Perspectives of Clinical Research Nurses in the UK on their Professional Identity

1. SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES, CITY, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
•Clinical Research is a core component in the stated
principles of NHS constitution 1
• Above 10,000 clinical research nurses (CRN) are
working within the NHS2
•Clinical Research Nursing is a new and emerging
discipline3
•Clarity on professional roles, responsibilities,
standards, training, and scope of practice is still
evolving 3
•Currently, an unclear professional identity challenged
by wide geographical variations in job roles and titles,
undefined career pathways, lack of structured
training, lack of a national framework to guide
professional practice and isolated work patterns
makes CRN practice invisible7,3
•Establishing a shared professional identity is essential
to outline the boundaries, goals and scope of CRN
practice, allowing them to enhance professional
recognition and research participant outcomes5
•The professional role identity of the UK CRN has not
been explored in an empirical research previously
• Design: Qualitative research
• Methodology: Thematic analysis6 conducted using a semantic approach, within a realist
paradigm.
• Conceptual framework: National League for Nursing Outcomes and Competencies Model4
• Data collection: Semi-structured interviews, audio recorded
• Sample: 11 CRNs from various specialties in an NHS Foundation Trust hospital in the UK
5. DISCUSSION
•A nation-wide, web-based survey to analyse the diversity of
identity perspectives within UK CRN population will help to reveal
institutional, regional, social and cultural influences on CRN
identity, for a generalisable, comprehensive understanding.
• An exploration of the perceptions of multidisciplinary clinical
team members regarding the status of clinical research as a
component in standard health care of patients, using a nation-
wide, web-based quantitative survey, to promote integration of
clinical research in to medical care.
•A qualitative exploration of the professional identities of other
nursing roles in clinical research like research matrons, lead-
nurses, co-ordinators etc will improve recognition of these roles,
reduce professional overlap between them and assist in
establishing clear career pathways.
Acknowledgements
This study was completed as part of a Masters degree in Clinical Research, funded by the National Institute for Health Research. With
thanks to Dr Eamonn McKeown for his valuable suggestions during the planning and development of this project. Sincere thanks is also
extended to all participants.
References
1. Handbook to the NHS Constitution,. 2009
2. Nihr.ac.uk. (2016). Clinical Research Nurses. [online] Available at: http://www.nihr.ac.uk/our-faculty/clinical-research-nurses.htm [Accessed 10 Jul. 2016].
3. Bevans, M., Hastings, C., Wehrlen, L., Cusack, G., Matlock, A.M., Miller-Davis, C., Tondreau, L., Walsh, D. & Wallen, G.R. 2011, "Defining clinical research nursing practice: results of a role delineation study", Clinical and
translational science, vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 421-427
4. Nln.org, (2016). [online] Available at: http://www.nln.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/nln... [Accessed 1 Jul. 2016].
5. Apesoa-Varano, E.C. (2007) ‘Educated caring: The emergence of professional identity among nurses’, Qualitative Sociology, 30(3), pp. 249–274. doi: 10.1007/s11133-007-9069-6.
6. Braun, V. and Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), pp.77-101.
7. Stephens-Lloyd, A. (2004). The extended role of the clinical research nurse: Building an evidence base for practice. Journal of Research in Nursing, 9(1), pp.18-27.
•An original study in English language to examine the
professional role identity of the UK CRN
•Describes the UK CRN practice, and draws attention to
its contributions to nursing and clinical research
•Highlights the need to familiarise student nurses to CRN
practice from an early stage of nursing career
• Informs the NIHR and NHS of the professional issues
and challenges faced by the UK CRN and its consequential
effect on recruitment and care of research participants
•Identifies the need to establish well defined educational,
career and promotional pathways for UK CRNs
Two major roles of
nurses in research
Nurse Researcher
Chief scientist designing
and implementing health
research projects
Clinical Research
Nurse
Registered nurses with
an exclusive focus on the
care of clinical research
participants
To examine the perspectives of CRNs in the UK
on their professional role identity, in order to
inform the professional practice of Clinical
Research Nursing.
4. FINDINGS
SHORTCOMING: Perceived as resulting from the negative influences of an unclear identity. Ambiguous professional
role created frustration and conflict between job roles. Unrecognised job role made them invisible to the general
hospital community, leaving CRNs feeling isolated and excluded from wider nursing groups. These factors may exert a
negative impact on professional practice.
STRENGTH: CRNs perceived themselves ‘as agents of change’ who are fundamental to the clinical research process.
They described themselves as autonomous practitioners who are resourceful and able to guide all other members of
research team.
The factors affecting the perceptions of CRN professional identity in the participants were tightly interwoven and
interdependent. The professional identity of being a CRN was seen both as a strength and as a shortcoming.
Swapna Kunhunny, Debra Salmon, Michelle Carter
Clinical Research Nurse
Exploring the Perspectives on the Professional Role Identity of the UK CRN
1. BACKGROUND
2.AIM
6. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE
7. FUTURE RESEARCH
3.METHOD