Former EAUN Chair elected AAN Fellow
Bente Thoft Jensen, Aarhus (DK)
(photo ©2017 Edwin van Wijk)
The EAUN wants to congratulate Bente Thoft Jensen, RN, MPH, PhD, Department of Urology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, on her election as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (AAN). The virtual induction of Bente Thoft as a Fellow into the American Academy of Nursing took place on 31 October last and was live-streamed. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Festive event in the United States, during the AAN conference had to be cancelled this year, unfortunately.
Bente has been working in the EAUN since 2007. During these 13 years, she has contributed to the development of urology nursing in many different roles: as chair of EAUN, member of the Scientific Congress Office, developing guidelines, and recently as chair of the Special Interest Group on Bladder cancer. Bente also takes part in developing patient information with the EAU.
Bente’s ability to network and create essential collaborations globally is remarkable. Bente met Nora Love in 2008 at a Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates (SUNA) meeting in Philadelphia, where Bente represented the European society as President of the EAUN. Our colleague Nora states: “I was impressed with her work with Bladder Cancer patients; I could only imagine what it would be like to work in partnership with such a force. Who would have thought our paths would cross again one year later in Stockholm at the 10th International EAUN Meeting. There, we talked about our patients’ similarities, despite the difference in geography, politics, socioeconomics, and healthcare policy. Connecting again that year in Chicago at the SUNA meeting, we collaborated on a comparison study of cystectomy patients and their nutrition assessment as it affects the length of stay. This study indicated that our patients were comparable, leading to replicating Bente’s
prehabilitation study at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK).
Bente accepted a 7-month Surgical Fellowship at MSK, where we conducted the study culminating in a presentation at the American Urological Association and a publication in Urologic Nursing.”
In addition to conducting research while at MSK, Bente also mentored the urology nurses to become more involved and elevate their practice. This mentoring included supporting nurses with research, presenting At international conferences, publishing, and completing advanced degrees. The urology nurses now better understand their patients and how a nurse can influence outcomes through data analysis and evidence-based practice.
Collaborations continue here in the United States with colleagues at Mt. Sinai Hospital, including Dr. Nihal Mohamed, leading to additional work in the bladder patient’s unmet needs and quality of life, always advancing nursing practice to the highest quality of care. Presently, Bente is co-chairing a multinational group working on a systematic review of pre- and post-habilitation. Once again, driving urology nurse initiatives on a global scale to improve patient care.
In being elected as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), Bente truly exemplifies this prestigious institute’s tenets, enhancing the quality of healthcare and nursing. Through her unwavering commitment to quality care, Bente has strengthened nursing and health delivery systems nationally and internationally.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
- Susanne Vahr, RN, MEd, PhD, Chair EAUN, Copenhagen (DK), s.vahr@eaun.org
- Nora Love-Retinger, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York (US)