A series of webinars and blogs launched this week will highlight opportunities for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals (NMAHPs) to work in research or to develop their existing career in research.
It is part of activity throughout November at UCLH to showcase research career opportunities.
Access information and resources for NMAHPs about careers in research delivery and leadership, academic research, and study support.
Resources include our events page with live and recorded webinars that NMAHPs may find useful.
NMAHPs play a vital role in leading and delivering research. Their responsibilities can include:
identifying the priorities for research
leading the development of protocols
acting as PIs
inviting patients and healthy participants to join research studies
providing nursing care throughout a clinical study
administering new treatments being trialled
developing new drugs, treatments, care pathways of regimens.
Some NMAHPs work full-time in research, either in a leadership role on their own portfolio of research or in a research delivery role. For others, research is part of their role, that is undertaken alongside their clinical role.
In a research delivery role, it is possible to work across a diverse range of studies, but some NMAHPs become specialists in a certain area of research. They can be Principal Investigators of clinical studies.
One career option open to those not registered with a healthcare profession is to pursue a position as a Clinical Trial Practitioner or Clinical Research Practitioner. CRPs work as part of research teams in both clinical and non-clinical settings, and their work can include taking concern, screening participants, supporting data collection and project management.
Marivic Ricamara, Head of Research Delivery at UCLH, said: “Without our nurses, midwives and AHP research workforce, we couldn’t do research. They are the staff that, every single day, are on the ground delivering research and leading research, and helping discover exciting new treatment and ways of caring for patients.
“This week we want to offer advice and information to any nurses, midwives or AHPs who want to find out more about working in research, and what their next steps would be.”
Dr Rachel Taylor, Director of the CNMAR, said: “There is a wide range of support available at UCLH to enable nurses, midwives and AHPs to develop and lead world-class quality of care research, and influence how patient care is delivered. This week is an opportunity for any nurse, midwife or AHP to find out what support is available through the CNMAR and from other sources, to develop as a clinical academic and become a research leader of the future.”
Vanessa Sweeney, Chief Nurse at UCLH, said: “I am proud of the role that colleagues in nursing, midwifery and allied health professions play in research at UCLH. They are truly making a difference in improving patient care.
“I have always been passionate about professional development, and I would encourage any nurse, midwife or AHP who may be interested in working in research to find out more this week about opportunities in research. For colleagues who identify development opportunities in research, we want to provide as much support as possible.”
