PhD, MScN, RN. Associate professor at Forensic Mental Health Research Unit Middelfart (RFM), Department of Regional Health Research, Faculty of Health Science, University of Southern Denmark & Psychiatric dept. Middelfart, Mental Health Services in the Region of Southern Denmark.
Research areas: Service user and caregivers/family members experience, support and involvement of caregivers/family members, caregivers/family members life circumstances, restrictive practices, conflict situations, staff transition, recruitment and retention of staff, qualitative research, symbolic interactionism, thematic and content analysis, qualitative evidence synthesis.
Ellen has published in both national and international journals, book chapters, posters on subjects such as family members experiences with mental health care, involvement of caregivers in both forensic and general mental health, experiences of restrictive practices, interventions to reduce restrictive practices, nursing staff’s transition to both forensic and general mental health and developed research-based transition and mentoring programs for newly employed nursing staff in mental health settings. Additionally, Ellen has published methodological papers about literature searches and qualitative methods of analysis. Ellen has achieved an substantial degree of research funding over the last 10 years .
Ellen has extensive teaching experience at Bachelor, Masters and Ph.D. level as well as being an experienced supervisor of Bachelor, Masters and PhD students.
Ellen is engaged in several national and international research networks and initiatives, including being daily leader of Center for Psychiatric Nursing and Health Research (CPS) and an active member of The Danish Psychiatric Nursing Research Network (DPSN). Together with her research colleague from Gent University in Belgium, Ellen has taken the initiative to an International Special Interest Group (SIG) on Family Engagement in forensic mental health care under the auspices of the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services (IAFMHS). The SIG includes academics, family peers and practitioners from around the globe aiming to build a foundation for research, training, education and the exchange of knowledge on family engagement in forensic mental healthcare.