Nursing Research

Ready… Steady…. RESEARCH!

Research led by nurses is crucial in the effective development of evidence-based nursing. Their involvement in research however is restricted, due to time pressures and limited resource post-registration. With many nurses finding it difficult to put time aside to train in research, it is important we access their learning pre-registration when development is encouraged, and time pressures are reduced.

The Research Activities Programme for Mental Health Nursing Students developed by the Research team at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is bridging the gap between nurses’ theoretical knowledge of research obtained from university to embedding research into nursing practice. This is accomplished by embedding research activities into student nurses’ clinical placements. These activities can include training in aspects such as Good Clinical Practice, learning about the different research in their trust, shadowing researchers in baseline/follow-up visits, and attending various research meetings to build their knowledge of NHS research. This also counts towards their clinical hours and is a unique developmental opportunity.

The opportunities to grow this approach across other Mental health trusts and universities are significant, with the National institute for Health Research, Health Education England and NHS England all enthusing about the opportunities this programme offers for building research capacity in the NHS.

Additionally, by expanding this opportunity to other trusts and organisations, it invites people who access services to engage and gain a greater knowledge of current research open to them, enabling them to contribute and take part in the design and delivery of services.

Download the power point presentation, (.pdf) it showcases the range of work being delivered across Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Do you want to share information about research you are leading on or that your organisation is pioneering? If so, and you would like to feature this on the website, please get in touch using the ‘contact us’ button at the top of the page.

Let’s make research part of every learning disability nurse’s everyday business?

Research is essential to improving the care and outcomes of people with learning disabilities.

In 2020 Dame Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England launched a plan for research for the nursing profession, with the aim of making research matter across all fields of professional practice.

There are many opportunities for learning disability nurses to get involved in supporting, delivering and leading health and care research

The range of opportunities for learning disability nursing research might include:

• Helping people with learning disabilities, their families and carers to understand relevant opportunities and to become partners in research

• Working with research teams to recruit and consent people into important studies to improve outcomes.

• Identifying the impact of a clinical initiative or a specific role in order to further develop this.

• Using and learning from existing research findings to develop further study, sometimes focusing in more detail on a certain topic.

• Looking at ways to incorporate research findings into your own practice and the practices of the organisation you work for.

In partnership with the CNO’s research team, next year we will be looking at ways to encourage more learning disability nurses to get involved in research; and how research can play a greater role in the recognition, promotion and celebration of the learning disability nursing profession.

Watch this space for news about these opportunities and please share with colleagues who might also be interested.

In the meantime, if you want to know more about the role of clinical research within modern health and care, look at this free online programme Improving Healthcare through Clinical Research

Additionally, the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) covers how treatments and cures are discovered; the impact of clinical research; how we undertake clinical research and why we do clinical research.

For the latest registration details go to: FutureLearn: Improving Healthcare through Clinical Research