropriate care means critically assessing whether a treatment is truly necessary and what it contributes to outcomes and quality of life.
There is also attention to lifestyle and acceptance. Huisman - de Waal: 'It’s crucial to have conversations with patients about which care is and isn’t desirable. This requires a cultural shift. Examples of research include the national Beter Laten list, which since 2017 identifies procedures that are better left undone, and studies on non-pharmacological interventions for pain, anxiety, or stress, such as VR headsets and positive communication.
Sleep or complications?
An interesting finding from conversations between nurse scientists and patients: hospitalized patients value their sleep highly. Because monitoring continues at night to detect complications early, patients’ sleep is often disrupted. 'We look at these kinds of themes because they currently receive little attention,' explains Huisman - de Waal. Ongoing studies explore how to improve sleep, for example with new infusion pumps that trigger fewer alarms, sleep masks, and sleep hygiene. Researchers are also examining how these solutions can be applied at home.
Verpleegkundig wetenschapper Getty Huisman - de Waal.
What about Radboudumc?
Radboudumc has over thirty nurse scientists, some still in training. Their research aligns with the hospital’s strategy: appropriate care and future-proof nursing. 'We want nurse scientists to have a seat at the table in research and policy,' says Getty de Waal. 'That way, care research gets the place it deserves.'
The results and activities of nurse scientists are recognized as valuable contributions to improving patient care, strengthening nursing leadership, and supporting evidence-based practice innovations. Huisman - de Waal’s research on appropriate surgical care is an example: 'We don’t just look at cure, but at what truly matters to the patient.'
Reliable information about side effects
Nurse scientist and oncology nurse Iris Nagtegaal investigates how cancer patients can best receive uniform and reliable information and advice about side effects. Read more about her research.
Clinical reasoning
Nurse scientist Ingrid Heijnen works on innovations that improve patient comfort and recovery. From shortening fasting times to developing a smarter protocol for bladder scans and catheterization: her research gives nurses more room for clinical reasoning and person-centered care. Read more about her work.
The impact of psychosocial factors
Nurse scientist and PhD candidate Linda Smulders researches psychosocial indicators that impact patients. She wants to embed the role of data more deeply in nursing practice. Read more about her research.
Femke Becking and Jocelynn Kraan
Nurse scientist Femke Becking is conducting PhD research on nutrition and exercise. She was also closely involved in rolling out continuous monitoring of vital signs on the ward and actively participates in evaluating data-driven care. Jocelynn Kraan is going to conduct PhD research on AI in relation to these vital parameters.Read more about their work.
-
Want to know more about these subjects? Click on the buttons below for more news.
More information
Pauline Dekhuijzen
wetenschaps- en persvoorlichter
