NURSING & MIDWIFERY RESEARCH & EDUCATION RCSI Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Coláiste Ríoga na Máinleá in Éirinn THE POWER OF ONE NURSING & MIDWIFERY RESEARCH & EDUCATION Dr. Linda Nugent - Lecturer & Programme Director @lindaeliznugent

Presentation outline Nursing & Midwifery research in Ireland Our engagement in research Policy context Challenges What is needed RCSI Strategy - Growth and excellence RCSI - School of Nursing & Midwifery vision Impactful Research & Innovation Clinical Research What next?

NURSING & MIDWIFERY: RESEARCH & EDUCATION In nursing & midwifery the ability to influence patient care outcomes depends on a variety of forces. These forces include nursing & midwifery: Knowledge & skills An understanding of ethical principles Good relationships with patients and the healthcare team The communication skills to nurture these relationships Nurses & midwives: The power to influence patient care

NURSING & MIDWIFERY RESEARCH AND EDUCATION Dr Siobhain O’Halloran – RCSI International 35th Nursing & Midwifery Research Conference The concept of the power of one in relation to professionalism in Nursing & Midwifery and improving patient outcomes Focus on nurses & midwives knowledge and skills And how through research & education we can foster and develop these important forces that can contribute to the power to influence patient care

Research based practice Aware of the advantages of research based practice It can: Improve patient outcomes Advance the nursing & midwifery profession And enhance the effectiveness of our practice

excellence in practice Nurses & midwives all over the country who are giving consistent, excellent holistic care are establishing reputational excellence of the profession in practice Nurses and midwives who diligently read current professional literature and share evidence based research with colleagues to enhance their knowledge and skills strengthens practice and influences the actions of others- thus improving patient care

NURSING & MIDWIFERY EDUCATION IN IRELAND Both national & international factors have shaped the current situation in nursing & midwifery education In Ireland 2 key factors have contributed to current research capacity and research activity within the profession The integration of nursing & midwifery into 3rd level education The establishment of specialized and advanced nursing career pathways

Research as core concept The national frameworks from the NCNM that guide the establishment of CNS, CMS, and ANP, AMP posts incorporate contribution to research as a core concept underpinning conduct of the roles These frameworks establish an organizational need for nurses & midwives skilled in research methods and enabled to carry out research in practice.

BARRIERS TO Nursing & midwifery RESEARCH IN IRELAND Barriers continue to impede engagement in research, particularly in terms of accessing supportive research expertise and protected time to perform research

Engagement in research Establishment of collaborative research networks of clinicians and academics Forging links between practice and academia – to maximise research and publications Protected time to pursue research and publication activities Provision of educational opportunities & resources to develop skills in audit & research.

POLICY CONTEXT- future health Makes a commitment to ‘driving the capacity for, and development of excellent research for health’

POLICY CONTEXT – Healthy ireland A commitment to research and evidence has been articulated in Healthy Ireland 2013-2025 The aim is to build research capacity in the area of health and well-being

POLICY CONTEXT- COMMUNITY NURSING Making evidence work for community health nursing (2013) Supports the implementation of evidence informed policy and practice to promote quality & safety in primary healthcare settings We must continue to find new ways to develop nurses and midwives research capacity in the community relative to the population, needs, characteristics, values and choices of the patient.

POLICY CONTEXT – staffing & skill mix The first national framework for safe nurse staffing and skill mix in general and specialist medical and surgical care settings in acute hospitals Published by the office of CNO February 2016 It sets out an evidence based approach aimed at stabilizing the nursing resource, delivering positive benefits for patients, and making hospitals a healthier and more attractive work environment for staff.

CHALLENGES Lack of time to review research studies and to conduct and apply research (Kajermo et al., 2000). Limited knowledge and skills of the research process with understanding statistical analyses being problematic for some (Roxburgh, 2006) Lack of support from colleagues and peers in conducting research and implementing research findings (Roxburgh 2006) Limited access to financial support has also been identified as a barrier to some. (Marsh & Brown BSn, 2002).

What is needed to overcome these challenges? National model for clinical research capacity building for nurses and midwives Strong collaborative clinical academic partnerships Nursing & midwifery leaders must begin to engage more actively with the appropriate funding bodies, Schools of Nursing & Midwifery and other healthcare disciplines The Nursing & Midwifery research agenda must be in line with national and international research priorities

RCSI- Strategy growth & excellence 2013-2017 RCSI’s mission is to educate, nurture and discover for the benefit of human health To contribute to overcoming these challenges Professor Zena Moore and her team have developed a - 5 year strategy for RCSI – School of Nursing & Midwifery It is in line with RCSI’s Strategy for Growth and Excellence

VISION ‘The school’s vision is to grow our reputation as a center of excellence in nursing and midwifery education. We aim to achieve this through greater engagement in research, both clinical and educational, whereupon we will be able to lead best practice through the incorporation of latest technologies and methods in the education of our students’. ‘Furthermore, we will continue to work closely with our key stakeholders to ensure that the programmes we deliver are responsive to the ever changing demands in the healthcare arena’.

Impactful research & innovation Research capacity is being enhanced through the establishment of research clusters in the school

Impactful research & innovation Research is integral to our education programmes to enhance outputs from nursing & midwifery research Growth in PhD & MSc by research students 2014-2016 Dr. Declan Patton- Director of Research & the school team Key factors in this success include- quality supervision, research and training, a supportive learning environment and a clear pathway to completion.

Collaborative partnerships To further develop research and education excellence in nursing & midwifery – The school is engaging with industry and international partners to secure funding The aim here is to further increase opportunities to conduct research that will enhance patient outcomes and improve quality of care The school is aligning with the newly established RCSI Hospital groups to enhance capacity in research & education with colleagues in clinical sites

Delivery of RCSI’s - MISSION Overall the School’s research and education strategy will complement and support the delivery of RCSI’s mission to educate, nurture and discover for the benefit of human health

Clinical research programmes Reaccreditation process of Postgraduate certificate in Clinical Research Postgraduate diploma in Clinical Research With flexibility to progress to masters level of study Through these programmes we will aim to reduce some of the barriers nurses & midwives face in conducting autonomous clinical research projects in practice

CLINICAL RESEARCH PROGRAMMEs The programmes have been developed to provide training for the next generation of nurses and midwives in the clinical research arena whilst taking cognizance of their current role and future development needs. The clinical research management, methods and data management and analysis skills acquired from the programmes will further the nurses and midwives skills as members of the research team and/or as independent researchers. The programmes aim to provide a platform for achieving greater efficiencies in applying healthcare discoveries to clinical practice.

Partnership: Clinical research training Clinical Research Centre Beaumont

WHAT NEXT: How do we increase the power of one THROUGH Nursing & Midwifery RESEARCH AND EDUCATION? Irish nurses and midwives should be prepared to both lead research and support the development of future generations of nurses and midwives. Driving quality through development of academic skills Flexible career pathways which incorporate research activity on a full time or part time or joint appointment basis should be identified and developed. Move to clinically grounded research to develop a strong professional research base attractive to funders. Thus becoming more attractive to international partners

THE POWER OF ONE nursing & midwifery RESEARCH & education American anthropologist Margaret Mead "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

Acknowledgements Professor Zena Moore, Head of the School of Nursing & Midwifery, RCSI Dr. Tom O’Connor, Deputy Head and Director of Academic Affairs, School of Nursing & Midwifery RCSI Dr. Declan Patton, Director of Research, School of Nursing & Midwifery, RCSI

contact lindanugent@rcsi.ie @lindaeliznugent