Welcome to Zollikerberg Hospital

Nursing expertise plays a central role in delivering high-quality, safe and forward-looking healthcare. But what does the term ‘nursing expertise’ actually mean, what tasks do nursing experts undertake in day-to-day hospital life, and how do patients benefit from their work? In this interview, Kathrin Hillewerth provides insights into the importance of evidence-based nursing, the transfer of knowledge between research and practice, and the further development of innovative care models. She explains how nursing expertise helps to continuously improve the quality of care and address the challenges of an increasingly complex healthcare system.

In health research, the questions asked often fail to address patients’ needs. One key way to change this is to involve patients and their experiential knowledge more closely in research. Nevertheless, genuine participation is still far from being the norm.

When Klara Sternenstaub and Ina Schnusel wander through the corridors of Zollikerberg Hospital, they bring more with them than just music, magic and red noses. As visiting clowns, they give patients moments of laughter, connection and respite – right in the midst of what is often a stressful hospital routine. With great sensitivity, they interact with people in very different life situations, experiencing touching, and sometimes quiet, moments that linger long afterwards. In this interview, they explain how they came to do this special work, what they have learnt about people through it, and why a brief moment of light-heartedness can sometimes make such a difference.