International Nurses Day
The Role of a Research Nurse
Today is International Nurses Day so join us in celebrating the hard work of all the nurses around the world including those of our Research Nurses here at the unit.
To celebrate this day, our Senior Respiratory Research Nurse, Michelle Bourne, tells us about her role and experiences as a Research Nurse.
Tell us about yourself?
My name is Michelle Bourne and I am the Senior Respiratory Research Nurse here at the NIHR Leicester Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit (BRU) at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester. I first joined the team ten years ago after initially completing my nurse training in Leicester in 1990 and gaining a variety of experiences working in General medicine, respiratory and gastroenterology.
Tell us more about the research at the BRU?
Every day in research brings a new challenge and each research study has its own protocol and specific test requirements. There are currently eleven research nurses at the BRU who are supported by other clinical staff. Currently the team are working on in the region of 20 research studies, all of which could require a different set of skills. Research studies within the unit cover both academic and commercial trials. The research studies cover a range of respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Bronchiectasis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and fungal airway disease. Many of our research studies also need the help of healthy volunteers that do not have any lung problems.
Describe your role as a Senior Respiratory Research Nurse?
My role as the Senior Respiratory Research Nurse involves ensuring that each individual research study is implemented as the study protocol requires. This includes ensuring that the research nurse working on the study is competent at the study related procedures and is given the support to implement this to the high standards that are needed to produce high standards of research data.
The testing required ranges from simple questionnaires to spirometry breathing tests, giving samples of blood, sputum samples and more complex testing such as methocholine challenge testing, radiology testing as well as any other study specific requirements.
All research studies have a target for the number of participants we are looking for. In order to find suitable participants it is essential for the Principal Investigator (lead study doctor), nurse and other members of the multi disciplinary team to work closely together to ensure that participants are recruited to the correct studies.
How has your role developed?
Since starting my post in research I have developed my skills by obtaining a BsC Honours degree in Respiratory Care which helps to ensure that I can offer the best care and advice to participants. I am also responsible for assessing nurse practice to ensure that study procedures are practiced to the highest standards. I also now regularly take informed consent, which is talking through the research and signing participants up to the research studies.
Tell us about Public Engagement?
As part of a team I regularly help at community events and health fairs to raise awareness of the world class research taking place at the unit, and networking among community groups which is always great to meet new people and share our work and knowledge.
What do you enjoy about your role?
There are many things that drive my interest working in research and being part of a team that is helping to change the way that people with respiratory conditions are treated and improving their quality of life is just one of them. The volunteers taking part never fail to inspire me with both their enthusiasm and dedication and this will help us to continue developing a world renowned research programme here at Leicester.
