Further resources and guidance

In this section you will find external resources for nursing, midwifery and care staff who are already or thinking about getting involved in research.

Nursing research matters – learning from COVID-19

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses have played a key role across all aspects of health and care to stop the spread of the virus and to minimise its impact on individuals, families and communities, whilst continuing to deliver safe, high quality health and care services. During this time, nurses have led important research related to the pandemic. Some of these studies have been drawn together in a publication: Nursing research matters – learning from COVID-19.

Leading the acceleration of evidence into practice: a guide for executive nurses

The implementation of evidence can be achieved by creating the right culture, the right leadership, and capability to interpret and implement evidence. To consider this and help support any change required, a guide for executive nurses has been developed.

National Institute of Health Research (NIHR)

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) fund health and care research and translate discoveries into practical products, treatments, devices and procedures, involving patients and the public in all their work. The NIHR Nursing and Midwifery Incubator has been established to accelerate capacity building and support the development of a skilled clinical academic research workforce across the nursing and midwifery professions.

The Health Education England (HEE)/National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Integrated Clinical Academic (ICA) Programme provides research training awards for health and social care professionals, excluding doctors and dentists, who wish to develop careers that combine research and research leadership with continued practice and professional development.

Council of Deans of Health

The Council of Deans of Health represents the UK’s university faculties engaged in education and research for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. The Council aims to lead and influence policy at national and UK level, promoting the essential contribution their members make to health and social care – for high quality education and research..

Hosted by Council of Deans of Health the Clinical Academic Roles and Career Pathways Implementation Network (CARIN) was established to advise, support and share innovation and best practice of activity that promotes, engages and evaluates the development and implementation of joint clinical academic roles for healthcare professionals (excluding doctors and dentists). Members of CARIN meet four times a year to share related innovations and developments.

A practical resource for healthcare providers, developed by the University Hospitals Association Clinical Academic Roles Development Group, that evolved to become CARIN, can be accessed here. This resource was developed to help healthcare provider organisations develop and sustain research-focused clinical academic roles in nursing, midwifery and allied health professions. It contains practical information, case studies and templates, and offers guidance and insights from those who have pioneered these roles.