Katharina Fierz

Prof. Katharina Fierz (PhD, RN) is Director of the Institute of Nursing at ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences and Deputy Director of the School of Health Sciences. She chairs the ZHAW Integrity Office and specializes in advanced nurse practice (ANP) role development, ageing research, and scientific integrity. Her career spans academic leadership at the University of Basel (2012-2018) and clinical roles at University Hospital Basel.

• PhD in Nursing Science (University of Basel, 2012)
• MSc in Nursing (University of Basel, 2003)
• Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing (Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, 1996)

Her research focus includes:

• Nursing care for chronically critically ill patients
• Work-related stress in dementia care environments
• Prevention of scientific misconduct in nursing
• Development of evidence-based ANP roles
• Integration of e-learning in nursing education
• Health services research in long-term care

Her peer-reviewed publications (2013-2024) span topics like HIV symptom management, hepatitis C reinfection prevention, dementia care worker stress, and genetic nursing roles, with methodologies ranging from mixed-methods studies to randomized controlled trials. She has received the SAMS Award 'Interprofessionality' (2016) and Journal of Nursing Scholarship Best of Award (2015) for her work on research misconduct.

As a leader in Swiss nursing academia, she oversees BScN/MScN programs, chairs curriculum committees, and drives initiatives like 'good scientific conduct' education (2008-2017). Her work environment research (e.g., Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice 2023) analyzes stressors in Swiss nursing homes, emphasizing leadership and aggressive behavior's impact on staff.