Doctoral Programme Nursing Science

Eliane Baumberger, MScN, RN 

Eliane is an advanced practice nurse specialised in geriatric psychiatric care currently employed at the Clienia Privatklinik Schlössli. She has several years of clinical experience in (geriatric) psychiatric care and long-term care in various positions. 

The topic of her PhD project is the implementation of non-pharmacological interventions to reduce neuropsychiatric symptoms in people with dementia hospitalised for behavioural crises in geriatric psychiatric wards. This topic emerged from a growing recognition of the necessity of such interventions in clinical practice and from a partnership between the University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy in Bern and the Bern University of Applied Sciences. The PhD project is embedded within this partnership. 

As her research paper, a systematic review, revealed that there is little evidence for such interventions in this specific setting, she is currently conducting ethnographic research. The aim of this research is to explore the needs of people with dementia hospitalised for behavioural crises, as well as the trajectory of these crises. The results will hopefully provide valuable insights into the requirements for non-pharmacological interventions to reduce neuropsychiatric symptoms, thereby informing their development. 

If you have any questions regarding the PhD programme, please contact Eliane by mail: eliane.baumberger@bfh.ch or eliane.baumberger@upd.ch 

Dr. Niklaus S. Bernet, MScN, RN

Niklaus is a lecturer at the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH) and co-head of the innovation field 'Quality in Healthcare' at the BFH's Research Unit in Nursing. Niklaus has several years of practical experience in acute and long-term care. He completed his PhD at Maastricht University in the Netherlands in 2025. 

In his PhD thesis, entitled 'Fair and meaningful comparison of inpatient fall rates in acute care hospitals', he investigated the topic of risk adjustment with regard to the nursing quality indicator of inpatient falls. His research focused on the method of risk adjustment, as well as the presentation and transfer of risk-adjusted results. His research aimed to enable fair hospital, national and international comparisons, and to establish a trustworthy basis for learning by using robust data sources and meaningful comparisons via a new visualisation approach. Therefore, his thesis contributes to discussion, comparison and learning from the results at institutional, national and international levels, as well as at a scientific level. 

If you have any questions about the PhD programme he completed at Maastricht University, please email Niklaus at: niklausstefan.bernet@bfh.ch 

The thesis can be downloaded here.
 

Dr. Caroline Gurtner, MScN, RN 

Caroline is a lecturer at the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH) and working in the innovation field 'Quality in Healthcare' at the BFH's Research Unit in Nursing. Caroline has several years of practical experience in acute care, both, somatic and psychiatry. She completed her PhD at Maastricht University in the Netherlands in 2025. 

The objective of her PhD thesis, entitled "Exploring Shared Decision Making in Swiss Acute Psychiatric Care", was to enhance comprehension of the transferability of the theoretical concept of shared decision-making (SDM) into clinical psychiatric practice. The research concentrated on the interactions between patients and health professionals, exploring their perspectives and experiences regarding SDM. It also addressed structural and contextual elements of the care environment that influence SDM in acute psychiatric care. The thesis can be downloaded here: Exploring shared decision making in Swiss acute psychiatric care - Maastricht University. 

If you have any questions regarding the PhD programme, please contact Caroline by mail: caroline.gurtner@bfh.ch 

The thesis can be downloaded here.
 

Prof. Dr. Christoph Golz, RN 

Christoph is lecturer and head of the Personnel Development innovation field at Nursing Research Unit of the Bern University of Applied Sciences. He completed his PhD at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands in 2023. His doctoral thesis, titled “Technostress among health professionals: The blame game between health professionals and technology,” delves into the complexities and challenges healthcare workers face in the rapidly evolving digital landscape of their work environment. 

This thesis critically examines the phenomenon of technostress, a significant issue that arises with the introduction of digital solutions in healthcare settings. It highlights how technostress can potentially lead to health issues and increased turnover among health professionals if not appropriately addressed. The research emphasizes the necessity for health professionals to possess robust digital competencies, enabling them to use technology's benefits effectively in their daily operations. Moreover, it underscores the critical importance of thorough preparation for technology implementation in health organizations, emphasizing the need for early and ongoing engagement of end-users to ensure successful integration and minimize stress. 

The thesis can be downloaded here.

If you have any questions regarding her Ph.D. program, please contact Christoph by mail: christoph.golz@bfh.ch  

Dr. Silvia Thomann, MScN, RN 

Silvia is lecturer at Bern University of Applied Sciences and finished her Ph.D. at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands in 2023. She is currently co-leading the innovation field of Quality in Health Care at Nursing Research Unit of BFH. 

The topic of her Ph.D. thesis was restraint use in the somatic acute care hospital setting. She investigated restraint use in hospital settings comprehensively, independently of subpopulations and specific restraint types, and identified influencing factors on different levels. Through knowledge generation and knowledge-transfer, she promoted the conscious rather than the routine use of restraints in hospitals. You can find her thesis under the following link.

If you have any questions regarding her Ph.D. program, please contact Silvia by mail: silvia.thomann@bfh.ch 

Prof. Dr. Friederike J.S. Thilo PhD, RN

Friederike Thilo is a lecturer and head of the innovation field Technology and Health at Bern University of Applied Sciences. She is an experienced nurse and worked at the Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois (CHUV) for almost 10 years. 

Friederike Thilo finished her PhD in Health and Nursing Sciences at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, The Netherlands, in January 2020. The title of her doctoral thesis is ‘Ageing in place safely: Lessons learnt from a multi-perspective immersion into the use and non-use of Personal Safety Alerting Devices’ and addressed the following: Solutions designed to support safe ageing in place are Personal Safety Alerting Devices (PSADs) which can provide rapid assistance after a fall. Unfortunately, older persons are still reluctant to use PSADs. This PhD thesis revealed that the use of a PSAD in daily life of older persons is a complex decision-making process involving the perception of its necessity, which is interwoven with an individual’s ageing, his or her self-perception and the meaning attributed to the device.bInformed decision making requires an iterative and time-intensive negotiation process. This process predominantly involves interaction between older persons, their relatives and community nurses. Nurses and General Practitioners should increase their awareness regarding relevant technology needs and possibilities, to optimize the support of older persons and their relatives with PSAD use, when ageing in place. 

The thesis can be downloaded here.
 

Prof. Dr. Karin Anne Peter PhD, RN

Karin Anne Peter is a lecturer in the area of health care at the Bern University of Applied Sciences and finished her Phd at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands in 2020.

The topic of her Phd thesis was ‘Work-related stress among health professionals working in Swiss hospitals, nursing homes and home care organisations: an analysis of stressors, stress reactions and long-term consequences of stress at work among Swiss health professionals’. Her thesis forms part of the STRAIN project, ‘work-related stress among health professionals in Switzerland’, in which she is also project leader. The STRAIN project is one of the largest current research projects in the Swiss health care system, including over 160 participating organisations with the aim of improving long term working conditions through a standardised intervention with health professional leaders.

The thesis can be downloaded here.

Dr. Birgit Heckemann, PhD, RN 

Birgit Heckemann finished her Phd at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands in 2018. 

Patient and visitor aggression is a major global problem in both mental and general healthcare, with nurses being most affected. The SAVEinH model offers strategies to prevent and manage such aggression at staff and organisational levels, but practical implementation often falls short due to barriers like limited managerial support and weak organisational commitment. This dissertation investigated these challenges in general hospital settings using four studies. Findings showed that aggression management training improves nurses’ knowledge, confidence, de-escalation skills, and awareness—but does not reduce incident rates and offers limited support for emotional coping. Nurse managers play a crucial role in creating safe workplaces, yet often lack training, organisational support, and resources. Their efforts are also hindered by poor communication structures and unsupportive organisational attitudes. Overall, the research highlights the need for stronger organisational commitment, proactive and supportive leadership, better training for nurse managers, and team-focused approaches. Empowering whole teams and strengthening emotional coping skills are promising ways to improve the prevention and management of patient and visitor aggression in healthcare. 

This thesis can be downloaded here.