1. NIHR @ 10: Spotlight on research nursing
Emma Munro, Head of Nursing/Midwifery/AHP – Research
University Hospital Southampton

2. NIHR
UHS
UHS Research nurses employed for study, or investigator, fixed term contracts
NIHR Created
Pre NIHR – study based, no team, and fixed term contracts
NIHR Faculty, BRCs
BRUs and CLAHRC
NIHR Nurse Strategy, Director of Organisational Development/Lead Nurse,
Connect e newsletter, e-faculty world, Our Voices & Our Work featuring Wessex research nurses raising the profile of research nursing
NT Awards to recognise Clinical Research Nursing – Fundamentals of Clinical Research Nursing course (originated in CRN Wessex) Finalist, OK to Ask campaign, NIHR Regional Nursing events hosted at PHT and UHS, Director of Nursing at NIHR
Workforce development includes NIHR Leadership course
First National Celebrating Clinical Research Nurses event London
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
UHS Research nurses released from medical management - nurses managing nurses,
emphasis on quality and delivery, induction programme & training
UHS Divisional structure mirrored in research nursing teams - clear lines of accountability & team specialty definition, enables cross-cover and support
Permanent contracts, flexible working, joint clinical speciality/research nurses
Focus on quality and delivery with 2nd education post across all facilities
The Southampton Model of Research Nursing - part of HEE Gen-gagement programme,
Development of research support staff to support nursing – CTA development programme and career structure and dedicated Research physician
Looking at the NIHR timeline alongside the UHS research nursing journey shows the contribution research nurses make.
Prior to the creation of NIHR nurses were on short term fixed contracts linked to study timelines and medically managed on the whole.
A really significant moment came in 2012 with the NIHR Nurse Strategy Group led by Susan Hamer, then Dir of OD. This pulled together our workforce into a really active network with various publications highlighting the work done by nurses and midwives, and national and regional conferences celebrating the research nurse contribution. THE introduction of an NT Award for Clinical Research Nursing sponsored by NIHR really reflects the recognition that our workforce is now receiving.
The UHS timeline reflects the study based nurses who by 2010 were being released from medical management to nursing management with an increasing emphasis on quality and training to ensure effective delivery of research. For the last two years at UHS there has been a big move to ensuring we are all one team working together and we have developed a structure that integrates with our UHS Divisions and specialities. We have secured permanent contracts and joint clinical/research urisng posts further embedding research in clinical delivery. The Southampton Model of research nursing has been included in HEE Gen-gagement programme highlighting the career options for research nurses. Now we have a further group of key delivery staff and that is our growng team of clinical trials assistants.

3. Building the team – a responsive workforce
264 research staff more diverse skill mix
183 Research Nurse, Midwife, AHP mostly UHS employed
57 CTA/ Associate Practitioners
26 Trial admin support
45 research staff all nurses and midwives
University employed
125 research staff mostly nurses
109 Research Nurses
13 Clinical Trials Assistants/Associate Practitioners
3 Trial administrators support
UHS/University employed
1999
2009
2016
We have built a responsive and flexible workforce over the years as shown on this slide – from 45 to 264 in 7 years – amazing.

4. The future is bright for research nursing
Research delivery staff must be where the patients need research to be delivered.
New partnerships with community crossing acute/primary care boundaries
UHS research nursing allows dreams of opportunities to become reality - can do attitude
We are taking the lead nationally in developing career pathways for research support staff such as clinical trial assistants to ensure a future proof delivery team
Career pathways include an option for research nurses/AHPs whereby there is no need to step on and off but to combine a clinical, research nurse, and academic career.
We need to continue to be responsive to changing patterns of healthcare and creating new partnerships between hospital and community based services so that we deliver the research where patients need it to be delivered. A key are will be in follow-up and the change from hospital based to community follow-up as I believe this will be a fairly quick transition.
The can-do attitude at UHS enables the creation of flexible career pathways both for nurses and cta’s.
So I finish with a short film of what our team really thinks and thank NIHR for supporting these wonderful staff.

5. Here’s what our people say...