Why working as a cancer research nurse is a fantastic career
A new e-learning course aims to address misconceptions about what the role of a cancer research nurse is and boost interest in cancer research nursing. One of the biggest misconceptions about cancer research nursing is that it is an academic role and does not involve seeing patients, which can subsequently make recruiting to these positions difficult.
A new e-learning course seeks to address misconceptions about what the role of cancer research nurses is and boost interest in the role
In 2017, the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre’s national nurse steering group raised concerns about the recruitment of cancer research nurses.
In addition, the recruitment of people living with cancer to clinical trials in the UK has deteriorated due to financial and clinical challenges as well as historic barriers to participation. This evidence & practice article, Improving patient recruitment to cancer clinical trials: opportunities for cancer nurses, highlights how cancer nurses can help to improve recruitment by discussing clinical trials with patients and their families or carers as well as by engaging with local cancer research nurses so they can be alerted to trials at their hospital site.
Recruitment concerns led to the creation of a national pilot educational engagement project aimed at improving nursing students’ understanding of the role of cancer research nurses and clinical research in cancer settings. This project aimed to address misconceptions around what the role of a cancer research nurse is and delivered education sessions to around 2,500 students in hospitals.
e-learning course on clinical research and the role of research nurses in the NHS now used by 12 trusts
Following on from this work, I created a free e-learning course: An introduction to clinical research and the role of research nurses in the NHS, which launched in January and is now being used by 12 trusts and three universities across the UK.
‘One of the aims of the project was to reduce commonplace misconceptions that a cancer research nurse is an academic role and does not involve seeing patients’
The course showcases the role of research nurses and their care for patients participating in clinical trials. All of the course content was co-developed with research nurses and nursing students and provides a mix of bite-sized videos and animations.
The e-learning course has five modules that include assessments and it covers topics such as what clinical research is and where clinical trials are delivered, the patient’s journey into clinical trials, the role of the research nurse and the importance of informed consent.
One of the aims of the project was to reduce commonplace misconceptions that a cancer research nurse is an academic role and does not involve seeing patients, which can subsequently make recruiting to these positions difficult.
Research creates better outcomes for patients and working as a cancer research nurse is a fantastic career. But for many there is uncertainty around what research and the role of a nurse within it really is, which can deter staff from engaging. My hope is that the e-learning course will boost interest in the role of the research nurse, without whom research could not take place.
If you would like to host the course within your area, please contact me via ben.hood@nhs.net.
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