Fringe programme
Tuesday 24 March 2009
Novice Researchers
Presenters: Professor Barbara Jack, Head of Research and Scholarship, Edge Hill University and Dr Charles Hendry, Senior Lecturer, University of Dundee
Sponsor: RCN Research Society
Time: 12.45 - 13.50
This fringe event is aimed at nurses based in clinical and academic settings - who are in the early stages of undertaking research or who may be planning to start a research project. The research road can be very long and winding with plenty of road works to stop you in your tracks. In the early stages of undertaking research this can be a journey in which a little help, direction and support can be of great value.
The purpose of this event is to establish what may be of help to you on the research journey. Additionally the last 5 years fringe events have provided feedback to the Research Society Steering Committee as to what help nurse researchers need.
The aims of this event are to enable you to:
- meet with others at a similar stage of their research development
- share experiences
- find out what help is available
- meet new people and network
So come along and meet us at this event and you never know you might find the exact help that you were looking for.
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The Implications of Telecare and Telehealth for Health and Well-being at Home
Presenter: Dr Malcolm J. Fisk, Chairman, Telecare Services Association
Sponsor: RCN Research Society
Time: 12.45 - 13.50
The session will explore ways of delivering health and social care at home mediated by telecommunications technologies. The focus is on telecare and telehealth and the contributions that they are beginning to make in relation to medication compliance and neurological conditions such as dementia and epilepsy. Over 200 telecare services now operate throughout the UK with increasing numbers being accredited to the Code of Practice developed by the Telecare Services Association. The role of such services is emerging in a context where it is possible to support and empower, at home, a wide range of people with chronic or acute conditions. Recent research and pilot initiatives are drawn upon and the implications for the way that traditional services are delivered are considered. A key focus is at the interface of health and social care; and the way that social care staff are increasingly supporting healthcare agendas.
Target audience = Community based nurses and those involved in hospital discharge.
Key outcomes = Greater awareness among community based nurses of developing services and service approaches that can underpin agendas concerned with health and well-being. A stimulus for nursing staff to make the links with telecare service providers in the areas where they work.
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Celebrating 50 years of nursing research
Presenters: Professor Kate Gerrish, Professor of Nursing, Sheffield Hallam University / Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHSFT and Chair, RCN Research Society
Sponsor: RCN Research Society
Time: 12.45 - 13.50
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Research Society of the Royal College of Nursing. The wider conference programme provides the opportunity to showcase the very latest nursing research. However, our half century also provides the opportunity to reflect on the considerable achievements of nurse researchers over the past five decades. By way of celebration members of the current Research Society Steering Group would like to invite you to step back in time, and hear about some influential research studies from the past.
Research Society members will share what in their personal opinion have been the most significant pieces of research. Two studies from each decade will be outlined and a case made for their impact on nursing practice, nurse education, or nursing policy. You, the audience, will then have the chance to vote for what you consider to be the most influential study. This will set the scene for a wider electronic consultation to identify the 50 most influential nursing research studies. So will it be a study from the swinging 60s, the awesome 80s or the new millennium - come and have your say!
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Wednesday 25 March 2009
Breakfast debate: This house believes that the Professional Doctorate is of equal standing to a PhD by research and contends recent policy agendas which imply this is not the case.
Chair: Tony Butterworth, Emeritus Professor, Chair of the Academy for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting Research (UK) and Non-Executive Director, NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement
Sponsor: Journal of Research in Nursing and NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement
Time: 08.00 - 09.00
- Proposer: Derek Sillman, University of the West of England, Bristol
- Seconder: Andree Le May, Southampton University
- Opposer: Veronica Bishop, Journal of Research in Nursing
- Seconder: Dawn Freshwater, University of Leeds
This fringe event will provide an exciting, contentious and potentially explosive opportunity for academics, researchers, educationalists and practitioners to debate the relative merits, status and utility of the Professional Doctorate in Nursing and other healthcare professions.
Referring back to the historical development of nursing and AHP'S as academic disciplines, and the drive to move the profession forward in regard to it's credibility as a research led and evidence based discipline, the panel will debate the recent UK policy agenda that seeks to modernize careers in health. Given the expanding numbers of nurses and AHP's (and from a wide variety of backgrounds) who now embark upon a research degree, it is questionable that a 'one size fits all' approach offered by the traditional PhD route continues to be appropriate. The panel will place such developments in an international context and examine the impact of the the Professional Doctorate in relation to the clinical academic careers framework and indeed the changing nature if both healthcare practice and professions.
References:
- UKCRC Subcommittee for Nurses in Clinical Research (Workforce) 2007, Developing the best research professionals. Qualified graduate nurses: recommendations for preparing
and supporting clinical academic nurses of the future, UKCRC, London. - Department of Health 2008, High quality care for all. NHS Next Stage Review, DH, June 2008
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Ouch! Developing and updating the RCN guideline on the recognition and assessment of acute pain in children
Presenters: Dr Jenny Gordon and Chris Watts, RCN Learning & Development Institute
Sponsor: RCN Learning & Development Institute
Time: 13.20 - 14.20
The RCN has recently completely revised and updated its guideline on the recognition and assessment of acute pain in children. Through a systematic review and appraisal of the available literature, the revised guideline identifies reliable and valid tools for measuring pain intensity in children, and includes a new section for measuring pain in children with cognitive impairments.
This event is an opportunity for nurses and other related professionals to learn about the processes involved in developing guidelines of this nature; including literature searching, appraising evidence, and working with a Guideline Development Group and other stakeholders to produce reports and implementation material. The event will demonstrate how this examination of evidence and consultation with experts leads to the establishment of key recommendations and areas of good practice. The event will also describe the techniques used to validate paediatric pain assessment tools in different settings, and how these findings are transformed into learning and information resources.
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Targeting committee membership for greatest effect
Presenters: Professor Annie Topping, Professor of Health and Social Care, University of Huddersfield (and Vice Chair, RCN Research Society), Dr Ann McMahon, RCN Research & Development Adviser, and Mr Dave O'Carroll, Information Manager, RCN Research & Development Co-ordinating Centre
Sponsor: RCN Research Society and RCN R&D Co-ordinating Centre
Time: 13.20 - 14.20
Influencing decision making is a key role for any interest group such as the RCN Research Society. It has an important part to play in engaging and challenging policy making in relation to health research infrastructure, management, funding allocation and governance. To participate means being recognised as part of the natural constituency. Unfortunately nursing and nurses have not always been included in membership of key committee structures that manage, allocate and exert influence on government in relation to research and enterprise. This exclusion may well be a consequence of poor communication that failed to consistently influence health research decision-making processes.
The RCN Research Society is currently undertaking a scoping exercise to identify nurse membership on research decision-making committee structures. This information seeking work is exploring national (four country) and local bodies in order to identify gaps and ensure existing members are informed of professional agendas.
This Fringe will provide a forum to present that fact finding work in order to obtain clear direction for targeting. This Society workstream is timely given the evidence of the maturity of nursing as a research active discipline (RAE2008) with the capability to take its rightful place and importantly contribute to decision-making in health research.
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RCN Doctoral Support Network
Presenters: Dr Angela Grainger, Assistant Director of Nursing (Education and Research), King's College Hospital and Steering Committee member, RCN Research Society & Dr Val Woodward, Senior Lecturer, University of Plymouth and Steering Committee member, RCN Research Society
Sponsor: RCN Research Society
Time: 13.20 - 14.20
If you are undertaking a doctorate whether this is by a taught programme, a Ph.D., or by publication, or are thinking of undertaking doctoral level study, or perhaps you are a novice or an experienced supervisor, then why not join us to hear about the new on-line community support and interest network. We want to hear your views on this, and on what you would like to see featured in our forthcoming one-day conference event, along with any other suggestions you have to make doctoral study less of an experience of 'the loneliness of the long-distance runner'.
This fringe is also an opportunity to air and share thoughts on the Bologna recommendations, which could change some long-established British ways in the Ph.D. registration process, and examination.
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National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Consultation on the Topic Selection Process for Technology Appraisals
Presenter: Dr Andrea Nelson, Reader, University of Leeds and Steering Committee member, RCN Research Society and Caroline Rapu, Royal College of Nursing
Sponsor: RCN Research Society
Time: 13.20 - 14.20
NICE is the independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on the promotion of good health and the prevention and treatment of ill health.
NICE develops four forms of guidance:
- Technology appraisal guidance (on the use of specific health interventions, pharmaceuticals, devices and treatments within the NHS).
- Clinical guidelines (on the appropriate treatment and care of people with specific diseases and conditions within the NHS).
- Guidance on the safety and efficacy of interventional procedures.
- Public health guidance to improve health, prevent disease and reduce health inequalities.
Topics for technology appraisals, clinical guidelines and public health guidance are referred to NICE by the Secretary of State for Health. NICE is consulting about the process for selecting technology appraisal topics. These include new pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, devices and diagnostics.
The aim of the topic selection process is to ensure that appropriate topics are selected so that NICE guidance is relevant, timely and addresses priority issues that will help improve the health of the population.
NICE is seeking views on some proposed changes to the way in which technology appraisal topics are selected for referral to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
This fringe will summarise the way in which topics are currently referred to NICE, outline the proposals and invite comments from the attendees regarding their perceived value. The comments will be fed into the formal NICE consultation.
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The Academy of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Visiting Research - an Introduction
Presenter: Professor Tony Butterworth, Inaugural chair, Academy of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting Research (UK)
Sponsor: RCN Research Society
Time: 13.20 - 14.20
The Academy of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting Research (UK) was launched on the 26th February 2009. The Academy has been established as a collaborative enterprise between the Royal College of Nursing, UNITE-Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association, the Royal College of Midwives, The Council of Deans for Health, the Nurse Directors group of the Association of UK University Hospitals, the Association for Leaders in Nursing, the Queens Nursing Institute, Mental Health Nurse Academics UK, the UK Clinical Research Facility Network and Nurses in Primary Care Research.
Why you should come to this fringe event.
- You will hear about the work that the Academy intends to undertake in the next 2 year period
- You will meet some of the work stream leaders
- You can make a contribution to the work of the Academy (we will listen!)
- You will understand more of the ambitions of the Academy and help to influence our work
- You will receive a free booklet produced by the Academy - Voices of Experience
Please see the Academy website for more information
Website: http://www.researchacademy.co.uk/
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Thursday 26 March 2009
How do we assess the quality of published research?
Presenters: Professor Alison Tierney, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Advanced Nursing with Professor Martin Johnson, Professor in Nursing, University of Salford, Professor Dawn Freshwater, Dean of School of Healthcare, University of Leeds, Professor Roger Watson, Professor of Nursing, University of Sheffield
Sponsor: RCN Research Society
Time: 13.20 - 14.20
Measures such as Impact Factor (IF) and citation indices were not used in the recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008), but it is likely that bibliometrics will play an increasing role in the future for assessing the quality of published research. So we need to understand what IF tells us (and what it does not) and also become knowledgeable about other bibliometrics and how they could help us to assess the quality of published nursing research. That is the purpose of this session. It will take the form of several short presentations from a foursome with lots of experience of research publishing, both as researchers and as journal editors, as well as having served on the nursing panel in the last two RAEs. The session is targeted at anyone who wants to understand a bit more about bibliometrics - perhaps useful preparation for Friday's Breakfast Debate - and who wants to contribute to what is intended to be an open and formative discussion about the role of bibliometrics in nursing research.
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Essential Research Nurse Training
Presenters: Kelly Gleason, CR UK Senior Research Nurse, Imperial College and Gareth Hayes, European Head of Training and Personal Development, Phlex Global
Sponsor: RCN Research Society
Time: 13.20 - 14.20
The aim of this event is to emphasize the importance of training for research nurses as it is a specialised role requiring specialist knowledge and skill. It will target those who are interested in the field of clinical research, those who are or have just started in a clinical research post and those who manage research nurses but who may or may not be involved in clinical research.
The event will attempt to highlight the areas where specialist knowledge and skill is required and how nurses can acquire good working practice in the area of clinical research. We hope to present a breakdown of the role and indentify the fundamentals when starting in research.
During the event, we hope to discuss the various pathways available to nurses working in clinical research to help them to see that these posts do not have to be stepping stones in their careers but an area where they can grow professionally throughout their entire career. This may also help managers to better mentor research nurses when it comes to professional development. This will hopefully also highlight the need for strong leadership in this growing field which presents so many exciting opportunities for nurses to acquire specialist knowledge in a clinical area as well as learning about legislation governing clinical research, management of clinical trials/studies and new skills in communication, negotiation, time management, organisation, prioritisation and complex problem solving.
We have developed a one day course for research nurses to help them to see their role clearly outlined and to identify the basic knowledge and skills needed to develop a good working practice in the field of clinical research. This course can be promoted at the Fringe Event but we are also happy to promote the need to good training for research nurses, as they play a key role in the success of clinical research but are often a forgotten group when it comes to adequate preparation for the role.
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RCN (Wales) Research and Development Network: The Role of the Clinician in Clinical Academic Careers in Wales
Presenters: Professor Joyce Kenkre, Professor of Primary Care, University of Glamorgan, Mr Gareth Phillips, Chair RCN Welsh Board and Council member for RCN Wales, Jacqueline Fitzgerald, Chair RCN (Wales) R&D Network
Sponsor: RCN Welsh Board
Time: 13.20 - 14.20
In Modernising Nursing Careers: Setting the Direction (DH 2006) each of the four countries of the UK has considered what structures are required to support practitioners once qualified including careers in research. Areas of work have already been completed including the publication by UKCRC (2007) "Developing the best research professionals. Qualified graduate nurses: recommendations for preparing and supporting clinical academic nurses of the future".
This event includes four short presentations aimed at promoting discussion regarding the recent "Post Registration Career Framework for Nurses in Wales" (WAG 2009) focusing on:
- How the clinical academic roles for nurses, midwives and health visitors in Wales have been conceptualized in terms of the nursing, health and social care policies and research strategy in Wales
- Exploring structural and process issues facing the implementation of clinical academic roles
- Explore the clinical researcher profiles relating to Agenda for Change, including
competences, research nurse job profiles and job descriptions - From the Bay to the Bedside: The role of clinician in nursing and healthcare research in Wales. The target audience will be nurses currently involved or interested in a career that involves research.
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Get a life? Can virtual networking enhance real-world research
Presenters: Professor Carol Haigh, Manchester Metropolitan University, Mr Mike Wakeman, Royal College of Nursing and Mr Leon Hughes, Royal College of Nursing
Sponsor: RCN Research Society and RCN Digital Communications Department
Time: 13.20 - 14.20
Know your Second Life from your Facebook, Twitter from your Flick'r? Social networking sites are becoming increasingly prevalent. Once seen as the exclusive domain of disaffected teenagers, they are now being harnessed by academia and business as a efficient and effective way of managing national and global collaborations. The purpose of this fringe is to explore the potential of virtual realities and digital communications for nursing research in the 21st century.
This fringe will be introduced by Mike Wakeman and Leon Hughes, from the RCN Digital Communications Department, and Carol Haigh, Professor in Nursing from Manchester Metropolitan University. Mike and Leon will talk about recent developments within the RCN and Carol will offer insights upon how social networking can improve the research experience and widen the perspective on nursing research making it a richer and more informativeexperience.
However, the purpose of the fringe is to share research innovations that have been rooted in the online world and to debate whether this is an important evolution within the research environment or another academic fad that distracts researchers from the real focus of their activities.
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Clinical Academic Career Development in Nursing Midwifery and Allied Health Professions: an afternoon with Dr David Foster, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, Department of Health (England).
Presenter: David Foster, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, Department of Health (England)
Sponsor: RCN Research Society
Time: 16.00 - 18.00
In the session Dr David Foster will give a brief overview of national developments in research in the UK with specific reference to the implementation of the 'Finch Report' (UKCRC Subcommittee for Nurses in Clinical Research (Workforce) 2007). Following his presentation Dr Foster will provide a surgery session to deal with any specific questions or issues delegates would like to raise. To register for a session, either individually or in small groups, you must reserve a place on the day via the conference notice board.
Reference
UKCRC Subcommittee for Nurses in Clinical Research (Workforce) 2007, Developing the best research professionals. Qualified graduate nurses: recommendations for preparing
and supporting clinical academic nurses of the future, UKCRC, London
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Friday 27 March 2009
Breakfast debate: This house believes that research should be published with the highest impact factor journals
Chair: Jane Salvage, Independent health consultant and author, Visiting Professor, Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, King's College London
Sponsor: Nursing Standard and Nurse Researcher
Time: 08.30 - 09.15
- Proposer: Professor Michael Traynor, Trevor Clay Professor of Nursing Policy and Head of Centre for Research in Healthcare Practice and Policy, Middlesex University
- Seconder: Professor Kate Seers, Director, RCN Research Institute, School of Health and Social Studies, University of Warwick
- Opposer: Diana Mason, Editor-in-Chief, American Journal of Nursing
- Seconder: Elizabeth Anionwu, Emeritus Professor of Nursing, Thames Valley University
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Raising the profile of nursing research within Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) communities: the Mary Seacole Leadership and Development Awards - a view from the inside
Presenters: Ofrah Muflahi, Haemoglobinopathies Nurse/ Counsellor/Educator, Dudley PCT (and current Mary Seacole winner), Gloria Urhoma, Practice Development Midwife, Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (and current Mary Seacole winner), Pamela Shaw, Health Visitor/Practice Educator, Wakefield District PCT (and current Mary Seacole winner), Professor Laura Serrant-Green, Professor of Nursing, University of Lincoln (and past Mary Seacole winner)
Sponsor: RCN Research & Development Co-ordinating Centre and RCN Events
Time: 13.15 - 14.10
The purpose of this fringe is to provide a networking opportunity and information forum for optimizing nursing and health care research involvement with Black and minority ethnic (BME) communities.
The fringe will explore the importance of working with the BME community to advance health and care developments from the expereinces of previous award winners and their research. An overview of the Mary Seacole awards will be included with the main aim of encouraging applications from practitioners. This award is one of the few awards ring-fenced for the nursing, midwifery and community practitioner communities. Opportunities for more senior researchers to mentor junior colleagues from the BME community will also be explored. It will also provide a forum for raising the profile of researchers working with the BME community. The key message is that the awards are aimed at research to advance the health of BME community, but lead researcher does not have to actually be a member of the BME community.
It is timely to run this fringe at the research conference as the calls for the next round of applications will be made soon after the conference ends ( May 2009)
Intended outcomes
- Raising the profile of the Mary Seacole Leadership and Development Awards
- A greater engagement with the BME community
- Ideas for managers and supervisors supporting junior researchers from the BME community and those working to improve the health and care of BME populations
- Discuss the process of applications for the award and address FAQs
- Highlight personal expereinces 'rewards and benefits' of holding the award in relation to personal and po0fessional development of researchers
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Nothing is foolproof….to a sufficiently talented fool: Things that go wrong in research
Presenters: Professor Carol Haigh, Professor of Nursing, Manchester Metropolitan University, Professor Martin Johnson, Professor in Nursing, University of Salford, Michelle Howarth, Lecturer, University of Salford with an introduction to the RCN Research Society (North West) from its chair, Janelle Yorke, Lecturer, University of Salford
Sponsor: RCN Research Society
Time: 13.15 - 14.10
This fringe event is presented as a follow up to the successful 2008 symposium, "Anyone can make a mistake…." It also serves as the inaugural event of the re-vitalised NW Research Society.
The purpose of the fringe is to introduce novice researchers and students to the less serious side of research activity. The aim of the fringe is to share the pitfalls and problems that can beset researchers whether novice or expert. Using the experience of the three presenters and the audience, this event will explore the inconveniences that can plague researchers for which the text book and research awareness courses do not prepare you. In addition we will focus upon the ethical issues that can trip up the unwary researcher particularly in the impact that question on survey may have, how supervisors can kill your research and how to deal with the 'vulnerable people' dilemma.
Target audience: Pre-registration and PhD students, novice researchers and other researchers who may want to share their experiences.
Expected outcomes:
- The demystification of real researcher experiences
- Confidence building in student and novice researchers
- The profile of NW Research Society is raised
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Meet the authors/founders
Presenter: Professor Joy Merrell, Professor of Public Health Nursing, Swansea University
Sponsor: RCN Research Society
Time: 13.15 - 14.10
Following on from the historic Witness Panel taking place earlier in the day, this fringe will be a very informal opportunity to talk further with some of the nurses who were at the forefront of the development of nursing research. In keeping with the overall theme of the conference, "Looking back, moving forward", this is an ideal way of engaging in some lively debate around how far we've come, and what the world of nursing research might look like in the next 50 years.
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