How can we reduce workload, increase job satisfaction, and at the same time contribute to the retention of nurses and caregivers? These questions are central to the Healthy Start study ‘Samen Sophia’, which launched June 2025.

Erasmus MC Sophia Children’s Hospital is undergoing major changes: a renovation, a new children’s hospital set to open in 2032, and the ambition to organise care in a more standardised and future-proof way. In the coming years, there will also be a strong focus on the development of nurses and caregivers. The ‘Together Sophia’ research was initiated to gain better insight into the factors that influence the job satisfaction, overall wellbeing, and both physical and mental health of these healthcare professionals. The study was set up by Mariska Wildschut-de Heer (Paediatric ICU nurse, PICU) and Tom Ouwehand (Paediatrician – fellow Neonatology, NICU).

What does the study look like?
Participation in the ‘Samen Sophia’ research is voluntary and low-threshold, and consists of two parts:

• A digital questionnaire (approximate 20 minutes to complete).
• A monthly measurement in which participants wear a watch and answer short questions via an app. The watch monitors vital parameters such as heart rate, oxygen saturation, respiration, core temperature, sleep, and physical activity.

Nurses and caregivers working within the Sophia Children’s Hospital will receive an invitation via email. Participants will receive financial compensation for both parts of the study. The study will be repeated annually. It has been approved by the Medical Ethics Review Committee of Erasmus MC. All data is processed anonymously and used exclusively for scientific research.

Foundation for improvement
Through this study, the team hopes to gain a clear understanding of what is needed to create a stimulating and supportive work environment for nurses and caregivers at Sophia. Their experiences and perspectives are of great value in shaping sustainable improvements to the work climate and ultimately enhancing the quality of care.

“Only together can we create a healthy workplace. Every experience matters” says Mariska de Heer-Wildschut, Paediatric ICU nurse and co-researcher.

More information

Nurses and caregivers will receive a personal invitation by email.

Would you like to participate, or do you have questions? Visit the link below or please contact samensophia@erasmusmc.nl