Clinical Academic Careers for
Nurses
Building on the model established for medical
and dental clinical academic careers, the UKCRC has undertaken a
similar process aimed at developing clinical research career
structures for nurses. A UKCRC Subcommittee for Nurses in Clinical
Research (Workforce), chaired by Professor Janet Finch, conducted
work to identify barriers and make recommendations for training and
careers for nurses in clinical research.
In August 2007 the Subcommittee’s findings
were published in a report, Developing the Best Research
Professionals, which makes recommendations addressing three
main areas: Education and training, Facilitating careers, and
Better information on nursing research.
The report was the subject of a public
consultation between January and March 2007. The consultation
responses were analysed in a Summary Report,
which was considered by the Subcommittee, and used to modify the
final version of Developing the Best Research Professionals.
The career structure recommended by the report
is illustrated below:
Clinical Academic Training
Path
A set of
PowerPoint slides giving an overview of the Subcommittee's work
and recommendations on clinical academic careers for
nurses is available to download.
Allied Health Professions
As part of the consultation process, the UKCRC
also invited the Allied Health Professions (AHPs) to answer a
question regarding the potential applicability of the
recommendations to their research careers. The majority of
respondents agreed that the recommendations substantially apply to
the AHPs and similarities were identified between nursing and the
AHPs in many areas. However, further work is required around the
implementation of the recommendations to the AHPs, particularly in
regard to the diverse nature of the different professional groups.
This view has been endorsed by the UKCRC Board.