Strategic direction

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

1. Research Funding (Leads: Anne Williams and Karen Cox)

Clarify the role of the RCN with regard to

  1. securing sustainable funding streams to support the nursing contribution to the healthcare research and development endeavour nationally and internationally
  2. influencing research commissioning agendas in order to develop a robust evidence base to support nursing policy and practice

Possible Action

  1. Map coalitions important to be part of and necessary connections to be made
  2. Identify key stakeholders and agendas the RCN should seek to influence
  3. Map key UK research policy / scientific boards and identify the level of nursing representation Determine where, how and by whom health and social care research priorities are established and their relationship to the concerns of nursing practice
  4. Scope health and social care research funding sources and current knowledge of the success of nursing in the research funding stakes compared to other health care disciplines
  5. Map international nursing research policy landscape
  6. Determine where and how nursing research priorities are currently developed across the UK and what they are

2. Research Workforce (Leads: Tanya McCance, Kate Niven, Hugh McKenna)

Clarify the role of the RCN with regard to

  1. developing nursing research capacity and capability to undertake and utilise research
  2. developing political leadership within nursing for research
  3. providing media training for research leaders
  4. developing and implementing 'clinical-academic' career pathways within the nursing professions

3. 'The Missing Middle' - RCN Unique Selling Point (Leads: Val Woodward, Tony Butterworth)

Clarify the role of the RCN with regard to

  1. acting as a catalyst between Higher Education Institutions and Health Care Providers
  2. relationship building between Nurse leaders in Higher Education Institutions and within Health Care Providers
  3. developing a Directory of Centres which have a research and innovation culture / support the research and innovation endeavour "suitable for research activity"

4. Research Impact (Leads: Caroline Shuldham, Anne-Marie Rafferty, Sarah Buckland)

Clarify the role of the RCN with regard to

  1. achieving recognition of the political capital of research within nursing
  2. developing a communications strategy / public engagement agenda for research within nursing ("need a P.R campaign to shift the 'ancient burdens'" / "achieve a transformation of the image of research in nursing" / link to careers and recruitment c.f. NHS Employers media management / need much better intelligence around current research activity / "RCN should think beyond that which it owns").
  3. developing a directory of media trained research experts

Possible Action

  1. Determine whether the impact of health and social care research on the media and policy is related to the topics researched by nurses or the methodologies used.
  2. Review methods for assessing and increasing the media impact of nursing research and development
  3. Review methods for assessing and increasing the impact of nursing research on health and social care policy

5. Governance / Sustainability of Research Agenda within the RCN (Leads: Kate Gerrish, Ann McMahon)

Clarify the role of the RCN with regard to

  1. ensuring the sustainability of the Research Agenda within nursing and within the RCN
  2. supporting national and regional research networks