Kunhunny Swapna, Salmon Debra
Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Essex, UK.
School of Health Sciences City, University of London, London, UK.
J Clin Nurs. 2017 Dec;26(23-24):5121-5132. doi: 10.1111/jocn.14055. Epub 2017 Sep 29.
To examine the perspectives of CRNs in the UK on their professional role identity, in order to inform the professional practice of Clinical Research Nursing.
Clinical research nurses (CRN) make a significant contribution to healthcare research within the UK and internationally. However, lack of clarity about their role, and scope of practice renders their contribution within the profession and in the minds of the wider public invisible. This has implications in terms of promoting the role nurses play not only in terms of recruitment, retention, and care of research participants but also as research leaders of the future.
Exploratory qualitative design using thematic analysis conducted within a realist paradigm.
Participants viewed the positive aspects of their identity 'as agents of change' who were fundamental to the clinical research process. Resourcefulness and the ability to guide members of the research team were valued as key to job satisfaction. Successful navigation through the complexity of advice, support, management and leadership tasks related to their role in caring for research patients were role affirming and generated a sense of pride. However, lack of recognition, clarity of the role and career development opportunities within an identified structure undermined the CRN identity and optimism about progression in the future. Participants reported feeling invisible to colleagues within the clinical community, isolated and excluded from wider nursing groups.
The study describes UK CRN practice, highlighting the positive benefits and challenges associated with the role, including the need to support professional and career development to maximise their research contribution.
This study provides nurses, health care and research organisations and academic nursing educators with a broadened understanding of the professional role, identity and context of clinical research nursing practice in the United Kingdom, with recommendations to improve its professional efficiency and recognition.
审视英国临床研究护士（CRN）对其职业角色认同的观点，以为临床研究护理的专业实践提供信息。
临床研究护士在英国及国际范围内对医疗保健研究做出了重大贡献。然而，其角色和实践范围缺乏明确界定，使得他们在专业领域以及更广泛公众心目中的贡献不为人所见。这不仅在招募、留住和护理研究参与者方面，而且在培养未来研究领导者方面，对宣传护士所发挥的作用都产生了影响。
采用现实主义范式进行主题分析的探索性定性设计。
参与者将其身份的积极方面视为“变革推动者”，这对临床研究过程至关重要。足智多谋以及指导研究团队成员的能力被视为工作满意度的关键。成功应对与照顾研究患者角色相关的建议、支持、管理和领导任务的复杂性，能强化角色认同并产生自豪感。然而，在既定架构内缺乏认可、角色不明确以及职业发展机会，削弱了临床研究护士的身份认同和对未来职业发展的乐观态度。参与者表示在临床社区中同事对他们视而不见，在更广泛的护理群体中感到孤立和被排斥。
该研究描述了英国临床研究护士的实践，突出了与该角色相关的积极益处和挑战，包括需要支持专业和职业发展以最大化他们的研究贡献。
本研究为护士、医疗保健和研究组织以及学术护理教育工作者提供了对英国临床研究护理实践的专业角色、身份和背景的更广泛理解，并提出了提高其专业效率和认可度的建议。
