Published: 17 September 2018
Today the NIHR launched a new campaign to attract nurses and midwives who are nearing retirement, returning from a career break, or seeking a career change to consider clinical research as an opportunity to 'keep making a difference' in the field of nursing and midwifery.
Rosie Reece-Anthony is an ICU research nurse at Lewisham University Hospital NHS Trust and an ambassador for nurses and midwives who might consider a career change to research who worked in an Intensive Care Unit for ten years from the year 2000. She said:
"I had my son in 2010, which had to change my plans on how I worked," explains Rosie. "I mainly started to do nights... My health started to deteriorate." After doing nights for over 5 years she decided it was time for a positive career change.
"I've always been passionate about nursing," says Rosie. "I still do hands-on nursing." But her new career is a better fit for her family, with flexible hours and an ability to choose weekend shifts. "This is an ideal role for a person who has a family," concludes Rosie. "I love what I do."
The new Pan-London campaign follows a recent survey conducted by the NIHR which revealed that over half of nurses and midwives surveyed may be seeking new career opportunities. Understaffed wards and unsociable shifts were some of the most commonly cited reasons for seeking change.
The survey also revealed that most nurses and midwives asked, were unclear as to the role of research nurses, believing that research is admin-based and removed from the field of patient care.
NHS Digital figures show one in ten nurses are leaving the NHS in England each year, with more than 33,000 leaving last year. This means there are now more leavers than joiners and although this was not unexpected given the demographic profile, perhaps what was less well anticipated was how many of these would be prepared to keep making a difference if the right opportunity was made available.
Nurses and midwives will be invited to learn more about clinical research and will receive one-to-one support to help them take their existing skills and transfer them into a research role.
Dr Susan Hamer, Director of Nursing at the NIHR said: "With more patients than ever before accessing research trials, now is the perfect time for a campaign such as this. Research teams are in demand across the country and we need more research nurses and midwives to support these teams and give great clinical care."
"All employers know the importance of improving the retention of staff and making improvements at a local level to reduce the number of nurses leaving is a high priority for every NHS organisation. The NIHR is a significant funder of staff to support clinical research across the NHS and it is important that we play an active role in supporting these efforts."
The pan-London 'Keep Making a Difference' campaign, aims to reach over 1000 nurses and midwives across London and Kent Surrey and Sussex, and seeks to invite up to 50 of these professionals to shadow a research team for a day to gain an insight into what it's like to work in research.
"Clinical research nursing is a new and rapidly expanding branch of nursing and our new campaign is all about encouraging nurses and midwives who may not know about or have even considered clinical research as an area they would like to work in, to come and take a look."
Harnessing valuable experience
Susan continues, "Nurses and midwives with two or more years of clinical experience already hold some vital skills which we are seeking to utilise in these roles across London and Kent Surrey and Sussex. All the skills learned on the ward environment are transferable to a research role."
The research nurse and midwife role is patient facing and the nurse-patient relationship is a central component of the role. As a research nurse or midwife, candidates will have time to get to know their patients well, as they have the opportunity to support the patient through their research journey, monitor them throughout their illness, talking things through with the patient and liaising with the clinical teams and specialist nurses to ensure the patient and their family are well informed about treatment options.
Be at the cutting edge
Changing the focus of your career might seem intimidating, but Amy Barker, Senior Research Nurse, enjoyed the change. "[Getting into research] wasn't daunting at all, it was fascinating The one great thing about being a research nurses seeing the improvements happening in real time".
More flexible working options
With numerous part time and flexible roles available in research, this may be the perfect solution for nurses returning to work from a career break.
"I had my son in 2010, which had to change my plans on how I worked," explains Rosie Reece-Anthony, Critical Care Research Nurse. "I mainly started to do nights... My health started to deteriorate." After doing nights for over 5 years she decided it was time for a positive career change.
"I've always been passionate about nursing," says Rosie. "I still do hands-on nursing." But her new career is a better fit for her family, with flexible hours and an ability to choose weekend shifts. "This is an ideal role for a person who has a family," concludes Rosie. "I love what I do."
Keep making a difference
Ursula Kirwan, Senior Research Nurse decided after many years of nursing it was time to retire, but "it became boring" she says and decided to return. Some four years on Ursula now works part time as a research nurse, saying "It's a great job for experienced people", she says, "for those who like meeting people, talking through trials with people and at the same time working towards something that will change practice and improve patient outcomes".
More information about the 'Keep Making a Difference' Campaign - including how to apply to shadow a research team for a day - is available at www.nihr.ac.uk/keepmakingadifference