Birgit Schönfelder

Lecturer & Researcher | University for Applied Science Wiener Neustadt | Visiting researcher at Karl Landsteiner University | Austria

I´m interested in joining the ICoP for different reasons. First, I have a strong research interest in Person-centredness. I have been working on research projects with Prof Hanna Mayer for several years and am currently involved in three projects, two of which are in collaboration with Prof Tanya McCance. My focus is on the development of person-centred cultures and in person-centred nursing / person-centred practice development in nursing. My PhD focuses on improving the usability of the iMPAKT app by developing an AI to analyse patient stories - one of the key data sources in the measurement framework. Regarding practice development I recently completed successfully the basic seminar on practice development at the University Hospital Basel (CH) and the University Hospital Zurich (CH). Through my work I aim to promote a person-centred culture based on engagement, authenticity and respect.

Second, I am confident that the networking within both ICoP and SICoP would be particularly valuable, and I would greatly appreciate this opportunity. I am more than willing to participate in collaborations within the networks or publications. I am currently working with a fellow researcher on a project about person-centred workplace culture and practice development, led by Prof. Mayer. I also have the honour of working with Prof. McCance and her team on the translation of the iMPAKT app and on my doctoral thesis. I am eager to bring these experiences to the organisation to foster knowledge exchange.

Third, at the University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt, we are committed to Person-centeredness as a core principle of our Bachelor nursing program.  We teach and foster Person-centeredness in our lectures and strive to adopt a person-centred approach to teaching. We continuously enhance our curricula in accordance with the Person-Centered Curriculum Framework developed by Prof Brendan McCormack and his colleagues.