Hospital and University Draw Closer – Benefiting Patients

It’s a familiar trend that many healthcare professionals leave their roles for jobs with less stress and more regular hours. A common perception is that students pursuing further education are “training themselves out of the clinic” and thus away from patient care. However, Zealand University Hospital has found a different reality. Here, nurses are undertaking master’s level postgraduate studies to actively contribute to developing patient care and treatment within their departments.

These nurses are advancing their education while maintaining their clinical practice, focusing on enhancing nursing quality through evidence-based practice, ultimately benefiting patients in their daily care.

For example, a “study assignment” may become an initiative that not only encourages cardiac patients to stay physically active while hospitalised but also equips nurses with the terminology needed to explain why physical activity is essential.

Zealand University Hospital has prioritised a strategic initiative to educate nurses as part-time professional master’s students, enabling them to study half-time while working 25 hours a week.

- It’s a huge advantage to integrate new knowledge into our daily work while ensuring smooth operations. We establish concrete agreements to make sure that this knowledge is brought back into the departments, benefiting many across the hospital, says Bibi Hølge-Hazelton, professor in nursing and Head of Research at Zealand University Hospital (SUH).

Currently, the first two cohorts of nurses are enrolled. Forty-four nurses have begun a professional master’s programme in Clinical Nursing—customised to include instruction at the hospital, saving students from having to travel to the University of Southern Denmark in Odense.

Super Active Patient Programmes

Zealand University Hospital has developed a close partnership with SDU, creating an adapted education programme that incorporates the daily needs and challenges of the hospital into the study process. This partnership aims to ensure that new knowledge flows back into the hospital.

- An example from the first cohort: three of our nurses collaborated on a paper exploring how patients could be more actively engaged in physical activity during hospitalisation. Before this programme, there were some initial ideas, but after returning to the clinic, we also involved our physiotherapists and occupational therapists, which significantly accelerated the initiative. We already had a project in the pipeline regarding patient mobilisation, called ‘Super Active Patient Programmes,’ so it was an ideal starting point,” says Jytte Bruhn, Head Nurse in the Cardiology Department at Zealand University Hospital.

In brief, the ‘Super Active Patient Programmes’ aim to use research-based knowledge to highlight the importance of daily mobilisation for patients. The initiative encourages capable patients to engage in light physical activities, such as collecting their menu cards, meal trays, and clothing, within their physical capacity. Rather than reluctance from the nurses, it is this increased knowledge that ultimately enhances patient well-being.

Not a One-Off Example

It’s not only at Zealand University Hospital where work and education go hand-in-hand. SDU is actively pursuing similar partnerships with Esbjerg and Grindsted Hospitals, Odense University Hospital, and Hospital Sønderjylland, with more collaborations on the horizon.

In all our agreements, we’ve clearly stated that the goal is to create knowledge that partners can directly apply to their daily operations. It’s fantastic to hear about projects like ‘Super Active Patient Programmes.’ Our primary mission is to help tackle challenges in healthcare, and through our partnerships, we’ve found an effective way to strengthen healthcare professionals, preparing them for an increasingly complex sector, says Merete Munk, Director of Education at the Faculty of Health Sciences, SDU.

According to 2023 figures from the Danish Nurses' Organisation, a large proportion of nurses with master’s degrees continue clinical work after their studies. Ninety-five per cent of master’s-qualified nurses report working in nursing roles, with half directly involved in patient care.

- The best part is that students tell us they’ve already developed new approaches to daily challenges while still in their studies. They’ve gained theoretical and analytical tools that are practical and functional, concludes Merete Munk.

Currently, partnership agreements primarily cover the Clinical Nursing programme, but work is underway to extend opportunities to other fields where it would be beneficial, such as midwifery, biomedical analysis, and radiography.