Published: 11 March 2024
Free online courses have been launched today to attract and support health and social care professionals into research careers.
Designed by the NIHR Nursing and Midwifery Incubator, they aim to help individuals take the next step in their research careers.
The masterclass is hosted by the FutureNHS platform. They comprise 5 modules which are suitable for those new to research and those more experienced. It features examples of:
- real-world career journeys
- online discussion forums
- case studies
Participants can study at their own pace, and interact with others on forums. The masterclass has been based on material created in 2019 for nurses and midwives which has been updated. It is suitable for all health and care professionals looking to improve their knowledge and skills. It will also help them apply for funding, including NIHR Academy programmes.
NIHR Senior Investigator, David Richards, lead for the masterclass development team, said: “All health and social care professionals want to deliver the most effective care they can. That means using the treatments and techniques with the best scientific evidence. Many clinical professionals also want to get involved in producing this evidence themselves, including those that want to have a research career.
“This new resource will enable health and social care professionals with an interest in research to progress their knowledge and skills. We hope that the programme will give individuals the confidence to take the next step in their research career.”
Advice on designing research and applying for funding
The programme takes participants on their own personal research journey. This includes:
- identifying research ‘uncertainties’
- understanding funder priorities
- involving members of the public in research
It also has advice on designing a research project, and applying for funding. It includes materials designed for nurses, midwives, and other staff working in the NIHR Research Delivery Networks, together with post-doctoral and experienced research supervisors.
NIHR Incubators support research careers
The NIHR Incubators address areas where there is a need to build research capacity on a national level.
The Nursing and Midwifery Incubator was created in 2019 to build research capacity in the nursing and midwifery workforce. A standout success of the incubator was the delivery of training courses. They were found to improve success rates for those applying for NIHR funding schemes.