Clinician-led research vital to improving patient care and sharing best practice

Results of a national survey highlights the importance of nurse-led clinical research. The survey of nurses conducted by the Nursing Times, in collaboration with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and Health Education England, shows that 98% of nurses surveyed think that nurse-led research is important to furthering best practice among the profession.

The survey also shows that 68% of nurses are interested in a career that involves clinical research - with nearly half (48%) of nurses surveyed having considered conducting their own clinical research.

In addition, the survey also highlights a need for more awareness of research in general and of the funding opportunities available to the nursing community. One in three (32%) are unaware of any clinical research going on in their organisation.

Professor Nicki Latham, HEE’s executive lead for research says:

At HEE we have a duty to promote research and support clinical academic careers for all professions. We are committed to supporting research by frontline clinicians as they are aware of the research questions that really matter to their service, team and, most importantly, their patients.

Our Integrated Clinical Academic (ICA) programme run in partnership with NIHR provides a pathway for nurses, alongside other non-medical healthcare professionals, to develop a clinical academic career which will, ultimately improve patient care and experience.

Clinical Academic Careers will also play a considerable role in meeting HEE’s responsibilities in the Shape of Training and Shape of Caring reviews, where the ability to research, engage in critical enquiry and implement research findings in every day practice is recognised.

Professor Lisa Bayliss-Pratt, Director of nursing and deputy director of education and quality, said:

The research undertaken by the Nursing Times stresses the importance of nursing professionals having the opportunity and support to pursue a clinical academic career. We are pushing on an open door as three quarters of people surveyed said they wanted to find out more about opportunities to get involved with research but raised concerns about the opportunities for nurses to develop a career in clinical research.

HEE’s Shape of Caring programme includes recommendations around accelerating growth in Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals Clinical Academic workforce, and how HEE can work with partners to develop an infrastructure that could support such growth.

HEE has commissioned a series of regional events, to be hosted with NIHR, over the next few months to meet prospective clinical academics from all professions and their managers. The workshops aim to promote the ICA programme, but will also provide an opportunity to actively collect feedback, experiences and opinions to help us to consider any other factors that will inform further work to promote clinical academic careers, which we hope will help clinicians address some of the perceived barriers. The regional workshops started on 28 February in Preston and go to Birmingham, Bristol and London during March. We will publish the outcomes of that feedback.