dr. N. (Nienke) Bleijenberg
Assistant Professor
- Department of Public Health, Healthcare Innovation & Evaluation and Medical Humanities (PHM)
Contact
Biography
Nienke Bleijenberg, RN, PhD, is an assistant professor Nursing Science at the University Medical Center Utrecht and a professor (In Dutch: Lector) at the University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, the Netherlands. She worked for many years as a district nurse in Utrecht with mostly geriatric patients living at home with high complex care needs. During her work it became apparent to her that scientific knowledge is needed in order to change and improve the care for older people and the gap between knowledge and practice. During her PhD study she developed a multicomponent proactive primary care program to enhance daily functioning of multimorbid, frail older people. In an ambitious randomized controlled trial, 52 primary care centers, over 3000 patients and more than 350 caregivers participated. Moreover, Dr. Bleijenberg developed a training program for the nurses in collaboration with the University of Applied Sciences Utrecht. During her work as a PhD student Nienke completed the Post Graduate Master Epidemiology at Utrecht University. Since 2014 she works one-day a week at Leidsche Rijn Julius Health Care Centers to implement the care program and enhance clinical practice. Since 2012 she is involved as a teacher and coordinator at the master Clinical Health Sciences, Nursing Science (UU). Since 2014 she is a yearly visiting scholar at University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Division of Geriatrics, working with Dr Kenneth Covinsky and Dr Alexander Smith.
Her current research program focuses on the preservation of daily functioning, prevention of acute events, and improving quality of care and patient outcomes of frail older people and those with multimorbidity living at home. Futhermore, she is focusing on the role, impact and patient outcomes of district nursing care. Nienke is a supervisor of 5 PhD students, receveid 11 grants (2.1M) She has published over 30 international peer reviewed publications, 15 practice publications and contributed to three book publications. Her knowledge extends to nursing, geriatrics in primary care, home care, and epidemiology
Nienke is a member of the National Association of Nurses, and a fellow of the European Association of Nursing Scientists. She is currently chair of the research group Care for Older people at the University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, the Netherlands
Side Activities
- Visiting scholar University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Divison of Geriatrics and School of Nursing
- Member of the Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI), Honor Society of Nursing, Rho Chi Chapter at large.
- Member European Academy of Nursing Science (EANS).
- Counselor for the Rho Chi Chapter at large, Nursing Science Utrecht and University Medical Center Utrecht.
- Member European REFLECTION NETWORK for development and evaluation of complex interventions.
Fellowship and Awards
- 2017: Fellow European Academy of Nursing Science (EANS)
- 2016-2018: Fellow in Leadership in Mentoring Nursing Research (LMNR) programme ZonMw: https://www.zonmw.nl/nl/actueel/nieuws/detail/item/als-zorgonderzoeker-moet-je-de-praktijk-heel-goed-kennen/ 2018: Viper presentation award at International Community Care Health Nursing Research (ICCHNR) Conference, Wales.
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Recognition: Proactive Care Program 'Om U' has been listed in top 10 most promising programs in the Common Wealth Fund report: https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2017/sep/designing-high-performing-health-care-system-patients-complex
Research Output (34)
Smit Linda C, Dikken Jeroen, Schuurmans Marieke J, de Wit Niek J, Bleijenberg Nienke 17 nov 2020, In: BMJ Open. 10 , p. e039681
Vergouw Johannes William, Smits-Pelser Hanneke, Kars Marijke C, van Houwelingen Thijs, van Os-Medendorp Harmieke, Kort Helianthe, Bleijenberg Nienke 2020, In: Primary health care research & development. 21
Mueller-Schotte Sigrid, Zuithoff Nicolaas P A, van der Schouw Yvonne T, Schuurmans Marieke J, Bleijenberg Nienke 17 feb 2019, In: Journals of Gerontology Series A-Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. 75 , p. 197-203 7 p.
Blom J. W., Van den Hout W. B., Den Elzen W. P. J., Drewes Y. M., Bleijenberg N., Fabbricotti I. N., Jansen A. P. D., Kempen G. I. J. M., Koopmans R., Looman W. M., Melis R. J. F., Metzelthin S. F., van Charante E. P. Moll, Muntinga M. E., Numans M. E., Ruikes F. G. H., Spoorenberg S. L. W., Stijnen T., Suijker J. J., De Wit N. J., Wynia K., Wind A. W., Gussekloo J. sep 2018, In: Age and Ageing. 47 , p. 705-714 10 p.
Mueller-Schotte Sigrid, Zuithoff Nicolaas P.A., van der Schouw Yvonne T., Schuurmans Marieke J., Bleijenberg Nienke 30 jun 2018, In: Journals of Gerontology Series A-Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. 74 , p. 936-942 7 p.
Smit Linda C., Schuurmans Marieke J., Blom Jeanet W., Fabbricotti Isabelle N., Jansen Aaltje P.D., Kempen Gertrudis I.J.M., Koopmans Raymond, Looman Willemijn M., Melis Rene J.F., Metzelthin Silke F., Moll van Charante Eric P., Muntinga Maaike E., Ruikes Franca G.H., Spoorenberg Sophie L.W., Suijker Jacqueline J., Wynia Klaske, Gussekloo Jacobijn, De Wit Niek J., Bleijenberg Nienke 1 apr 2018, In: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 96 , p. 110-119 10 p.
Bleijenberg Nienke, de Man-van Ginkel Janneke M, Trappenburg Jaap C A, Ettema Roelof G A, Sino Carolien G, Heim Noor, Hafsteindóttir Thóra B, Richards David A, Schuurmans Marieke J 1 feb 2018, In: International Journal of Nursing Studies. 79 , p. 86-93 8 p.
van Lieshout M R J, Bleijenberg N, Schuurmans M J, de Wit N J 2018, In: The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging. 22 , p. 1051-1059 9 p.
Bleijenberg Nienke, Zuithoff NPA, Smith A. K., de Wit N. J., Schuurmans M. J. okt 2017, In: The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging. 21 , p. 897-903 8 p.
Bleijenberg Nienke, Drubbel Irene, Neslo Rabin Ej, Schuurmans Marieke J, ten Dam Valerie H., Numans Mattijs E., de Wit G Ardine, de Wit Niek J 8 aug 2017, In: Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. 18 , p. 1029-1036 8 p.