Personal profile
Biography
Dr. Heleen Westland is assistant professor at the Julius Center, University Medical Center Utrecht. She worked as a (senior) registered nurse (2001-2008) and a clinical nurse leader (2008-2012) at the cardiology/cardiothoracic surgery department. She obtained her Master of Science Degree in Nursing Science (2009, cum laude) and Epidemiology (2018) at the Utrecht University. In 2019, she obtained her PhD at the Utrecht University focusing on self-management support by nurses of patients with a chronic condition.
She continued her scientific career as an assistant professor focusing on understanding and optimizing patients’ self-management of their chronic condition to improve personalized support and patients’ outcomes.
Currently, dr. Westland is investigating how to optimize the support of patients with heart failure in monitoring and managing their symptoms (senior scientist Dekkerbeurs, Dutch Heart Foundation, 2023).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/heleen-westland-7561b310/
Keywords: General Practice & Nursing Science, self-care, self-management, cardiovascular health, heart failure
Trefwoorden: Huisartsgeneeskunde & Verplegingswetenschap, zelfzorg, zelfmanagement, cardiovasculaire gezondheid, hartfalen
Education/Academic qualification
University Teaching Qualification (BKO), Academy UMC Utrecht
Award Date: 1 Oct 2021
Master Epidemiology postgraduate, Utrecht University
Award Date: 1 Dec 2018
Master in Nursing Science (cum laude), Utrecht University
Award Date: 1 Oct 2009
Bachelor in Nursing
Award Date: 1 Sept 2001
External positions
Bestuurslid - Bestuur - NVHVV
15 Jan 2026 → 31 Dec 3999
Editorial Board member - Reviewen van aangeboden manuscripten op geschiktheid voor publicatie in het journal, board meetings - European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing
1 Jan 2022 → 31 Dec 3999
Keywords
- RT Nursing
- self-management
- self-care
- chronic illness
- General Practice & Nursing Science
- heart failure
- cardiovascular health
- Huisartsgeneeskunde & Verplegingswetenschap
- hartfalen
- cardiovasculaire gezondheid
- zelfmanagement
- zelfzorg
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
-
Experiences and Expectations of Hospitalised Patients Undergoing Negative Pressure Wound Therapy With Instillation: A Qualitative Study
Nanninga, A., Westland, H., Orsini, R. G., Boermeester, M. A., Eskes, A. M. & Groenen, H., Mar 2026, In: Scandinavian journal of caring sciences. 40, 1, e70203.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Downloads (Pure) -
Incorporating co-design in cardiovascular research: tips, tricks, and tools
Pettersson, S., Allemann, H., Grice-Jackson, T., Holstein, J., Westland, H. & Jaarsma, T., Jan 2026, In: European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. 25, 1, p. 203-210 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
The comparative efficacy of comprehensive self-care interventions in chronic illness: An updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Lee, C. S., Antoniadou, M., Jaarsma, T., Riegel, B. & Westland, H., Jun 2026, In: International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances. 10, 30 p., 100476.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Downloads (Pure) -
Barriers and facilitators for the implementation of co-created nursing innovations in a Dutch university hospital
van der Zanden, M., Helder, O., Westland, H. & Ista, E., 1 Apr 2025, In: JBI evidence implementation. 23, 2, p. 190-200 11 p., 444.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile35 Downloads (Pure) -
Examination of pediatric nurses' attitudes on shared decision making with children and parents in Dutch hospitals, a cross-sectional study
Van Bakel, M., Gerdes, O., Raap-Van Sleuwen, B., Westland, H., Van Den Broek, S., Akkermans, R. & Heinen, M., Nov 2025, In: Journal of pediatric nursing. 85, p. 631-638 8 p., doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2025.09.024.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile51 Downloads (Pure)