The global nursing shortage, driven by an aging population and decline of the nursing workforce, remains a critical challenge for healthcare systems.
At the same time, changes in technology, digitalization and the shift toward ambulatory care are transforming health care and reshaping the role of nursing within larger multidisciplinary teams.
In addition to these developments, there is an increasing emphasis on the development of academic methods and theory within nursing practice.
Is there a risk that academization of nursing becomes disconnected from everyday practice and excludes certain practitioners within the profession?
While advanced scientific methods might strengthen the discipline, they may
also risk excluding practitioners who lack academic training. This tension could be understood as an issue of epistemic and structural justice, where certain forms of knowledge are privileged while other voices risk marginalization.
In this lecture, it is argued that strengthening nursing as a scientific and interdisciplinary field must be grounded in the actual practice and remain inclusive to diverse educational backgrounds and the relational dynamics within the profession.
About the speaker
Jasperina Brouwer (rug.nl) is assistant professor at the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences at Universtiy of Groningen, Netherlands.
She combines her educational background in social, health, and educational sciences with practical experience as a nurse in her research. Her research focuses on social mechanisms contributing to professional development and retention in nursing and other professions (e.g., teachers or doctors).
Proficient in both qualitative and quantitative research methods, her expertise lies in applying advanced (longitudinal) social network analysis techniques in student and professional networks. Employing a comprehensive mixed methods approach, she also delves into the impact of healthcare innovations, i.e. technological advancements combined with shifts in care delivery by formal and informal caregivers—on professional commitment, identity and development.
