A proposed clinical research support career pathway for noninvestigators

Abstract

A career pathway that guides education and outlines position descriptions and skill sets would enhance development of the research support workforce. This pathway could contribute to changing the patient outcomes through coordination and study completion of high-quality research. A wide consultative approach is required to determine a cost-effective and feasible approach to implementation and evaluation of the proposed pathway.

Clinician researcher career pathway for registered nurses and midwives: A proposal

“…There are many similarities when considering implementation of clinician researcher and research support career pathways. However, whilst a research support pathway essentially formalizes and brings consistency to a range of existing research assistant roles and is addressed in the companion research support discussion paper (Smith, Gullick, Ballard, & Perry, ), the clinician researcher career pathway introduces new roles in the shape of clinical academic positions. This development of roles makes the need for wide consultation all the more important.…”

“…As noted in the companion paper (Smith et al, ), implementation of a new career pathway raises a number of considerations. The scope of the roles needs to be defined within an overarching frame of reference, and the education and training fixed both of which are (International Conference of Harmonization, ) essential and desirable.…”

A call for a stronger articulation of education and role delineation for nurse researchers

“…Two articles in this issue propose pathways and expectations for clinical research roles to provide guidance for nurse investigator roles (Smith, Gullick, Ballard, & Perry, ) and non‐investigator research support roles (Smith, Gullick, Ballard, & Perry, ). Such pathways are timely given the increasing articulation of research as a requirement for evidence‐based practice and as a primary concern for government and professional nursing organizations.…”

“…However, for a nurse providing direct clinical care, researching around the edges of full‐time clinical practice is unrealistic if ongoing, larger‐scale, meaningful projects are to be realized. It is these issues that provide the impetus for the nurse investigator career pathway (Smith et al, ).…”