Student Spotlight: Joint Master’s Thesis by Marthe Masselus and Fien Keymolen
- METIS Team
- Inside METIS
The transition from education to professional practice is a critical moment in any healthcare career. Within the METIS project, student research helps shed light on how this transition can be better supported.
Marthe Masselus and Fien Keymolen, Master’s students in Healthcare Management and Policy at Ghent University and both qualified nurses, are exploring how onboarding for nurses and midwives is organised in hospitals across West and East Flanders in Belgium in a joint masters thesis.
Why onboarding matters
Early career experiences shape confidence, competence, and long-term retention. Strong onboarding can support integration and skill development, while gaps may contribute to stress or early exit from the profession. These two students are researching current onboarding practices across hospitals, focusing on:
- How onboarding programmes are structured
- What support systems exist for new professionals
- Where inconsistencies or challenges arise
Connecting to METIS
Supervised by Dr. Mieke Embo and Rebecca De Beir, their work aligns closely with METIS goals to strengthen transition into practice through structured onboarding, mentorship, and digital tools.
Looking ahead
Marthe Masselus and Fien Keymolen’s research is a two-year project with thesis defense expected in June 2027. As their research progresses, it will provide practical insights to help improve how healthcare professionals are supported at the start of their careers, and ultimately strengthen workforce retention.
