Recommendations for nursing research careers
published
1st August 2007
A report was published today recommending that a training and
support structure should be put in place to enable nurses to work
as researchers at different stages of their career.
‘Developing the Best Research Professionals’ is the
culmination of work by the UKCRC Subcommittee for Nurses in
Clinical Research (workforce), chaired by Janet Finch in
collaboration with Modernising Nursing Careers and other key
stakeholders. It looks at the current role of nurses as researchers
and educators, and investigates the barriers that are preventing
them from reaching their full potential in these areas. It proposes
a more flexible career structure so that nurses who pursue a
research career can combine clinical and academic work instead of
pursuing one of these roles at the expense of the other.
A 12-week public consultation on the draft report was carried
out earlier this year. Detailed responses were received from 186
individuals and organisations representing nursing, the allied
health professions and other disciplines. The overall response to
the report was very positive, and the vast majority of respondents
agreed with its recommendations. A summary of the consultation
responses was considered by the UKCRC Subcommittee for Nurses in
Clinical Research to inform the final recommendations.