Brain City Ambassador: Prof. Dr. Phil Annerose Bohrer

Brain City Berlin

Her focus is on educational research and vocational didactics. Dr. Phil. Annerose Bohrer is Professor of Nursing and Health Science and Vocational Didactics at the Evangelische Hochschule Berlin (Protestant University of Applied Sciences Berlin) and Head of the Bachelor of Nursing Programme. Before her scientific career, she gained practical experience as a nurse in intensive care, but also as an editor in a specialist publishing house.

The learning processes and educational pathways of trainees and students in the nursing profession at universities and schools, as well as in professional practice, are the subject of Prof. Dr. Phil. Annerose Bohrer at the Protestant University of Applied Sciences Berlin (Evangelische Hochschuler Berlin, EHB). “A central question for me is how nursing trainees and nursing students experience learning in professional practice, what motivates and challenges them and how they can be well supported by teachers or practical instructors,” says the Brain City Ambassador. Another exciting aspect of research is the increasing diversity of learners. “Trainees and students are currently more aware of their individual learning needs. Now it is about finding out which learning opportunities are right for them.”

Annerose Bohrer herself also started her career by training in nursing. The impressive experiences she had back then motivate her to this day. “The nursing profession confronts existential questions: questions of quality of life, self-determination, health and illness or dying and death. In order to develop a standing as a nurse and to be professionally effective in health care, good learning support is needed from the beginning. To contribute to a highly professional and innovative educational development in the nursing profession – for me personally that is very valuable.”

Since 2019, Annerose Bohrer has headed the CurAP project, which is funded by the Senate Department for Higher Education and Research, Health, Long-Term Care and Gender Equality. The project offers extensive support to Berlin nursing schools and practical facilities. She is also gathering empirical-qualitative data on the heterogeneity of learners in nursing training together with her colleague, Prof. Dr Sandra Altmeppen. “We are interested in how teachers and practical instructors in Berlin perceive their trainees in their diversity and what opportunities and challenges arise in professional practice.”

It is very easy in Berlin jointly to advance development processes on learning, education and competence development in nursing education.”

In order to exploit cross-border synergies, Annerose Bohrer and her team are also working through CurAP with similar projects at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus – Senftenberg (btu) and the Dresden University of Technology. “For example, we organise joint specialist conferences, such as the last one in June 2022 under the title 'Our learners are diverse – how do we shape diverse learning opportunities?'. These projects concern development work in cooperation with many nursing school teams, but also with institutions in professional practice. In this way, close connections and a transfer of knowledge between the practical fields and the university are created.”

Annerose Bohrer has lived in Berlin since 2008. “I came to Berlin through an exciting position on the Bachelor of Nursing degree program at the EHB,” she says. After her doctorate, she received an appointment as Professor of Nursing and Health Science at the EHB. She had previously lived and worked in Münster: first as a nurse at the University Hospital in Münster, then as a student of nursing education. She also worked as an editor in a specialised publishing house for five years. A well-founded education, through which she combines practical experience with research to this day.

Brain City Berlin is an ideal location for the nursing scientist. “There are many stakeholders with incredible expertise in the field of health professions and vocational didactics within easy reach. It is very easy in Berlin jointly to advance development processes on learning, education and competence development in nursing education,” says Annerose Bohrer. In addition, she appreciates the city because it is lively, open, dynamic and varied. “I like being by the water or in the countryside, Berlin offers a lot of opportunities for that. At the same time, there is a rich spectrum of culture, educational and meeting spaces here.”

Annerose Bohrer recommends that young female and male scientists who want to start a career in science in Berlin should network from the very beginning. This is because the Brain City Ambassador knows this from her own experience: “Personal relationships and support systems are created at the same time through professional networks. And these are extremely important for your own professional, personal and career development.” (vdo)