Across Europe, healthcare systems are under pressure. Staff shortages, rising workloads, and limited career prospects are pushing many nurses to the brink. In Germany, policymakers and hospitals alike see academic career paths for nurses as part of the solution. But turning this ambition into everyday practice is a challenge. 

At Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Europe’s largest university hospital, organization scholar Patrizia Hoyer studied what happens when political visions meet clinical reality. Through in-depth interviews with nurses, doctors, and managers, her research reveals a significant gap. 

In September, Hoyer presented her findings to a large audience at Charité, including hospital board members. The discussion made clear that strengthening nursing careers is not only a matter of education, but also of organizational culture and interprofessional trust. 

Together with the Charité’s partners, Hoyer is developing accessible science communication to “bust myths” around academic nursing, such as the myth that academic nurses would leave bedside care or disrupt team dynamics. Additionally, a VU Amsterdam master’s student is currently conducting three months of in-depth fieldwork at Charité, strengthening collaboration between research, education and practice. As Hoyer puts it: “Academic career paths only make a difference if they work for everyone involved – and that requires open conversation, not assumptions.”