Capitalising on the contribution of nurses in clinical research
The RCN Research & Development Governance Group have sponsored this RCN Research Society project, which will run through 2012 and 2013. If you would like to know more about this project, please contact Caroline Gunnell or Dave O'Carroll
Project board
- Caroline Gunnell (Chair)
- Sharon Andrew (RCN Research Society Eastern region)
- Celia Diver-Hall (RCN Northern Ireland Research and Quality group)
- Lynn Furber (RCN Research Society East Midlands)
- Les Gelling (Research nurse competency framework)
- Kelly Gleason (Cancer Research UK)
- Angela Grainger (RCN Research Society London region)
- Sharon Hamilton (RCN Research Society Northern region)
- Gordon Hill (RCN Research Society Scotland)
- Joyce Kenkre (RCN Research Society Wales)
- Ann McMahon (RCN Research and Innovation Adviser)
- Alison Mortimer (RCN Research Society Yorkshire & The Humber region)
- Dave O'Carroll (RCN)
- Fiona O'Neill (NIHR)
- Laura Serrant-Green (RCN Research Society West Midlands region)
- Josephine Studham (UK Clinical Research Facilities Network)
- Karl Ward (RCN Research Society Yorkshire & the Humber region)
- Janelle Yorke (RCN Research Society North West region)
Link to the RCN Research Society
- Annie Topping (Steering Committee member, RCN Research Society)
Project vision
- To embed clinical research nurses (CRNs) and HCA/Clinical Trials Officers as visible and fully participatory members of the RCN family
- To create an active network offering mentorship, supervision and development of others as part of their practice
- To identify the ‘added value’ that clinical research nurses and HCA/Clinical Trials Officers have made to the UK national health research departments' clinical research agenda and their recruitment targets (namely National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), HSC R&D Division, Northern Ireland Public Health Agency, Chief Scientist Office (CSO) and National Institute for Social Care and Health Research Clinical Research Centre (NISCHR - CRC))
- To identify and showcase areas and examples of ‘Best Practice’ in workforce development projects in UK national health research departments, affiliated organisations and partners
- To network with Association of Nursing Students and Education Forum to maximise use of Clinical Research Centres and Facilities as clinical placements through development of core learning outcomes / competencies (link to NMC standards)
Project summary
To identify clinical research nurses and HCA/Clinical Trials Officers working in the UK, and identify the ‘added value’ contribution of the nurse/HCA to the NIHR and other research recruitment processes and workforce development models to support this professional area.
Outputs
- An RCN co-ordinated network to support CRN workforce and development
- An increase in RCN membership
- Visible professional and trade union support for clinical research nurses (CRN) (n=10000) and HCA/Clinical Trials Officers
- A stronger unified voice of UK nurses in clinical research through the integration of other clinical research nurse organisations into the RCN Research Society and partnership working with , for example, the Academy of Nursing Midwifery and Health Visiting research and the NIHR faculty and workforce team
- Showcase examples and signpost to areas of good practice and innovation
- Lobby for mentorship and clinical supervision in clinical research through the network
- Work with Association of Nursing Students and the Education Forum to maximise the use of Clinical Research Centres and facilities as placements