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The Role of the Clinical Research Nurse

Published: 17 May 2019

Version: 1.0 - June 2019

Clinical Research Nurses: In their own words

We spoke to nurses about their experience of working in this exciting space and the variety of roles our clinical research nurses undertake. All speak of having started their research careers with an uninformed view of what a research role could bring them.

All speak of their surprise at the autonomy of the role, the skills they have developed and the variety of work they undertake. All speak of working in great teams, the career opportunities that have opened for them and the importance of their relationships with the clinical research nursing community.

All speak of the challenges they have faced and overcome in research. And all speak of their passion for research. Most importantly they all speak of their crucial role in delivering high quality patient care. 

Here are their stories, in their own words.

Building Local Research

Anne Suttling, Senior Research Nurse, Portsmouth Hospitals Trust

After qualifying as a nurse, I commenced a rotation programme for 18 months. I worked in surgery, medicine, Accident and Emergency, critical care and also coronary care – where I gained a permanent post. That’s where my love is in coronary care and cardiology.

After seven years, I needed a change but still wanted to remain in cardiology. That’s when the opportunity to set up a research study came up. On the first day I was faced with an empty six – bedded bay, on an empty ward and told this was the available space to set up the clinic. The study was a success and on the back of this, the PI got funding for a full – time research nurse, to run interventional studies.

I remember the first complex commercial portfolio study I set up. Before I recruited my first patient I did not sleep the night before. I took home the packaging for all the bloods and biomarkers and had it all out in my living room … there was so much to get my head around. It did go ok – we became one of the top UK recruiters for the study. Because research in the department was working well, more PIs wanted to come on board. They could see research wasn’t such a demanding workload for them because research nurses were organising what they had to do and carrying out the study management.

I currently manage 17 staff in eight specialities. This brings its own challenges. A ward manager has one speciality on their ward and can see what is happening. In this role, you can’t be in renal, gastro and surgery if problems arise. So it’s slightly more difficult to manage. But I am learning so much about other specialities. I enjoy the patient contact and the patients really enjoy being in research. Patients have a hotline to consultants and any problems or issues they call the research nurse.

Our role is so diverse – it is not just recruiting patients. 

I go to monthly meetings with the industry manager. If a company want 8 sites in the UK, they will send out expression of interest forms. If they get 20 back, they will do site selection visits. We also get selected for commercial studies off the back of our success in recruiting to other studies … you start to build up a name for yourself. We also get selected for commercial studies off the back of our success in recruiting to other studies. You start to build up a name for yourself.

A clinical research nurse has a certain amount of autonomy. You have to be able to manage your own time, prioritise and pay attention to detail. Data queries can drive you insane, but that is what research is about. It is all recruit, recruit, but, what is the point if the data is not correct? Part of being a research nurse is having the determination to meet targets. Follow ups don’t necessarily count (as part of the target). You are under pressure to recruit but you still have to follow-up patients … that is what I find difficult. You are perceived to be successful if your recruitment figures are high. Follow up and maintaining consent throughout the trial is just as important – this is when the majority of data is collected.

Our role is so diverse – it is not just recruiting patients. There are follow-ups, collecting data for the CRFs, maintaining site files, knowing about the agencies, regulatory bodies, protocols, consent and giving presentations to inform colleagues about what we do in research.

Cardiology were nominated in 3 or 4 categories at the Portsmouth Hospitals Research Conference and won a “Research Merit Award”. This was in recognition of how we built up cardiology research over the last three years. In cardiology we are getting more PIs on board because they can see we are organised. The PIs are understanding that they don’t have to do all the work. They have a team of experienced research nurses to co-ordinate their trials.

Change Research Cultures

Alison Mortimer, Lead Nurse, NIHR Clinical Research Facility, Sheffield

I fell into research. I bumped into an old colleague on the stairs, she was working in research and had a job going. My first reaction was negative, as research was like a swear word and I hated anything to do with research in my training but I went away, did some reading and decided to apply. I was shocked when I actually got it. I had no idea what I was walking into.

I absolutely loved it. It was so fast-paced, the workload was immense but the patient benefit was amazing. I could see positive outcomes, but it wasn’t only that. I was working with the same patients for a year or longer and built up rapport with them, and they spoke to you about everything that was going on with them. I loved it.

For me research has the best mix of autonomy and teamwork. You manage your own caseload but good communication across the team is essential. I also love the element of surprise … on one occasion I came in to find an email saying we needed to pull all of the patients on one of our trials off the drug immediately. I love that fast-paced excitement, it makes you grateful for the rare moments you do get to sit down at your desk and answer a data query.

My main passion is thinking about how we can unite clinical and research nursing.

I moved into the Comprehensive Local Research Network (CLRN) in 2009. To me it felt like a completely new way of thinking. You were working across such a wide area and with acute and primary care organisations that weren’t at all geared up for research. We had to be flexible so we could be responsive to the different needs of the Trusts. We also had to be sensitive to the internal politics, we were perceived as outsiders. It took a lot of thought and time to ensure we didn’t mess that up. But it was definitely rewarding.

In my role I have responsibilities for the Clinical Research Facility, research nurses within the trust and the CLRN. After that first conversation on the stairs I would have laughed if you had said I would be in this position now. I think research is still a dirty word amongst nurses. The most common reaction is ‘why would you want to do that’. It’s mainly a misunderstanding of the role, research used to be an easy role that people took when they are coming up to retirement. Once that perception exists it is hard to change. My main passion is thinking about how we can unite clinical and research nursing.

One of my main struggles is getting buy in from matrons on the ward. A lot hate research because they feel keeping posts open while nurse go on research secondments depletes their staff. For ward matrons they have targets and certain expectations to make their ward high quality and forward thinking. They don’t realise that we are feeding into that. I think some of the tensions arise because clinical nurses don’t realise that patient welfare and good patient outcomes are as central to our work. We need to stop speaking our own research language, go back to our roots and speak the same language.

After the Francis Report, nurses developed the 6 Cs to guide nursing – Care, Communication, Compassion, Courage, Competency and Commitment. If you think about what a research nurse does these are as essential to us as they are to clinical nurses. We should use this as a common language to unite us.

Supporting Surgical Trials

Joyce Katebe Clinical Trials Nurse, Surgery/Gastroenterology

I am a Surgical Clinical Trials Nurse and I trained and qualified in Zambia. My research started during post basic nursing training, during my BSc Nursing. Research was not part of the pre-registration nursing diploma/certificate then, but it was a requirement for the completion of the BSc Nursing.

After this, I became interested in research and was encouraged as I worked with my lecturers. I helped with data collection which I found very interesting and thought it was something I would like to do more of in the future. I was fortunate to be involved in research for the World Health Organization (WHO) on family planning in Zambia, and this inspired me to want to do more and helped me to develop my own questions about improving nursing practices to improve patient care.

While working in a local teaching hospital, I helped come up with a proposal about teenage pregnancy and the provision of ante-natal clinics for them. It was noted that most of them were first seen in labour when they were admitted to give birth. This prompted me to ask about what services were available for these mothers. I thought I would use this project to help set up ante-natal clinics for teenagers.

In research I find that there are many opportunities to learn.

Having moved to the UK and having spent time working in the NHS, I applied for a position at the Oxford University Hospitals. It was my first research nurse role and I worked with an enthusiastic professor who was very keen to involve nurses in his research. Very exciting. There were always new studies and each of the studies had different research questions to answer.

In my role, I was required to attend research meetings as well as having regular meetings with the principal investigators. I really got a buzz from these meetings as I felt really involved in trying to improve health of patients for the future. I lived in Oxford during the week and went home to Bristol at the weekends. Family life was difficult because my family stayed behind in Bristol and could not relocate as the children felt settled in their schools in Bath and were not keen to move to Oxford.

Many people when they hear the word research think having a career in research is beyond them, but in research I find that there are many opportunities to learn different things. I applied for my current position in Bath to help set up a research unit in the department of General Surgery and Gastroenterology. I was the first research nurse recruited to work purely for the two units.

Initially, it was a challenge because I had to find my way around the system. With the help of the surgeons and colleagues from oncology clinical trials unit, I had to look for office space, desk and all the equipment needed. I had to ensure that everyone joining the unit had Good Clinical Practice training and I went around the wards meeting the different specialists and nurses to discuss the research we did in the unit and this was repeated as required.

It is important that I develop good working relations with non-research nurses because most of my patients are in their care. It also allows them opportunity to understand the research we are doing. I meet patients in pre-op assessment unit, wards and in outpatients. The majority of them are keen to participate in research, the phrase I hear a lot from patients is "I am doing this because I want to give something back to the NHS and community at large” and some say "If no one did this years back, we would not have the treatment we have today."

To hear these words from patients is very encouraging. Many people when they hear the word research think having a career in research is beyond them, but in research I find that there are many opportunities to learn different things as well as witnessing how research is improving lives.

Developing Nurses

Lisa Berry, Senior Research Nurse, NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Southampton

The desire to be a research nurse came from a passionate belief that healthcare needs to be evidence based. It combines all the things that I enjoy; law, ethics, clinical care and working in complete partnership with research participants. At times, healthcare can be paternalistic. Patients come to us unwell and we do things to make them better.

Whereas in research the balance of power shifts considerably, we cannot achieve medical advances without help from patients (research participants). We work with them to assess the efficacy and safety of novel therapies and there is no guarantee that participating in a research study will be of benefit to the participant. In research, the safety and wellbeing of our participants is at the centre of everything we do and the research nurse is crucial to supporting them through the whole process of taking part in research.

Research nurses bring a study to life.

There are a specific set of skills that a research nurse needs. All the skills you learn on the ward are transferable and it is essential to have a good clinical grounding. You also need to pay attention to detail, understand the principles and importance of informed consent and be extremely organised. You need to understand not only the science behind the protocol but what participation will entail for the patients/healthy volunteers taking part.

Our nurses need to have the confidence to act as an advocate for the participant and must remain clinically relevant. We specialise in experimental medicine and provide care to healthy volunteers and patients with a wide range of disease and conditions. It is possible that a participant could become very unwell during a trial and therefore it is essential that research nurses remain sufficiently engaged with their clinical training to act appropriately and quickly.

Part of my role is to ensure that researchers are allocated appropriate levels of support and that the studies are set-up in a timely, safe and efficient manner and that we deliver an excellent standard of clinical and research care. Research nurses bring a study to life; they make a huge contribution to advancing healthcare and are a valuable asset for any research team. I was a Health Care Assistant before qualifying as a nurse. Although I am passionate about research nursing, this is not enough to build a career. I would not have progressed as quickly to the role of Senior Research Sister without support, mentoring and developmental opportunities.

Since I started in research in 2006 I have seen more career opportunities. More training has become available and there is a greater understanding of what clinical research nursing is. Even I didn’t really know what research nursing was when I started. We try to encourage our nurses to consider all their development options. We facilitate academic development as needed and also strive to provide career opportunities. A few of our band 6 and 7 nurses have been very fortunate in obtaining MRes funding. The NIHR funds the course fees, salary and also backfill for their position. The NIHR fund one person to do a Masters degree in research, but really they are funding the development of two people because someone else can then act-up into a more senior role and is also developed.

Our aim is to ensure that research is fully embedded within healthcare at this hospital. All research nurses now wear a dark grey uniform. This has given us a very visible identity and it is exciting to see how integrated into and dispersed around the hospital we are. Suddenly people become very much aware of the research presence in every division.

Informed Consent

Arshiya Pereira, Research Nurse, Renal Transplant Department, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

I was trained in India to become a nurse. My first placement was in renal dialysis. I was interested in learning more about renal because of its vast subject area; renal medicine, renal transplant, research, transplant clinic and dialysis.

The main aim was to get more knowledge and experience working in a specialised unit. After moving to the UK I worked on the renal ward and dialysis unit at Sunderland Royal Hospital. I moved to Manchester as I wanted to gain more knowledge and experience of transplant. Initially working in the renal transplant clinic conducting follow up I became aware of research and I was curious about the research studies my patients had been recruited to. When a vacancy in Renal Transplant Research was advertised I applied.

I was a bit apprehensive in taking the role initially as I had heard many people say you lose your clinical skills and you do not get to take care of the patients as you would on the ward. I realise that those assumptions are inaccurate. I get to spend more time with the patients and I have discussions about the research. What we do in research today may change the way we practice medicine in the future.

Every day is different in renal research.

We work with two different types of donors, live donor transplant and cadaveric donors. With live donor transplant we know when they are coming to us. With cadaveric donors we don’t know when we are going to get the kidney. So I have to organise myself on the day itself. Recruitment always takes priority. The first thing I do each day is check if there are any transplant operations and if there are, I see if the patients are eligible for my study, and recruit them if they are happy to take part.

At times I have found it difficult to get the Principal Investigator (PI) to consent the patients because they were either in surgery or clinic. I began to wonder whether it would be possible for me to conduct informed consent? At the same time, the Trust was undertaking a scoping exercise to assess the need for clinical staff who were not doctors to take informed consent and developed policies and procedures to support us to take on this role. This is a wonderful opportunity for clinical staff who were not doctors to extend their role. Initially the role was delegated by the Principal Investigator who had to justify the need for a clinical research nurse to take the informed consent for a specific study. 

The main aim was to get more knowledge and experience working in a specialised unit. A half day training programme was developed to gain more in depth knowledge of informed consent and group activities to explore the issues and processes involved. My competency in obtaining informed consent was assessed by the PI. I passed and felt really proud of myself.

To take consent I screen the patients’ eligibility and send information sheets two weeks prior to clinic visit, so they have time to read the information and speak to family. I also consult with the respective surgeon to see whether they are happy for their patient to be approached for the particular study. When the patient comes to clinic I discuss the study and if they are happy to take part, I make sure they are fully aware of what the study involves. In total, I have taken 20 informed consents so far, which has enabled the team to recruit to time and target.

I have now been working in research for over five years. I feel that due to the skills and expertise gained in particular informed consent my leadership qualities have improved significantly. I ensure the patient feels valued, they are followed closely from their pre-transplant appointment to their aftercare and they always remember me for the care I provide for them.

Ruth Hulbert, Lead Nurse, Kent and Medway Comprehensive Local Research Network

I came into the NIHR from the pharmaceutical industry, working with GSK and then Pfizer, I was used to an environment where money was no object and it wasn’t necessary to get people on board with the idea of research. The need to influence the right people in order to get research done was completely new to me.

Clinical research nursing is definitely not for the fainthearted. Most people get into nursing for the patient contact. You still have that but you also get other experiences like handling data, project managing and making direct approaches to very senior managers and consultants. You have to be proactive which can be difficult. The patients don’t come to you, you have to go out and find them.

When I began in the Cancer Research Network my personal worry was about approaching patients to join a study. It is an unusual position for a nurse, you are asking them to help you. The first patient I recruited was a lung cancer patient for an observational trial. He was very receptive which gave me the confidence going forward.

Clinical research nursing is definitely not for the fainthearted.

Clinical Research Nursing comes with a lot of autonomy, you don’t get that freedom in other areas of nursing. Nurses are in a much better position now in clinical research as there is a much clearer career structure. Most nurses come into our CLRN as a Band 5 with some nursing experience. Our goal is to develop them, and within a year to 18 months, most become Band 6s.

Training is passion of mine. I think there is a lot of satisfaction to be gained in passing on your knowledge and skills to people who are new and inexperienced. It is great when you see people growing and becoming a more confident and competent version of themselves. I am one of the Network’s Good Clinical Practice facilitators. At the last facilitators meeting it was announced that we had now trained 30,000 people across the network, to be even a small part of that it great.

Clinical research nursing is definitely not for the fainthearted. I was twice involved in developing new networks in Kent and Medway; the Cancer Research Network and then the CLRN. There was very little research activity at the time but awareness of research is definitely starting to change. A major culture shift but there are still areas within our CLRN where there is no research activity. In the early days there was a mixture of lack of knowledge and lack of interest in research, but most of all the clinical staff didn’t realise we were there as a resource for them to handle the more time consuming aspects of starting up a trial. That has changed.

My hope is that within my lifetime research will be embedded into the NHS in Kent to such an extent that the public can go to their doctor and ask what clinical trials are available for them and their doctor will know. Wherever my career takes me from here, I know that I want to stay within research I have developed a passion for it.

Research Management

Debbie Beirne, Nurse Consultant, Cancer Research UK, Leeds

I loved research from the start. I loved the autonomy, responsibility, the degree of change, the degree of learning. When new nurses start with me I tell them that they will probably feel like a fish out of water for six months. I explain it is a very dynamic and interesting environment, not suitable for anyone who likes things to stay the same.

Adapting to change is probably the most important thing. With research we don’t want things to stay still, we want them to move forward and nurses have to be able to move with that. A big misconception is that research nurses float around with a clipboard, drink tea and work very standard hours. None of that is true. I don’t think that there is the appreciation that we are actually delivering care, not just writing protocols for others.

Research nurses can now have a role that is much broader.

I have several parts to my role – my day-to-day operational role, a translational development role, a role within my trust as a research expert for other departments, and my Cancer Research UK role in engaging with the public at events. I work with some of our clinician scientists to deliver their protocols. I help them look at what they are currently doing in the labs and how that could translate into patient care. As a result, I have some co-investigator roles on a few grants.

I have seen huge changes in almost every aspect of research since 1999, except for the fundamental of how we care for the patient. Research Governance has changed, the way we structure and deliver clinical research has changed, the way we inform people has changed. Clinical trials are much more complex than they were ten years ago, and so the role of a research nurse is much more complex too. It's a very dynamic and interesting environment, not suitable for anyone who likes things to stay the same.

Obviously medical science wants to engage with the public and keep them aware of advances but when a newspaper runs a 'magic bullet' headline it impacts the work I do. I frequently get calls from patients who don’t realise that the headline doesn’t relate to their situation or refers to something in a lab which could take us 18 months to translate. I think we have a duty to give people hope but make sure it is a realistic hope.

Research allows you a degree of personal and professional development in a more flexible framework than traditional nursing. There are lots of different avenues; Network managers and lead nurses, Trust and R&D lead nurses and new roles are always coming up. As recently as five years ago if you wanted to move beyond a Band 7 you had to leave nursing, now I am a Band 8b and still a nurse.

We need to move away from the idea that as a research nurse you are just picking up the trial and delivering it. Research nurses can now have a role that is much broader. You can be involved in writing the protocol, be a patient voice with scientists, change the research culture within the wider trust.

Patient and Public Involvement

Maggie Peat, Lead Research Nurse, Harrogate and District Foundation Trust and Patient and Public Involvement Lead North and East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Comprehensive Local Research Network

I was working as a nurse giving chemotherapy. It was just at the start of the cancer research networks. I didn’t really have much idea about what research networks might do, it just sounded like a really interesting job. When I started there was a lot of feeling your way, there wasn’t a lot of guidance around. There is a lot more now. We mentor people.

We recognised fairly early on that most student nurses didn’t really know anything about research. I wanted to show them that it wasn’t just about systematic reviews and all the really dull stuff but about actually recruiting patients into studies and the really exciting stuff of being at the sharp end of research. Student nurses absolutely loved it.

Often patients will take part in research because it's for the greater good.

Some of the Patient and Public Involvement work has been about raising awareness because patients and the public have all sorts of good ideas that we don’t think of, like putting information up on screens in patient waiting areas. Everybody is doing that now but none of us had thought of that because we didn’t wait in the waiting areas. Accessibility to information is really important. The people who need properly accessible information the most, are the people who are least likely to ask because they don’t want to look stupid or think that they are going to be judged.

It’s a simple thing that after taking consent to say to the person "right I want to be really sure that you understand what you are taking on. So can you say to me, what you might say to your wife when you get home?" It is simple but nurses are not taught how to do that. It is important that we have tools to measure understanding.

The power imbalance between a nurse and a patient is less than between a consultant and patient. It makes it easier for a patient to say no to taking part in a study. It is important, that people can say no to a trial. Patients understand the incremental process of research. One of the things they say is "all that I have benefited from has come from someone else doing a study." Often patients will take part in research because it is for the greater good or sometimes it is a positive thing to come out of something bad that has happened to them. 

I wanted to show them that it wasn’t just about systematic reviews and all the really dull stuff. I think people are sometimes terrified of signing up for Patient and Public Involvement, thinking that they may have to do more than they want to do. So all our stuff is about saying to people, you can be involved as much as you want to be, you can do the occasional information sheet, you can look at a questionnaire and comment on it or you can come and be part of a steering group. People and patients can be involved in research as much or as little as they like.

NIHR has made it easier for consultants to take a study on, partly because of the nursing infrastructure. Nurses and support staff can work with consultants and we are here to stay. If you are interested in research nursing just do it, it suits most people. We have not had anyone work here that doesn’t love doing research.

Informing the Public

Karen Doyle, Senior Nurse, Cancer Research UK

When I started, research nursing was on the fringe of nursing. At the time we were told "you look after the doctors that is your role". That old fashioned view of nursing was still there.

I started in clinical research nursing because I wanted to be using all of the knowledge that I had gathered in my career. There were nurse specialist posts but I wanted something more intriguing, more complex. I didn’t want to do nurse management because it would take me away from patients. I always wanted to be patient centred. Research nursing offered all of that. I loved the fact that research nurses were involved in the science.

There were a lot of cancer patients with horrible side effects from the treatments available at the time. I wanted to be part of something that was not just accepting what we had because there was room for improvement. I wanted to be with the team that was making things better for these patients. Initially we were given early phase work such as toxicity and safety of the drug or treatment. So lots of additional testing. I loved the intensity and you got to know patients really well. I loved that in-depth interaction.

We are getting out into the communities with the right messages.

Medical teams sometimes want to get their patients into trials for compassionate, for misguided reasons. Sometimes you will get medical teams saying "But we have no other treatment to give them." You have to be strong. A clinical trial is not a treatment option and I think people forget that. We have to make sure that it is the right thing for the patient. That is what we are there for. When deciding if a trial is the right thing for a patient it is not only the science that matters. Sometimes it is the simple questions that matter for patients. Can you take tablets? Will you be able to cope with travelling to the trial? Those questions are missed if you haven’t got a nurse. We are the practical voice that makes the trial work.

I have developed my research nursing role to include informing members of the public about research. I love talking in the community because that is where the information is needed. We are getting out into the communities with the right messages – myth busting about clinical trials. Public understanding is better than it was but it has a long way to go. I have discovered that in addition to being face to face with the patient making the difference, I can also become the person (as a trainer) who will influence the nurses who are face-to-face. I can benefit many more patients through training than I could with nursing alone. I get a lot of reward from influencing other nurses. It is not management to me, management was taking you away from patients.

Research nurse leaders should be proud. We have taken the role of nurses in research from setting out someone’s lunch to a dynamic career. We have got national research nurse networks, we have got training and we have got the support of the NIHR. The change really is dramatic. I don’t know of any other type of nursing where it has improved as much and got more respect over time. You are really working as a specialist team member. That is the way it should be.

Claire Merritt, Lead Research Nurse Manager, Dementias & Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network, Oxford

I caught the research bug in my first research post about 10 years ago. A consultant colleague had a grant to do a pilot study and asked me if I would be interested in working as a research nurse on their research study. 

I was the only research nurse and was responsible for recruitment and study delivery and very quickly learnt about how challenging it was identifying patients and accessing patients for research. Rightly, there are people who want to protect patients, but it’s about persuading them that research is a good idea. Encouraging them to introduce the idea to a patient can be hard. People think there is a large cohort of people out there for trials. In reality, the numbers are much lower than you expect them to be.

What we have done for the last seven years within DeNDRoN is about trying to facilitate a culture change within the Trusts and make research part of everyday thinking. We’ve introduced what we call link workers into teams. Each of the community mental health teams has an honorary research worker linked to it. This has been successful as they develop an understanding of what that teams needs and wants and how they work.

Working with patients is what nurses do best.

As well as building up a team it’s about building up an infrastructure to support research to happen. During the time I have been working with DeNDRoN the portfolio of research studies within Trusts has grown, as has the complexity of studies we are able to support. The key message is that research becomes embedded in patient pathways so it becomes everyone’s business and not just ours.

Our job is about helping to facilitate research to happen. Partly, that’s just continuously giving that message that research is an important activity. We’ve had a degree of success, but I think we still have a way to go to persuade all clinicians that research is their business. Some clinicians have bought into this concept well, some still argue they do not have the time to do research and some say they find research is something scary. However, research is about empowering patients and their caregivers and the general population to help.

You get a very interesting range of people who are keen to take part in research. Some people want to be able to access something that may make a difference to their relatives or themselves. Others have altruistic motives and want to help, because it will help others rather than help themselves. On the other hand some people don’t really understand what we mean by research, or feel it’s too scary or risky or too much of a burden. So education is important. We must always remember we work with people in crisis and sometimes it is not the right time for them to consider research.

Working with patients is what nurses do best. So for most research nurses the contact with patients bit deals with itself. There is though a lot to learn and it’s all the other stuff around research you have to work hard at. As a lead nurse most of my job is about providing clinical leadership to staff, making sure that things happen and supporting workforce development. Key to what I do is making sure we have the right people with the right training in order for us to do research that can go on to make a difference to people in the future. Everything we do is about forward thinking, you always have to be thinking about the future.

Toward the end of a long career in mental health nursing I am really pleased to have found myself following a career in research. I am quite passionate about working in research. You have to believe in research to make this job a success.

Patient Care

Kathryn Kennedy, Trainee Advanced Clinical Research Nurse Practitioner, Manchester Clinical Research Facility

When I worked as a clinical nurse we did not have that much interaction with the research nurses who came onto the ward, even though most of the children were on trial drugs with a protocol I don’t think I really understood what that meant. Because I was nosy and interested I got to know more about the research side of things.

When I started in clinical research nursing the studies were lower intensity to what we have now, generally well children in an out-patient setting. At first it felt like a little bit of step back on the clinical side but that gave me the opportunity to really develop my research knowledge.

The team is now dealing in phase 1, phase 2 trials now in children who have no other treatment options, sometimes quite unwell, so we are in the heart of clinical nursing on a daily basis. The role of the research nurse is critical to keeping families motivated to stay on the trial … we spend a lot of time ensuring that their journey through the trial is a positive experience.

Our expertise is essential in ensuring that the study runs smoothly.

I think the perception of losing the clinical part of the nursing role perhaps puts some people off. Friends have expressed that they would not consider research because they see it as a very academic, very administrative based role. That could not be further from the truth. We don’t cut corners with informed consent. Parents need to understand at a level where they are able to put their emotions to one side and make a decision based on the knowledge we have given them.

Some of our children come from Europe and can be re located in this country for up to 6 months with their family. The research nurse is very much responsible for that relocation, as the liaison with hospital services or sponsors, ensuring bank accounts are in place, other children are getting educated. A lot of biotech companies are new companies. It might only be their third or fourth clinical trial.

Our expertise is essential in ensuring that the study runs smoothly. It is not reasonable to involve parents in that process if these things have not been thought through. We are invited earlier now to go to (sponsor and management) meetings because they are recognising our expertise. We are the ones who understand how to get things right from the very beginning.

I am a trainee advanced practitioner due to qualify in September. It is really exciting to be the first. This is a brand new role to research; able to recruit children to clinical trials, deal with physical examinations, prescribe and see patients without the support of a medic. As an advanced practitioner we can provide support for PIs hopefully this will ease some of that pressure so that trials that we wouldn’t perhaps have been able to do, because there wasn’t the medical support, get done.

I wasn’t sure that research nursing was somewhere I would stay forever. I wanted the research knowledge and experience but knew that my heart would be in clinical nursing. This new opportunity coming along has allowed me to be even more clinical in research nursing.

My new role has generated interest from other nurses that did not know this kind of role would be possible in research. You get to make a difference in a very different way. I still get to look after sick children which is what I always liked about nursing. But now there is a deeper level to this.

Supporting Primary Care

Julia Rooney, NIHR Primary Care Research Nurse, Kent, Surrey and Sussex Clinical Research Network

I used to manage the cardiac care unit at Brighton for many years. I also had a period in the Middle East working in a heart centre. When I came back I worked for the heart network in Sussex where I also worked within primary care which was great experience as it is very different from secondary care.

I am now a research nurse working in primary care, coordinating and running studies in practices where there isn’t capacity to carry out research. I started in this post six months ago and I have found it to be a very fulfilling job for many reasons. It is so rewarding what you get back from patients who want to be involved in research for the greater good

In nursing you cannot move forward without research and we are an evidenced based profession, for example we wouldn’t have made the advances we have in the treatment of heart attack patients without research. The autonomy you get within this role and the one-to-one patient contact you have means the whole process is extremely worthwhile. I cannot recommend the role highly enough. I was looking for a something that would get me more contact with patients and a new challenge … it allows me to utilise my clinical background and experience within research and means I can make a difference that way.

As a nurse you always are an advocate for patients. You make sure they are the priority in the research.

I was apprehensive recruiting my first patient despite years of experience in nursing. I am a bit of a perfectionist and wanted to get it right, taking the informed consent, making sure the patients understood what they were entering into. Once you start it becomes very natural. In my previous position I was moving further away from patients and then this opportunity came up. Everyone who asks about my job I say 'I love it! There isn’t anything I don’t like about it'. People are probably getting a bit bored of me talking about it now.

I underestimated the job in the beginning. I knew it was something I wanted to do but I underestimated how much I would love it and how much of a difference I could make to patients’ lives. This will change lives for future generations. You actually get time with a patient. In that hour or so you can hear other concerns they have and you can talk to them and advise them. You get the opportunity to discuss issues that may be of concern to the patient.

My working days vary so much, for example for one study I arrive in clinic, order a courier to collect the bloods, get the clinic room ready and all of the paperwork. Then you consent the patient and run the study. I might have to then go to another clinic in another practice to complete paperwork or run a shorter clinic. I genuinely don’t have two days the same. If you have the clinical background just do clinical research. Until you are doing the job you cannot be sure how fantastic it is. The studies I am involved in will change lives. You cannot put a price on that.

Susan Read, NIHR Primary Care Research Nurse, West Midlands Local Clinical Research Network

Five years ago the Midlands Research Practices Consortium (MidRec) secured funding to recruit some half-time research nurse posts based in local GP research active practices. I’ve always been interested in research and was working in a very busy GP surgery at the time, seeing patients every 5-10 minutes, with no quality time available to spend with my patients. I thought this job would give me the opportunity to spend more satisfactory time with patients while becoming involved in gathering accurate information to provide evidence based medicine.

I was the first nurse appointed and now part of a successful team of six nurses, based in our own individual surgeries, overseen by a Lead Research Nurse. Before we started running research studies in our nominated surgeries our Lead Nurse manager ensured that we underwent a programme of mandatory training so we had an understanding of what was required to safely be involved in research.

We have this supportive network of research nurses which makes for a powerful effective team.

Gradually the studies came in and I remember being asked by Professor McManus how many studies we were running and I said we were currently running about 20 studies. He was surprised. I think that opened the GPs’ eyes and they realised the opportunity they had with the support of the nurses.

Many studies are observational where you are looking and extracting data. We also look at feasibility of studies, so we are contacted by a study manager and asked to find out the number of patients we have. So we can go back to the study team and say these are the numbers for this head of population which we think you will be able to access at these surgeries.

The medical knowledge nurses have comes in useful when running feasibility studies. We can search effectively for eligible patients. We significantly help the GPs. I remember my first patient recruited to a study. I was absolutely thrilled because patients were willing to participate in the study where we were doing near patient testing and baseline health measurements with immediate feedback of results which we then had time to discuss. If necessary the patients could be referred back to their GP for any concerns that were highlighted.

The patient contact, the communication pathway that opened up in the last five years with the team has given me job satisfaction. We really feel included more so now than ever before. What pleases me the most is that although we are autonomous within our own environment there are five other host nurses. We have this supportive network of research nurses which makes a powerful effective team. We have opened up effective pathways between the university, study teams and other professionals. If they need help or an answer to a query we can normally provide the information quickly and efficiently because we have close contact with the GPs.

If someone is considering a career in research I would say come and join me for a day and see things first hand. Many of the host nurses have come from a Practice nurse background and have a wide range of knowledge because you can in any given day look after babies, give travel jabs, look after women’s health to caring for a patients with a chronic condition. Over the years our training has covered an enormous remit.

You learn a lot from problems, you have to be pragmatic and always look for solutions. When they set up this scheme, we were a pilot study. The success of the Pilot enabled funding to continue and currently the NIHR fund us through their networks even after MidRec itself came to an end. Patients deserve the opportunity to be involved in research.

Building Social Media Networks

Nathaniel Mills, Research Nurse Manager, Clinical Research Network: Yorkshire and Humber

My research career started in 2007. I was working in a large teaching hospital, part-time research and part-time primary care. When I started there was some negativity around working in research from colleagues who thought it was not real nursing. They thought it wasn’t direct patient care. But for me it was something I felt I could do to make a difference.

The whole notion of improving health and wellbeing through research appeals to me. I joined the NIHR Clinical Research Facility in Sheffield when it was a relatively new facility and I was in one of the first cohorts of research nurses. As a novice to clinical research you think ‘what’s it all about?’ but with experience and as time goes on, you physically see a patient’s symptoms improving. That gave me a great deal of job satisfaction.

In some cases the patient you see at the beginning of a trial is different to the same patient at the end of the trial. This is not just because they have had an trial intervention but because you, the nurse and the research team have given them the support and care that comes with trial participation.

I am passionate about twitter because it pulls together these groups of people who have common themes and needs.

When the NIHR Coordinating Centre began to consider social media as a tool to support research staff and utilise established tools, I became involved in the work of the NIHR Clinical Research Network Nurses Strategy Board. I met up with Fiona O’Neill, a few colleagues and Teresa Chinn from ‘@WeNurses’ to start up a clinical research nursing network on twitter. Teresa was inspiring in the sense that she’s a nurse working on her own and used social media to connect with other nurses. She now has a community of over 10,000 active and innovative followers.

So we developed a social media strategy (#crnnurse) with the aim of connecting the clinical research nursing community - especially reaching out to those nurses working in silos, something which is common in clinical research. We advertised this through the Clinical Research Network newsletter, and widely on Twitter we have regular ‘tweet chat’ debates and anyone who has anything to say about clinical research can participate - this has led to an active and vibrant community on social media.

Sometimes I get the odd negative responses such as 'I don’t want to do this in my own time' or 'what’s the point?' and that’s the beauty of it, you don’t have to, you can participate as much or as little as you like, the conversation is always going on.

Since its launch we have achieved a lot. We have a community of nurses and international nurses from the USA, Australia, South America and North Africa. We promote good practice and social media brings the learning to the community ... it’s free, cheap and easy. People who link in to our network can find out which Trusts are running trials. Problems can be shared rather than dealing with them by yourself, because it is highly likely someone will have already encountered the problem. So I would encourage nurses to get out there and start networking through social media, it can help make the life of clinical research nurses much easier.

I think the future is whatever you want it to be in terms of social media. If we do it right we can respond to what the nursing community wants. I am passionate about twitter because it pulls together these groups of people who have common themes and needs. Of course we have to consider what we say on a public forum, but we are all professional nurses and we are accountable for our actions. Follow me @natwm10 or @resnurse.

How to Write a Supporting Statement with Examples

Learning how to write a supporting statement is important. Supporting statements have over recent years become an important part of the application process. This is partly because sending a CV/resume when applying for a job has become easier than ever before. Employers are flooded with applications! On the flip side this has made it harder for  the hiring managers to decide whether a person’s is simply spamming their CV and if interest is genuine or not. A personal statement is a great way of filtering that challenge. In this blog post you’re going to learn how to write a supporting statement with examples.

What is a supporting statement

A supporting statement can be considered as a shorter and more concise version of your cover letter.  It should be no longer than two paragraphs long and take up approximately a quarter of an A4 sheet of paper,  so up to between 80 to 150 words. 

Why are supporting statements important?

Supporting statements have a starring role in the modern job application process. The role of the supporting statement is to provide added value to your CV or resume.  If your CV or resume is the cake, then the supporting statement will be the icing. It’s an enhancer there to help your CV shine and provide colour to the content. You could even say it is the job application equivalent of MSG,  it’s there to bring out the flavour in your CV.  Although unlike MSG It has no effect on your health! 

Companies also value the fact that you have gone the extra mile when writing a supporting statement for a job. By not simply sending your CV, but also demonstrating that you have an authentic interest in that particular position.  This will make it easier for you in your job application  to ultimately get through to the interview stage. At the interview stage it’s important to learn the STAR interview technique as well as know which killer interview questions work best. To be able to master this skill I would recommend that you consider interview coaching , as it will allow you to shine in your interviews.

In the rest of this post we’re going to cover the various key aspects when it comes to writing a supporting statement.  Furthermore to also discuss example supporting statements. 

How to start a supporting statement

When starting to write your supporting statement  The key is to build context quickly you’re trying to paint a picture as fast as possible in the hiring manager’s mind.  When learning how to write the start of a supporting statement, it’s essential that you mentioned the following:

•  Your Job Title or Specialisation as a professional.
• The number of years experience you have. 
• The type of industries or organisations that you’ve worked for or with.

The reason why listing your job title or specialisation is very important is that when it comes to writing a supporting statement for a job, this helps instantly build context.  The reader will be able to understand your current role and can visualise what you might be doing in your job.  Now if it’s the case that your job title doesn’t align very well for the vacancy that you are applying for, maybe you are trying to move into a more senior position. Then  it’s better to mention your specialisation, saying something along the lines of marketing professional rather than marketing coordinator   since your job title of marketing coordinator is lower than that of a marketing manager which is the role that you’re targeting.

Mentioning the number of years that you have experienced again goes back to the fundamental principles on how to  write a job supporting statement, which is to create context quickly. By mentioning the number of years they automatically know how experienced you are. Usually experience correlates with the seniority of the role that you’re applying for for example if you’ve got two years of experience it’s very unlikely that you will be going for a manager role. However it is generally acceptable that if you have around 4 years experience that a manager position is something you’d be suitable to apply for. So  from my experience there’s very little negative when it comes to measuring the number of years. 

Also by talking about the organisations and industries that you’ve worked in, goes back to that to the importance of painting a picture very quickly when writing a supporting or summarising statement.  Particularly if you have worked with or for well-known recognisable brands. This aspect of starting your statement  is critical. 

How to write a supporting statement

To write a personal statement  there are a number of  important principles  to follow. Below are the list of three key steps you will be able to write a supporting statement for a job whatever your level of experience.

• Be descriptive by using figures and numbers
• Talk about the  quantifiable skills that you possess
• Mention something specific that impressed you about the organisation or the role

1) Be descriptive by using figures and numbers

To write a supporting statement first you need to understand that a  supporting statement  has to be concise and numbers are critical in creating context and understanding quickly. By saying the number of years of experience that you have,  the amount of people that you’ve led, the size of the budgets that you manage, and how much money you’ve generated or saved  within your company. Will instantly have a positive impact!

2) Talk about the quantifiable skills that you possess

Remember that you’re trying to build a picture as quickly as possible about you in the shower for the shortest amount of time. Soft skills are very difficult to express in writing because they are subjective and require greater explanation.  Talking about  your quantifiable skills can instantly allow the hiring manager to see your level of competence in ability to do the job for example if you have experience of  a particular type of programming language such as Java or have experience of using software’s such as SAS.   Or that you know a particular type of analysis technique when conducting research that is easy for others to appreciate and understand.

3) Mention something specific that impressed you about the organisation or the role

A key aspect of the supporting statement  compared to a Resume or CV is that you’re showcasing and demonstrating specific interest in that role or the organisation therefore it’s vital that you do that.  One of the ways that you can do this is to Showcase in the research that you’ve done  on the organisation  by mentioning alignment of their values with yours, where specifically their vision and goals, finally alignment with what you will bring to the table. 

How long should a supporting statement be?

The recommended length of a supporting statement should be between 100 to 150 words and a maximum of two to three paragraphs long. This is an important rule to stick to because you do not want your supporting statement becoming too long and turning into a cover letter because then it defeats the whole purpose and function of what the supporting or summarising statement is supposed to do. Especially statements when applying to competitive companies such as Google, Amazon , AWS, the NHS and Civil service . If you’re interested in writing a personal statement with example definitely visit our blog section to read more. 

Tips for writing your supporting statement

There’s important factors that you need to consider when writing a supporting statement. We’ve already discussed the key components in terms of structuring your supporting statement; however now I will give you some strategies to make it easy for you to write a supporting statement.

• Less is more! Think about how you can write something as concisely as possible, think Twitter rather than a Facebook post.
• Use positive emotive language to speak about yourself.
• If you’re not sure about  exact facts and figures, have used approximately or between e.g. approximately £10m, between 20-30 staff members.

Supporting statement templates

So now we’re going to look at some supporting statement examples as well as templates.  This includes statements to support job application examples. 

[Current job title] possessing over [years of experience], working for the likes of [companies you’ve worked for or with]. Expertise include [list technical expertise]. Garnering a track record of success [ list achievements].

I’m excited by this opportunity at [organisation name] firstly because I believe your mission of [organisation mission] and values [ list values] align with my own. Secondly because I believe that my experiences are an excellent match for [list job title] and I would love to have the opportunity to demonstrate my credentials further in an interview.

So above is a simple yet effective template statement to support job application example. By using it you will be able to write job statements when applying without much stress or bother.

Supporting Statement Examples

Now we’re going to look at some supporting statement example UK, USA, UAE, Singapore and Australia. Also to write a statement examples for anywhere else in the world.

Example 1: Supporting Statement For Digital marketing expert

“My name is [Name]. An experienced digital marketing expert with over 5 years of experience working for the likes of  Barclays, JP Morgan, Vans and Adidas. Expertise include developing bespoke social media campaigns across Facebook YouTube Instagram Snapchat and Tiktok.  generating revenues in excess of 2 million dollars. 

I’m interested in this opportunity because your vision on how to make creative content for big brand, as well as your values of innovation respect any quality align with my own.  I believe that with my experience, knowledge and expertise I can contribute to your organisation and would love the opportunity to be invited for an interview.”

Example 2: Supporting Statement For business analyst

“My name is [Name]. MBA-qualified Business Analyst with over 7 years professional experience within the Healthcare, Automotive and Aerospace sector.  This includes working for Jaguar Land Rover, Airbus and NHS England. Expertise include business process mapping,  multiple stakeholder management,  and Excel.  Successfully helped deliver over 5 key business Improvement projects valued between £5m-£10m.

I’m excited by the possibility of working with  your organisation, your values of  honesty, integrity and fun, as well as your desire  to create green solutions for the transportation sector. This  is something that aligns with my own personal values and mission.  I would love to have the opportunity to be able to discuss my credentials in an interview.”

Sample of Supporting Statement for Job Application (with Examples!)

Crafting a Stellar Supporting Statement:

This article provides a sample supporting statement in British English, explores key elements to include, and offers dos and don’ts to guide your writing.

Sample Supporting Statement:

Here’s an example to get you started (remember to tailor it to the specific job you’re applying for):

“I’m a highly experienced [current job title or expertise] with over [list years of experience] of experience working for reputable companies such as [list companies you’ve worked for]. My expertise includes [list areas of specific expertise]. I have a demonstrably successful track record, for instance, [list accomplishments, provide figures where possible].

I’m particularly interested in this opportunity because [list your specific reason regarding what’s impressed you about the company]. I believe that with my experience, knowledge and expertise I can make a significant contribution to your organisation’s goals. I’m confident my skills align well with the job description [link relevant skills]. I’m keen to learn more and discuss how I can be an asset to your team. Please don’t hesitate to contact me to schedule an interview.”

What to Include in a Supporting Statement

Here are five key areas to consider when writing your supporting statement. Aim to integrate all five if possible, but a minimum of three is crucial.

1) Alignment with the Job Description:

Matching your experiences to the job description is paramount. This demonstrates your qualifications and how you meet the required criteria. You can highlight this alignment at the beginning or end of your statement (see the provided Sample Supporting Statement for examples).

2) Include Your Skills and Experience:

This is arguably the most critical part. Showcase your skills and experiences in a direct manner, demonstrating your ability to excel in the role. List your years of experience, specific quantifiable skills, and the companies you’ve worked for (especially prestigious or well-known ones).

3) Your Education and Training:

For professionals with extensive experience, education and training might be less important. However, if you’re a recent graduate or have less experience (under two years), emphasizing your education and training is crucial. It helps bridge the gap and convinces the reader that despite your experience level, you possess valuable skills acquired through your studies and training.

4) Mention Your Past Achievements:

Quantify your skills, experiences, education, and training by mentioning past achievements. Avoid longwinded paragraphs. Integrate facts and figures to provide context quickly and keep your statement concise.

5) Your Goals for the Future:

Expressing your future goals is important, but ensure they align with the company’s vision, mission, and values. A strong alignment demonstrates you’d be a perfect match.

Dos and Don’ts for Writing Your Supporting Statement

Do’s:

• Be factual: Facts build context quickly and allow you to pack more content within a limited word count (ideally two or so paragraphs , max three-quarters of a page ).
• Highlight skills, experiences, past achievements, and future goals that align with the job description.
• Get to the point: A supporting statement has limited space and reader attention. Focus on your unique selling points.
• Name-drop prestigious companies you’ve worked for.
• Show research: Mention specific details about the company demonstrating you’ve done your research.

Don’ts:

• Exceed three-quarters of a page. A lengthy statement is a turn-off.
• Use unquantifiable words: Avoid generic terms like “excellent communication,” “hardworking,” or “committed.”
• Focus on what you want from the job: The emphasis should be on what you can offer the company.
• Treat it like a cover letter: It’s shorter and more focused.
• Use a generic statement: Tailor each statement to the specific job you’re applying for.

The best supporting statement engages the hiring manager and piques their curiosity to learn more about you and invite you for an interview.

FAQ’s

Is a supporting statement a cover letter?

No. A supporting statement is concise and to the point, while a cover letter is more personalised and longer.

How to end a supporting statement?

End with a call to action, such as offering to discuss your experience further in a phone call or interview.

Ideal length for a supporting statement?

Two paragraphs (less than half a page).

How long is a supporting statement?

As mentioned previously, supporting statement should be ideally no longer than two paragraphs and less than half a page.  at a push you could have three but then you shouldn’t be longer than three quarters of a page. 

What is the best supporting statement?

The best supporting statement is that which engages the  hiring manager,  and stimulates their curiosity to want to know more about you and invite you in for a job interview.

What is the first line of a supporting statement?

 there are no specific first lines from supporting statement however you could start with the following:

Finance professional with over 20 years experience in…

Graduate in physics from the University of Oxford with experience of…

How do you start a supporting paragraph example?

“I’m an experienced [current job title or expertise] with over [list years of experience] of experience working for the likes of  [list companies you’ve worked for]. Expertise include [list areas of specific expertise].  I have successfully [list accomplishments, provide figures where possible].

Farhan Raja

I'm Farhan, the Founder and Coach at JobInterviewology.com, one of the world’s leading Career and interview Coaching specialists. Bringing over a decade of industry experience and a passion for guiding individuals in their career journeys. As an Interview and Career Coach, I've authored the eBook '10 Simple Steps to CV & Resume Success,' directed a leading UK CV writing specialist, and pioneered the iPREP interview coaching methodology. My career and interview coaching has spanned over 10 years across diverse industries, from IT giants like Google and Microsoft to vital sectors like Civil Service & NHS, Pharma, Finance, Engineering, Automotive, Construction, Logistics, Banking, and Management Consulting. I've had the privilege of assisting professionals in presenting their best selves, and targeting roles at renowned companies like Amazon, GSK, EY, Shell, Rolls Royce and more.

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• Universities

How to Write an Effective Supporting Statement for Nursing Jobs

Getting hired as a nurse can be competitive, with many qualified candidates applying for limited openings. While your resume summarizes your skills and experience, the supporting statement gives you an opportunity to expand on key details and make a compelling case for why you are the ideal candidate. In this comprehensive guide, learn how to craft an attention-grabbing supporting statement that will help your nursing job application stand out.

In this Article:

Understanding Supporting Statements

Also referred to as a personal statement, cover letter, or letter of intent, a supporting statement for nursing jobs accompanies your resume and explains why you want the job and how you are qualified. It allows you to highlight your suitability for the role in your own words.Supporting statements are typically one page in length and consist of 3-5 concise paragraphs.

They should be tailored to each specific nursing position you apply for rather than reused for multiple applications.An effective supporting statement should cover:

• Why you want to work for the healthcare organization or unit
• How your skills, values, and experience align with the job description and organization
• Examples that demonstrate you possess the required competencies
• What unique strengths you would bring to the nursing team

Spending time crafting a thoughtful supporting statement is worth the effort, as it can make the difference in whether your application gets noticed. Hiring managers use it to evaluate your communication abilities, motivation, and potential cultural fit.

Crafting an Impactful Opening Paragraph

Your opening paragraph needs to capture the hiring manager’s interest straight away. There are several approaches you can use:

Referencing the job description.

Mention the exact nursing position and specialty you are applying for. This shows you have carefully reviewed the job description.

I am writing to apply for the Registered Nurse position specializing in pediatric critical care at Children’s Hospital.

Lead with your nursing license type (RN, LPN/LVN), education level, certifications, and years of experience to showcase your qualifications.

As a licensed family nurse practitioner with over 5 years of experience and dual certification in adult-gerontology and psychiatric mental health, I am thrilled to apply for the Nurse Practitioner position in your Neurology Clinic.

Highlighting your passion .

Open with a sentence about why you are passionate about the patient population, clinical environment, or nursing specialty. This helps demonstrate cultural fit.

Providing compassionate end-of-life care to hospice patients and their families is my true passion in nursing.

Mentioning a connection.  

If you have a contact at the organization or hospital, briefly state how you are connected to convey interest.

Jane Smith, Chief Nursing Officer at Community Hospital, suggested I contact you regarding the open ICU Nursing Supervisor role.

Using a relevant quote.  

Consider incorporating an inspiring quote from a prominent nurse or healthcare leader that reflects values important to you.

As Florence Nightingale once said, “I attribute my success to this – I never gave or took any excuse.” I live by those words as a nurse every day.

Describing a defining moment.  

Share a 1-2 sentence powerful anecdote that sparked your interest in the specialty to build rapport with the reader.

Seeing the joy on a patient’s face after rehabilitation helped him walk again inspired me to pursue a career in physical therapy nursing.

Spotlighting an achievement.  

If you have received an impressive award or recognition, mention it to highlight your capabilities.

As the 2024 recipient of the Magnet Nurse of the Year Award at my hospital, I have a proven track record of nursing excellence.

State the value you offer .

Demonstrate what makes you a strong candidate by clearly stating the key attributes you would bring to the organization.

As an RN with 10 years of medical-surgical experience and a passion for mentoring novice nurses, I am well-prepared to excel in the Nursing Professional Development Practitioner role.

Set yourself apart.

Mention a standout qualification, skill, or personality trait not evident from your resume alone that distinguishes you.

Fluent in Spanish after living abroad, I can easily communicate with and bridge cultural gaps to provide quality care for Hispanic and Latino patients.

Explaining Why You Are Applying for the Position

The next section of your supporting statement should expand on what initially attracted you to the open nursing job. Consider including:Your professional interests. Share what piqued your interest in applying for the job and why it appeals to you. Show how the role aligns with your career goals in nursing.

As an operating room nurse passionate about the fast-paced surgical environment, I am eager to take on a leadership position as the OR Nurse Manager at your hospital.

Personalized praise for the organization. Let them know you researched the healthcare facility, hospital, or unit. Compliment a quality, achievement, or aspect of their mission that resonates with you.

I have followed University Health’s outstanding reputation over the past 5 years and regularly refer patients to your top-notch cancer center. The nursing research studies led by your team are truly best-in-class.

Patient population interests. For patient-facing nursing jobs, describe what draws you to caring for the particular patient group you would work with.

I am committed to supporting individuals battling substance abuse to turn their lives around. As a psychiatric nurse, I would welcome the chance to positively impact patients undergoing addiction treatment in your rehabilitation facility.

Unit environment interests. If applying for a hospital nursing job, explain what interests you about the workflow, technology, or team structure of the specific unit.

The state-of-the-art NICU at Children’s Hospital, with a cutting-edge electronic medical records system and collaborative patient rounding model, provides an optimal environment to grow as a neonatal critical care nurse.

Location or schedule interests. For candidates relocating or with scheduling needs, emphasize benefits related to placement or work arrangements that attracted you.

My husband’s job recently relocated to the Dallas metro area, so I am thrilled to discover a Pediatric Nurse opportunity at a well-regarded hospital system like Texas Children’s close to our new home.

Advancement opportunities. Share your career goals if applying for a nursing job you see as a stepping stone to progress professionally long-term.

I hope to gain broad medical-surgical experience as an RN at Tampa General Hospital that I can leverage to specialize eventually in oncology nursing and care coordination.

Existing professional relationships or connections. If you know someone at the healthcare organization or were referred by an employee, mention that relationship.

After connecting at a professional development conference last year, Kelly James, Chief Nursing Informatics Officer, encouraged me to consider open roles on your innovative EMR optimization team at Kaiser Permanente.

Matching Nursing Skills and Experience to the Role

The next section is your chance to connect the dots between your background and the nursing job’s requirements. Avoid simply relisting items already on your resume. Instead, spotlight 2-3 standout experiences showcasing capabilities needed for the position.

For each example you provide, follow the STAR method:

• Situation – Briefly explain the setting and your role
• Task – Describe a major duty or responsibility you held
• Action – Share what steps you personally took to complete tasks or resolve issues that arose
• Result – Quantify your accomplishments and positive outcomes achieved

When determining which credentials and nursing competencies to highlight, carefully compare the language used in the job description against your own background. Also emphasize any overlays with the organization’s mission and values.Here are examples of aligning background and skills to common nursing job requirements:

Patient care delivery experience

As an RN in the pediatric unit, I was responsible for the daily care of up to 10 young patients. When a medical emergency arose with a nonverbal autistic boy, I kept him calm using therapeutic communication techniques while swiftly administering the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge an obstruction. This quick reaction prevented a grave outcome, reflecting my competence managing stressful situations. Patient satisfaction scores consistently ranked in the 98th percentile under my care.

Healthcare technology skills

As the lead super user during my hospital’s transition from Meditech to Epic EMR, I rapidly learned system functionality to develop 25 tip sheets and train over 100 nurses on charting, eMARs, medication scanning, and order entry to boost user adoption rates to 90% within 6 weeks post-go-live. My informatics nurse manager commended these efforts, which were published internally as best practices for the healthcare system.

Leadership or management experience

While serving as the weekend charge nurse, I resolved a patient complaint escalated to the CNO regarding cold food with empathy and ownership. After analyzing root causes, I spearheaded a process improvement plan, collaborating cross-functionally with dietary and facilities staff to upgrade insulation and heating on meal carts. Patient satisfaction scores subsequently jumped from the 62nd to the 81st percentile over the next quarter.

Quality and safety track record

As patient safety chair for my unit-based council the previous year, I partnered with infection prevention to champion proper PPE technique through educational posters and competency checks. These initiatives led hand hygiene compliance rates to reach an all-time high of 98% by Q4, reducing HAIs hospital-wide 10% below the national benchmark. I received the DAISY Award for my efforts driving cultural transformation.

Previous specialty exposure

Through my nursing externship rotation, I directly cared for chemotherapy patients in the hematology/oncology clinic, thoroughly learning infusion protocols for various anti-neoplastics while closely monitoring for adverse reactions. Additionally, I educated newly diagnosed patients and families on treatment plans, effects and side effects using lay terminology and nonverbal cues to ease anxiety. My person-centered communication style earned praise from patients and staff alike.

Mentorship or teaching experience

As a nurse residency program preceptor for two years, I taught, coached, and evaluated 10 newly graduated nurses transitioning from academia to practice. Drawing from my own experience as a novice nurse, I developed an extensive orientation checklist covering unit workflows, documentation, equipment operation, and typical patient scenarios. My constructive feedback, paired with compassionate support through errors, boosted my preceptees’ confidence and competence. My current and former orientees still consult me as an informal mentor.

I actively maintain and enhance my professional competencies, recently completing an accredited course on proper NG tube insertion and care through ANA’s Center for Continuing Education. Additionally, I hold an MSN in Nursing Education, further cultivating my clinical instruction abilities. I have presented in-services on restraint alternatives and delirium prevention at my hospital. Pursuing lifelong learning enables me to provide higher quality, evidence-based nursing care.

Language skills

As a native Spanish speaker, I served as an interpreter to break language barriers during appointments for Spanish-speaking families in my pediatric clinic, allowing them to make more informed healthcare decisions regarding well-child visits, vaccinations, and basic care instructions. My bilingual capabilities fostered better patient understanding and satisfaction.

Other relevant credentials

In addition to holding an active RN license and BSN degree, I obtained my Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) certification last year, validating mastery over a broad range of emergency and trauma care topics. I believe this expertise in critical thinking, assessment, triaging, wound management, and diagnostics would transfer well to a fast-paced Emergency Department RN position at your hospital.

Aligning Your Nursing Values

It is also important your supporting statement reflects how your nursing values and priorities align with those of the healthcare organization.First, thoroughly research their mission statement, philosophy of care, community initiatives, and culture to identify commonalities you share.

Next, describe 1-2 anecdotes or examples from your background showcasing how you embody these shared values in your nursing practice:Patient-centered care

One teenage boy with chronic illnesses resisted necessary treatments because medical experiences scared him. I built rapport through games and books, gaining insight on his fears, interests, and coping mechanisms. This mutually trusting relationship promoted his willingness to adhere to therapies, epitomizing my patient-centered, holistic care approach.

Health equity and community health

I volunteered delivering vaccines and medical supplies to underserved neighborhoods during a meningitis outbreak, providing culturally competent education to increase vaccination acceptance among hesitant immigrant groups. Helping vulnerable communities access healthcare and overcome barriers aligns with my vision to reduce disparities.

Evidence-based practice

I continually reference current peer-reviewed journal articles and clinical practice guidelines when developing customized care plans for my patients, evaluating the scientific merit behind existing protocols before adopting standard nursing interventions. Advocating evidence-based best practices leads to optimal patient outcomes.

Compassion and caring

I build meaningful connections with my geriatric patients through active listening and small kindnesses like greeting each by name or keeping their favorite snacks on hand. Nurturing their spirits through genuine human interaction makes every day brighter, even during advanced illnesses. Spreading compassion is fundamental to my nursing ethos.

Continuous quality improvement

I believe even reliable processes can be enhanced. I engage in performance improvement to strengthen nursing workflows, volunteering to pilot the trial of new initiatives. My proactive participation in unit projects to optimize patient transfers, central line maintenance, and discharge education advanced quality of care.

Researching the Role and Organisation

Thorough research is the foundation of an effective supporting statement tailored to a specific nursing position. You must demonstrate solid understanding of the organisation and role through your statement.

Being as specific as possible confirms your genuine interest. It also enables you to shape your examples and achievements around the position’s requirements.Ensure you have a clear picture of elements such as:

• The organisation’s culture and values
• Challenges and opportunities currently facing the team
• Knowledge and skills essential to the post
• How your strengths can contribute to service objectives

Check the organisation’s website along with the job description to build this understanding.

Structuring Your Nursing Supporting Statement

With word counts often restricted, structure is key to developing an engaging nursing statement that flows logically. This ensures you make the most persuasive case for your suitability within the limits.Follow these steps when structuring your statement:

1. Engaging Opening

Your opening paragraph is crucial for immediately capturing attention. Avoid generic statements about why you want to be a nurse. Instead opt for an interesting anecdote, statistic or question to draw the reader in.

For example, you could refer to a recent news story or report reflecting challenges within that field of nursing. This demonstrates your awareness of the current landscape.

2. Nursing Motivation

The next section should expand on what motivates this application. Communicate your reasons for pursuing this area of nursing with sincerity.Discuss aspects of the specialism that align with your interests, values and aspirations. Referencing patient groups you’re passionate about working with adds authenticity.

3. Relevant Knowledge and Skills

This section forms the main body of your statement. Systematically outline your major strengths and achievements tailored to the role requirements.Group these into 2-3 paragraphs ordered by importance, h.

Nursing Supporting Statement Example

Now let’s explore a sample supporting statement showcasing the above structure and principles.

After reading the Royal Marsden’s latest annual report, I was excited to discover a new Children’s Unit is being developed. Having trained at an excellent paediatric placement, I would relish the opportunity to join the team establishing this specialist service. Seeing young patients develop in confidence and ability through compassionate nursing care is intensely rewarding.My passion for paediatric nursing stems from my previous hospital volunteer work. Assisting with recreational activities for children undergoing treatment sparked my interest in boosting mental wellbeing. Additionally, as a former special needs teaching assistant, I understand the importance of adapting communication approaches. My aim is to continue leveraging this experience to forge trusting nurse-patient relationships with children.Core capabilities I will bring to this role include advanced clinical skills such as venepuncture, nasogastric tube insertion and administering injections. During my training, I consistently received positive feedback on gently gaining paediatric patients’ cooperation for procedures while explaining things clearly. My dissertation research into distractions for needle phobia also reflects my dedication to developing my expertise. Additionally, I have proven ability de-escalating situations through conflict resolution training.In summary, this role appeals because of the considerable scope to enhance the hospital experience for young patients. My ambition to qualify as a children’s nurse while continually expanding my specialist knowledge equip me to positively impact outcomes. I look forward to applying my passion for building rapport and trust with patients to support the Royal Marsden’s excellent reputation.

This example hits all the key sections in a succinct and compelling manner. It quickly establishes the writer’s genuine interest and suitability for this children’s nursing position.

The writer uses active language, relevant examples and a professional tone throughout. Grouped paragraphs and brief yet informative sentences also aid scannability for the reader.

Further Supporting Statement Resources

To recap, an impactful nursing supporting statement requires:

• Demonstrating understanding of the organisation and role
• Conveying passion and motivation convincingly
• Systematically structuring relevant capabilities and accomplishments
• Using precise examples and data to support claims
• Writing concisely with excellent grammar and style

For more guidance, utilise these additional resources:

• NHS Interview Gold  – Video tutorials
• Royal College of Nursing  – Personal statement e-book

In Conclusion

A tailored supporting statement is vital for showcasing your talents and disposition for nursing roles.

Follow the advice in this guide to produce an accurate, coherent and compelling statement.Conducting research, structuring content methodically and adopting best practice writing principles will help your application stand out.

Avoid common pitfalls like exaggeration and poor formatting.If you methodically apply the steps in this guide, you can create an exceptional supporting statement that secures you that all-important interview.So start drafting today and equip yourself to achieve your nursing career ambitions!

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• NHS APPLICATION FORM ANSWERS: How to PASS the NHS APPLICATION FORM with Supporting Information Examples : This article offers advice on how to successfully complete the NHS application form, with examples of supporting information statements for different criteria.
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How to write a supporting statement for a nursing job application

Dave cordle posted 13 june 2024 - 12:00.

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Clinical Research Nursing

Clinical Research Nursing Landmark Documents

Domain of Practice   |  Model of Care

Background and Overview

In January 2007, Clinical Center Nursing at the National Institutes of Health launched a four-year strategic plan to lead an international effort to define the specialty practice of clinical research nursing. The goal was to take this definition to the level of detail and consensus required to create a certification process for nurses practicing in clinical research. This initiative is called Clinical Research Nursing 2010 , or CRN 2010 .

Clinical research nursing is nursing practice with a specialty focus on the care of research patients. In addition to providing and coordinating clinical care, clinical research nurses have a central role in assuring patient safety, ongoing maintenance of informed consent, integrity of protocol implementation, accuracy of data collection, data recording and follow up. Care received by research patients is driven by study requirements and the collection of research data as well as clinical indications. Study procedures may include administration of investigational drugs, performance of an experimental or investigational surgical or radiological procedure, detailed clinical assessment or phenotyping to characterize the natural history and etiology of a disease, or delivery of a psychosocial intervention. Additional nursing care may be necessitated by the response of the participant to the study intervention.

The scope of CRN 2010 included two the main roles assumed by nurses practicing in clinical research settings.

• Clinical research nurses are clinical staff nurses with a central focus on care of research patients. They support study implementation within the context of the care delivery setting and are primarily located in dedicated clinical research settings, such as the NIH Clinical Center and clinical research units located in academic medical centers across the country. These clinical nurses are part of the permanent infrastructure of the research unit and are available to any investigator accessing the facility.
• Research nurse coordinators are primarily responsible for study coordination and data management, with a central focus on managing subject recruitment and enrollment, consistency of study implementation, data management and integrity, and compliance with regulatory requirements and reporting. Research nurse coordinators are often hired by and report to a principal investigator for support of a specific study or group of studies. They may rely on clinical staff to deliver “hands on” care including administration of investigational drugs or interventions.

Developing tools to support the specialty practice of clinical research nursing included two parallel efforts:

• A careful and thorough documentation and clarification of the practice of clinical research nursing here at the Clinical Center, and
• The formal development and consensus around steps leading to possible national certification.

Both efforts used a team structure that included all leadership members of the Nursing Department Leadership as well as nursing Shared Governance chairs and co-chairs. Examination of the Clinical Center practice of clinical research nursing began with a clarification of our model of nursing care delivery, roles across the department and several key processes of clinical care such as research patient education and clinical documentation. Development of a specialty identity, which can lead to certification, began with a clarification of the domain of practice. This is similar to the steps taken by various specialty groups ranging from oncology nursing to informatics nursing. The CRN domain includes 5 dimensions and about 50 individual activities which make up the full range of practice of both clinical nurses providing research-based patient care and study coordinators managing studies.

This domain description was validated in 2008 with the assistance of a consensus panel representing Clinical Center and Institute nurses as well as nurses in clinical research from across the country.

In 2016, the American Nurses Association recognized Clinical Research Nursing as a specialty practice and published the Clinical Research Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice.

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Nhs band 6 supporting information example.

Writing a supporting statement for an NHS Band 6 position, often a role for more experienced clinical staff or mid-level managers, requires careful consideration. These roles usually entail a mixture of hands-on patient care, team management, and departmental or unit-level responsibilities, depending on whether it’s a clinical or managerial Band 6 position.

In this guide, we will break down the key advice on how to write a strong supporting information statement for all BAND 6 roles:

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What should I write in my NHS Band 6 supporting statement?

Introduction.

Start by introducing yourself and summarizing your current role and qualifications.

Provide a brief explanation of why you are applying for this Band 6 position.

Skills and Competencies

Identify the key skills and competencies required for the Band 6 role. Use the job description and person specification as a guide.

Skills might include leadership, clinical expertise, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities.

Evidence-based Practice

Given that Band 6 roles are advanced positions requiring expert knowledge, demonstrate your ability to apply evidence-based practice in your work.

This could be in clinical care methods or management strategies.

Clinical/Management Experience

Provide specific examples from your professional experience that illustrate your suitability for the role.

You might discuss clinical cases you’ve managed, projects you’ve led, or protocols you’ve implemented.

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to frame these examples.

Teamwork and Leadership

Illustrate your ability to work as part of a team as well as lead one.

Given that Band 6 roles often involve some level of management or supervision, highlight any experience you have in these areas.

Professional Development

Discuss your commitment to continuing professional development (CPD).

This could include courses you’ve completed, conferences you’ve attended, or any teaching you’ve provided to others.

Wrap up by reiterating your interest in the role and why you’re a good fit.

Include a polite thank you to the selection committee for considering your application.

Band 6 Supporting Information Additional Tips

Be Concise but Detailed : Stick to the word limit but make sure to include enough detail to fully answer the question or meet the criteria.

Tailor the Statement : Make sure your statement is specifically tailored to the job you are applying for. Avoid generic statements that could apply to any job.

Proofread : Make sure to read over your application multiple times to check for any spelling or grammatical errors. Having someone else review your work can also be beneficial.

Band 6 Supporting Information Example

Please note, the below paragraph example is based on the clinical  experience and uses the STAR format mentioned above:

“In my current role as a Band 5 nurse in a fast-paced medical ward, I’ve gained significant experience in managing complex cases (Situation & Task). During an outbreak of seasonal flu, I took the initiative to redesign the ward’s infection control protocols (Action). This involved liaising with the infection control team and providing additional training to staff. As a result, the incidence of hospital-acquired infections reduced by 20% over the following three months (Result).”

By carefully crafting your supporting statement and providing concrete examples of your experience and skills, you’ll present a compelling case for why you’re the best candidate for the Band 6 role.

Joshua Brown

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Application Guidance – Supporting Statement

December 8th 2021

This guide takes you through a generic nurse application, specifically on how to write your supporting statement.

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How To Write A Supporting Statement For A Job Application With Template

Wondering how to write a supporting statement and just what makes one different from a cover letter?

The purpose of a supporting statement, like a cover letter, is to be a summary of your CV, an explanation of how your experience and skills apply to the role you are applying to, and why you want to apply to that particular role. 

Look at a supporting statement as another opportunity you have to share with your potential employer why you are everything they are looking for and more as an employee. 

Read on for our tips which will help you to write a stand-out supporting statement.

Supporting statement vs cover letter

As previously stated, supporting statements are extremely similar to cover letters, so let’s discuss a supporting statement versus a cover letter and why the distinction is important. 

Both cover letters and supporting statements explain to your potential employer why you are applying to a role and what skills , knowledge, and experience you have that will help you find success in the role. 

The main difference is that a cover letter is usually a separate document that is sent with your CV while a supporting statement is included in the application form and answers a statement like “please explain why you are perfect for this role”. 

How to write a supporting statement

A supporting statement needs to explain why you are the perfect for the role you are applying for by illustrating how your past experiences, skills and achievements provide evidence you’ll excel in the role.

You need to write a supporting statement that speaks directly to the employer’s wants and needs and here are some tips on how to write a supporting statement so it does just that. 

The first step, and perhaps the most important step, is figuring out what the employer wants from the supporting statement. 

Some employers will ask you to explain why you are suitable for the role while others may ask you why you are applying and why you want to be hired. 

The second step is to figure out the best way to structure the supporting statement so that you show how you have the key skills highlighted in the job description.

The third step is to decide how you want to describe the skills you possess. 

This might be done by highlighting a project that allowed you to exercise a specific skill or a presentation that allowed you to put multiple skills into practice.

How long should a supporting statement be?

Finding a balance for the length of your supporting statement is important so that you take advantage of the opportunity to promote yourself, but don’t waffle.

The easiest way to know how long you should make your supporting statement is if the employer specifies a character or word limit.

However, if there is no word limit, a good supporting statement length is no more than two pages, with 1.5 pages being a good target. 

This length allows you to share all your competencies in a concise and focused way that will ensure that employers will keep their attention on your supporting statement.

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Answer the question

When you are writing a supporting statement, especially when it is a section on the job application form, you need to make sure that you are expressly answering what the employer is asking.

As previously stated, sometimes applications will ask questions like ‘what skills do you have that make you the perfect match for this role?’, but others may ask why you want the role or why you’re suitable for the role.

As such, you’ll need to write a custom supporting statement for each job you apply for, making sure your response is tailored to the question at hand and the individual job description.

Making a custom supporting statement also shows that you took the time to research the company you are applying for and shows just how interested you really are in the role. 

Supporting statement template

Below is an annotated supporting statement template to demonstrate the best practices for writing and formatting.

How to write a supporting statement for a job application: a summary

Essentially, to write a strong supporting statement, you should know what makes you the best applicant for the job, and convey that to the employer.

A custom supporting statement directly answering the question set by the employer is the perfect way to grab their attention and help you get your dream job. 

At PurpleCV , we understand how important it is to stand out and we can help you create the perfect supporting statement that will impress any potential employer.

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Research statements for faculty job applications

The purpose of a research statement.

The main goal of a research statement is to walk the search committee through the evolution of your research, to highlight your research accomplishments, and to show where your research will be taking you next. To a certain extent, the next steps that you identify within your statement will also need to touch on how your research could benefit the institution to which you are applying. This might be in terms of grant money, faculty collaborations, involving students in your research, or developing new courses. Your CV will usually show a search committee where you have done your research, who your mentors have been, the titles of your various research projects, a list of your papers, and it may provide a very brief summary of what some of this research involves. However, there can be certain points of interest that a CV may not always address in enough detail.

• What got you interested in this research?
• What was the burning question that you set out to answer?
• What challenges did you encounter along the way, and how did you overcome these challenges?
• How can your research be applied?
• Why is your research important within your field?
• What direction will your research take you in next, and what new questions do you have?

While you may not have a good sense of where your research will ultimately lead you, you should have a sense of some of the possible destinations along the way. You want to be able to show a search committee that your research is moving forward and that you are moving forward along with it in terms of developing new skills and knowledge. Ultimately, your research statement should complement your cover letter, CV, and teaching philosophy to illustrate what makes you an ideal candidate for the job. The more clearly you can articulate the path your research has taken, and where it will take you in the future, the more convincing and interesting it will be to read.

Separate research statements are usually requested from researchers in engineering, social, physical, and life sciences, but can also be requested for researchers in the humanities. In many cases, however, the same information that is covered in the research statement is often integrated into the cover letter for many disciplines within the humanities and no separate research statement is requested within the job advertisement. Seek advice from current faculty and new hires about the conventions of your discipline if you are in doubt.

Timeline: Getting Started with Your Research Statement

You can think of a research statement as having three distinct parts. The first part will focus on your past research and can include the reasons you started your research, an explanation as to why the questions you originally asked are important in your field, and a summary some of the work you did to answer some of these early questions.

The middle part of the research statement focuses on your current research. How is this research different from previous work you have done, and what brought you to where you are today? You should still explain the questions you are trying to ask, and it is very important that you focus on some of the findings that you have (and cite some of the publications associated with these findings). In other words, do not talk about your research in abstract terms, make sure that you explain your actual results and findings (even if these may not be entirely complete when you are applying for faculty positions), and mention why these results are significant.

The final part of your research statement should build on the first two parts. Yes, you have asked good questions and used good methods to find some answers, but how will you now use this foundation to take you into your future? Since you are hoping that your future will be at one of the institutions to which you are applying, you should provide some convincing reasons why your future research will be possible at each institution, and why it will be beneficial to that institution and to their students.

While you are focusing on the past, present, and future or your research, and tailoring it to each institution, you should also think about the length of your statement and how detailed or specific you make the descriptions of your research. Think about who will be reading it. Will they all understand the jargon you are using? Are they experts in the subject, or experts in a range of related subjects? Can you go into very specific detail, or do you need to talk about your research in broader terms that make sense to people outside of your research field, focusing on the common ground that might exist? Additionally, you should make sure that your future research plans differ from those of your PI or advisor, as you need to be seen as an independent researcher. Identify 4-5 specific aims that can be divided into short-term and long-term goals. You can give some idea of a 5-year research plan that includes the studies you want to perform, but also mention your long-term plans so that the search committee knows that this is not a finite project.

Another important consideration when writing about your research is realizing that you do not perform research in a vacuum. When doing your research, you may have worked within a team environment at some point or sought out specific collaborations. You may have faced some serious challenges that required some creative problem-solving to overcome. While these aspects are not necessarily as important as your results and your papers or patents, they can help paint a picture of you as a well-rounded researcher who is likely to be successful in the future even if new problems arise, for example.

Follow these general steps to begin developing an effective research statement:

Step 1: Think about how and why you got started with your research. What motivated you to spend so much time on answering the questions you developed? If you can illustrate some of the enthusiasm you have for your subject, the search committee will likely assume that students and other faculty members will see this in you as well. People like to work with passionate and enthusiastic colleagues. Remember to focus on what you found, what questions you answered, and why your findings are significant. The research you completed in the past will have brought you to where you are today; also be sure to show how your research past and research present are connected. Explore some of the techniques and approaches you have successfully used in your research, and describe some of the challenges you overcame. What makes people interested in what you do, and how have you used your research as a tool for teaching or mentoring students? Integrating students into your research may be an important part of your future research at your target institutions. Conclude describing your current research by focusing on your findings, their importance, and what new questions they generate.

Step 2: Think about how you can tailor your research statement for each application. Familiarize yourself with the faculty at each institution, and explore the research that they have been performing. You should think about your future research in terms of the students at the institution. What opportunities can you imagine that would allow students to get involved in what you do to serve as a tool for teaching and training them, and to get them excited about your subject? Do not talk about your desire to work with graduate students if the institution only has undergraduates! You will also need to think about what equipment or resources that you might need to do your future research. Again, mention any resources that specific institutions have that you would be interested in utilizing (e.g., print materials, super electron microscopes, archived artwork). You can also mention what you hope to do with your current and future research in terms of publication (whether in journals or as a book); try to be as specific and honest as possible. Finally, be prepared to talk about how your future research can help bring in grants and other sources of funding, especially if you have a good track record of receiving awards and fellowships. Mention some grants that you know have been awarded to similar research, and state your intention to seek this type of funding.

Step 3: Ask faculty in your department if they are willing to share their own research statements with you. To a certain extent, there will be some subject-specific differences in what is expected from a research statement, and so it is always a good idea to see how others in your field have done it. You should try to draft your own research statement first before you review any statements shared with you. Your goal is to create a unique research statement that clearly highlights your abilities as a researcher.

Step 4: The research statement is typically a few (2-3) pages in length, depending on the number of images, illustrations, or graphs included.  Once you have completed the steps above, schedule an appointment with a career advisor to get feedback on your draft. You should also try to get faculty in your department to review your document if they are willing to do so.

Additional Resources

For further tips, tricks, and strategies for writing a research statement for faculty jobs, see the resources below:

• The PhD Career Training Platform is an eLearning platform with on-demand, self-paced modules that allow PhDs and postdocs to make informed decisions about their career path and learn successful job search strategies from other PhDs. Select the University of Pennsylvania from the drop-down menu, log in using your University ID, and click the “Faculty Careers” tab to learn more about application documents for a faculty job search.
• Writing an Effective Research Statement
• Research Statements for Humanities PhDs
• Tips to Get Started on Your Research Statement (video)

Explore other application documents:

Band 6 Nurse Personal Statement Examples & Tips | Get Helpful Advice from CVLocum

Get a Head Start on Writing Your Nurse Personal Statement with our Band 5, 6, and 7 Examples.

A nursing personal statement is one of the essential elements of a successful nursing application. It is a chance to showcase your skills, knowledge, and experiences that make you the best possible candidate for the course and the profession.

For a band 6 nursing personal statement, you need to provide detailed evidence of your abilities, including communication skills, multi disciplinary working, and evidence-based practice. In this blog post, we will explore some successful examples of band 6 nurse personal statements, highlighting what you should include and how you can make your statement unique.

What to Include in a Nursing Personal Statement

Writing an effective personal statement is important because it serves as a reflection of one’s passion, commitment, and suitability for a career in nursing.

It provides an opportunity to showcase relevant experiences, skills, and qualities that make an individual a strong candidate for nursing school or a nursing position. A well-crafted personal statement allows applicants to convey their understanding of the nursing profession, their motivation for choosing this path, and their potential to contribute to the field.

It helps admissions committees and employers gain insight into an applicant’s character, values, and potential for success as a registered nurse. A compelling personal statement can set an applicant apart from others and demonstrate their genuine desire to make a positive impact on the lives of patients and the healthcare community as a whole.

Related: Crafting the Perfect CV Nurse Writing Tips, Templates and examples included.

Related: 11 Example Nurse Safeguarding Questions for Interview + Answers | CVLocum

It is worth mentioning these important points when writing your nursing personal statement:

– Introduce yourself and explain your passion for nursing.

– Highlight any relevant experiences, such as clinical placements or healthcare volunteering, and describe how they have shaped your desire to pursue nursing as a career.

– Discuss your understanding of the nursing profession, including the challenges and rewards it entails.

– Demonstrate your knowledge of and commitment to providing compassionate and patient-centred care.

– Emphasise your ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, and a multi disciplinary team.

– Showcase your dedication to lifelong learning and medical profession development in the field of nursing.

– Discuss any specific areas of nursing that you are particularly interested in or have experience in, such as adult nursing, mental health nursing, or paediatric nursing.

– Highlight any relevant skills and qualities, such as empathy, resilience, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

– Reflect on any personal qualities or experiences that have prepared you for a career in nursing, such as being a good listener, working well under pressure, or being able to adapt to changing situations.

– Conclude by summarising your commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of patients and your enthusiasm for embarking on a nursing career.

Example of Band 6 Personal Statement:

A Band 6 person statement may differ from other bands as it represents a higher level of experience, expertise, and responsibility. As a Band 6 Registered nurse, you are expected to demonstrate advanced clinical skills, leadership abilities, and the capacity to work autonomously.

Additionally, showcasing your ability to adapt to changing healthcare environments and your dedication to delivering person-centred care will set you apart as a strong candidate for a Band 6 nursing role.

Band 6 Personal Statement Example 1:

”As a dedicated and compassionate nurse, I am excited to apply for the Band 6 position in your hospital. With several years of experience working in various healthcare settings, I have developed a deep understanding of patient care and a passion for delivering high-quality services.

My clinical expertise extends across different specialties, including medical-surgical, paediatric, and geriatric nursing. I pride myself on my ability to establish therapeutic relationships with patients and their families, providing empathetic and patient-centred care.

My goal is to contribute to the enhancement of healthcare delivery, advocate for patient rights, and promote evidence-based practice. I believe that my experience, skills, and passion make me a strong candidate for the Band 6 role, and I am eager to contribute to the team and make a positive difference in the lives of patients”

Band 6 Personal Statement Example 2:

”As an experienced nurse with a strong passion for patient care since a young age, I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to join the your team. With a solid foundation in various healthcare settings, I possess the skills and knowledge necessary to provide compassionate and evidence-based care.

My commitment to continuous professional development ensures that I stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in nursing practice. I thrive in collaborative environments and am dedicated to working alongside interdisciplinary teams to achieve optimal patient outcomes.

With a patient-centred approach and a focus on delivering high-quality care, I am confident in my ability to make a positive impact as a Band 6 nurse.”

Adult Nursing Personal Statement Example:

Your adult nursing personal statement should highlight your knowledge and skills related to adult care. Additionally, showcasing your understanding of the unique challenges and needs of adult patients.

Your personal statement should also highlight your commitment to continuing professional development and your dedication to staying updated with evidence-based practices in adult nursing.

Adult Nursing Personal Statement Example 1:

”I have always been passionate about providing high-quality care to individuals during their most vulnerable moments. As an aspiring adult nurse in the UK, I am dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of adult patients and their families in your nursing home.

I possess excellent communication skills, enabling me to establish trusting relationships with patients and effectively collaborate with interdisciplinary teams. My empathetic nature and ability to remain calm under pressure allow me to provide compassionate support to patients facing challenging health conditions.

With a commitment to lifelong learning and a desire to continuously enhance my skills, I am eager to embark on the next step of my career as an adult nurse, contributing to the well-being of individuals in need.”

Adult Nursing Example 2:

”I am a dedicated and compassionate nurse and particularly a nurse for elderly patients. Through my experience as a healthcare assistant, I have developed essential skills in administering medications, providing personal care, and supporting patients with diverse needs.

I possess excellent communication and teamwork abilities, which enable me to establish rapport with patients and collaborate effectively with healthcare professionals. With a focus on delivering patient-centred care, I am committed to upholding the highest standards of nursing practice.

I am excited to embark on the next chapter of my career as an adult nurse in your nursing home and make a positive impact on the lives of individuals in need.”

Example of Band 5 Personal Statement:

Band 5 personal statement example 1:.

”As an enthusiastic and dedicated nurse, I am excited to start my career as a Band 5 nurse after completing my nursing degree. With extensive experience in various healthcare settings, including medical-surgical units and mental health facilities, I possess strong assessment and medication administration skills.

I excel in building rapport with patients, families, and interdisciplinary teams, prioritising effective communication. Committed to lifelong learning, I stay updated with evidence-based practices to provide high-quality care.

With my passion for nursing and drive for continuous improvement, I am ready to make a positive impact as part of a healthcare team as that is where my own personal fulfilment lies.”

Band 5 Example 2:

”As a passionate and caring individual, I am thrilled to embark on my journey as a Band 5 nurse. With a solid foundation in nursing education and hands-on clinical experience, I have honed my skills.

I am adept at fostering therapeutic relationships with patients and their families, providing emotional support, and promoting their well-being. Collaborating effectively with healthcare teams is a priority for me, as I believe in the power of multidisciplinary care to achieve optimal patient outcomes.

Through ongoing professional development and a commitment to evidence-based practice, I strive to deliver compassionate and patient-centred care. With a strong work ethic and a genuine passion for nursing, I am eager to contribute to the healthcare profession.”

Example of Band 7 Personal Statement:

Band 7 personal statement example 1:.

”As an experienced Band 7 nurse, I am dedicated to delivering exceptional patient care, leading quality improvement initiatives, and mentoring junior staff.

With advanced clinical expertise and a commitment to ongoing professional development, I strive to enhance patient outcomes through evidence-based practices. By fostering collaborative relationships and prioritising patient well-being, I create a supportive and innovative healthcare environment.

I am eager to utilise my skills and passion for nursing to make a positive impact.”

Band 7 Example 2:

”As a Band 7 nurse, I want to feel a high level of job satisfaction in a rewarding field of healthcare, I possess extensive clinical knowledge and leadership skills that enable me to deliver high-quality care and drive positive change in healthcare settings.

With a focus on evidence-based practice, I continuously seek opportunities for professional development and stay abreast of advancements in nursing. Through effective communication, teamwork, and a patient-centred approach, I strive to provide personalised care and create a supportive environment for both patients and colleagues.

With a strong commitment to excellence and a passion for nursing, I am dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the field.”

Conclusion:

In conclusion, a nursing personal statement is a chance to showcase your skill sets, knowledge, and nursing experience that make you the best possible candidate for the profession. Emphasise your passion, commitment, and desire to provide the best possible care for patients.

Good luck in your journey towards becoming a great nurse!

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Supporting Statement: Follow Some Rules and Examples

Table of Contents

In this competitive world of job hunting, the supporting statement can make a huge difference and set you apart from other candidates. A CV outlines your professional history and qualifications, and the supporting statement offers a unique opportunity to showcase your personality and suitability for the particular role. Here are some tips on how to write a compelling supporting statement example. 

What Is a Supporting Statement ?

A supporting statement can be a section in the CV like a professional summary or a document attached to the job application. This is where you can say why you are a perfect candidate. Show your skills relevant to the position you are applying for, your qualifications, and your experience in the industry. Don’t confuse supporting statements with cover letters. 

Why Are Supporting Statements Important in a Job Application?

In the modern job application process, supporting statements play a significant part because they enhance the worth of your CV. The cherry on top is that you show genuine interest in a specific job by not just submitting your CV. A hiring manager always appreciates that you have gone the extra mile to write a strong supporting statement for the job. It will help you to get to the interview stage easily. Let’s check some examples of supporting statements.

Supporting Statement Example

Here are some job supporting statement examples for your reference. 

Supporting Statement Example for Job Application: Customer Service

I am self-assured, trustworthy, and enthusiastic, with prior customer care expertise. In my five years of experience therein, I’ve consistently tried to provide proactive, customised, and timely assistance to keep clients happy. 

By being creative and effective, I often give my clients seamless experiences. I am acknowledged for being a result-oriented, sympathetic individual who values the time of others and works to provide useful answers in each interaction. 

My approach to customer service, with a positive attitude and a warm, sincere commitment as an experienced customer service professional, will take me far.

Supporting Statement Example UK: Marketing 

I am a highly driven, inventive marketing expert with first-class honours in marketing.

I have significant expertise working as a marketing executive, with the ability to boost sales through deeper inspection and effective resource management. Previously, I worked in social media administration, email marketing, content creation, curation, and planning, launching, and analysing campaigns.

Working as a marketer for a company if want to be self employed as photograph and need help with tax guidelines check out our blog on a guide to be self-employed while holding a full-time job with a company in UK

Supporting Statement Job Application Example: Sales

I am motivated, aspirational, and competent, with a proven track record of delivering under intense competition.

As a sales manager motivated to persevere through setbacks, my mental strength often helps me achieve success. A talented leader who always continues to improve a company’s performance by utilising her leadership expertise, I am committed to succeeding by developing excellent relationships with all stakeholders while maintaining consistent revenue and growth.

Sample of Supporting Statement: Nursing

I have developed my communication skills by working directly with other nurses and physicians and engaging with patients of all ages. 

My priority is to give my patients the finest treatment available, ensuring they are at ease and getting proper medications on time. I work well under pressure and can effectively handle the requirements of different people because of planning and excellent time management. 

Having the heart and enthusiasm a nurse requires, I eagerly await a chance to hone my abilities further.

The supporting statement templates for different job roles will help you precisely understand how to write an effective personal statement for job.

When writing a supporting statement, include those relevant skills mentioned in the job roles you are applying for. 

How To Write A Supporting Statement For Job

You need to follow some important rules when writing a supporting statement.

Be Descriptive

A supporting statement needs to be concise. Review the job description before you start writing, as there can be key information about what hiring managers are looking for in candidates, like experience and skills. The recruiters will scan your supporting statement with these keywords. So make sure you mention your experience and skills that fulfil the expectations.

You can also contact iCover to write a compelling supporting statement. Our CV editing service can help you to get the job. 

Mention Your Skills and Qualifications 

After reviewing the job description, use your statement to highlight how your skills and qualifications fulfil the specific requirements. Use keywords and phrases from the job details to describe your experience so employers understand how your expertise relates to the job criteria. For example, share supporting information examples if an employer requires a specific degree and your credentials fulfil this requirement.

Show Your Achievements

Consider one or two examples of how you succeeded in past roles. Examples demonstrating your experience and skills that relate directly to the job can give employers better insight into how you can achieve similar success for their team. When highlighting achievements, consider examples that show organisational, interpersonal, and teamwork skills and your ability to communicate effectively.

Keep it brief

Use up to three sentences for your statement to keep your details brief and easy to read. This helps gain employers’ attention quickly when they scan your application, increasing the chances they will review your CV further and contact you for an interview. Include your most relevant traits that fulfil the requirements in your first sentence, with an example of a related achievement in the second sentence. In your last sentence, describe how you plan to contribute to similar success for the organisation you are applying to.

Format Properly

Follow a format that is appropriate to the document. For example, a supporting statement on a CV can be two to three sentences long, while a cover letter can be up to four to five sentences. The most important factor to consider when formatting your statement is including relevant details that employers can see immediately. Therefore, formatting your statement at the top of your application or CV and as the first paragraph of a cover letter is appropriate.

Proofread your statement

Don’t forget to proofread the statement. Make sure it doesn’t have any grammatical and spelling errors. If applying for multiple jobs, tailor each statement to match specific requirements. Highlight relevant skills and qualifications with each job application. 

Still confused about how to craft a supporting statement, iCover can help you. Our CV writing service ensures you stand out from others. 

How Long Should A Supporting Statement Be?

Write a supporting statement from 100 to 150 words. It can be a maximum of two to three paragraphs. Try to stick to this rule, and don’t make it too long and turn it into a cover letter. It can kill the main purpose and the function of what the supporting statement is supposed to do. If you apply to companies like Google, Amazon, or NHS, you must write your skills and experience accordingly. Check the NHS supporting information templates. 

Tips for writing your supporting statement

When writing the supporting statement, follow the tips below 

• Make your statements specific to each job application you submit so employers understand how you can benefit their organisations.
• Use the company’s name in your statement whenever applicable to help build rapport.
• Give specific examples of your achievements, such as percentages, amounts or numbers, to better show what you accomplished.
• Reiterate how you plan to help the employer so they understand your motivation to achieve results.
• Show what you understand about the organisation by mentioning a challenge or project to which you are excited to contribute.

Supporting statement shows why you are the perfect candidate for the particular job. Following these tips and supporting statement sample to write a well-researched statement can increase the chances of landing your dream job. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you end a supporting statement.

Reiterate your wish for the position you are applying for. Most job applicants miss this important point when concluding their supporting statement. You only need to add a brief statement indicating that you have the combination of skills required by a company.

What should you include in a supporting statement?

A manager will shortlist you for a job based on your supporting statement matching the relevant person’s specification. It’s an opportunity for you to describe your qualifications in writing, including your relevant experiences and skills.

How do you start a supporting statement?

The first line should introduce you and briefly overview who you are and why you are ideal for a job. For example: ‘I am an award-winning organiser with strong business expertise.’ It’s crucial to leave an effective first impression and convey an optimistic attitude.

How do you sell yourself in a supporting statement?

Job interviews are like selling your skills to your potential recruiters. To sell yourself successfully, you must know the demand first. So, review the job description multiple times and determine what value you can add to this organisation. Present your skills accordingly in your supporting statement, and your chance of selection will be high.

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Research Area Specialist Assoc

How to apply.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. 

A cover letter, attached as the first page of your resume, describing how your experience meets the job requirements of this posting, is required for consideration of this position.

The School of Nursing seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the diverse people of Michigan that extends world-wide, to fulfill the School's strategic plan, and to sustain the excellence of the School of Nursing.

To learn more about diversity, equity, and inclusion visit: http://nursing.umich.edu/diversity/dei-faculty-and-staff .

Please visit http://www.nursing.umich.edu/ for more information about the school. 

Responsibilities*

The  University   of Michigan, School of   Nursing   (UMSN)  is seeking a Research   Area Specialist Associate who will work   with a   faculty   Principal   Investigator   (PI)  from the Department of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences   to help coordinate several diet and lifestyle trials for adults with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, or polycystic ovary syndrome. We will be comparing the health impact of a very low-carbohydrate (ketogenic/keto) diet to a standard-of-care diet (plate-method, standard Diabetes Prevention Program, or the DASH diet).   The coordinator will have opportunities to contribute to other, ongoing clinical trials, as needed. The coordinator will help with a variety of study activities, including institutional review board (IRB) application preparation; screening, consenting, and enrolling participants; and creation of study and recruitment materials, including surveys and Standard Operating Procedures. The coordinator may also assist with qualitative data collection and analysis. The coordinator will work both independently and with the research team. Opportunities will be available, as desired or assigned, for grant application preparation, data analysis, and preparation of poster presentations and/or manuscripts related to projects. This is a full-time, term-limited position due to salary funded on a grant. 

• Oversee the recruitment, enrollment, and retention of participants. Track participant and study progress and assessments. Schedule and screen potential participants.
• Assist data entry efforts, maintain study records, and keep co-investigators apprised of study progress.
• Update and maintain the IRB application.
• Design study documents, recruitment materials, and other relevant study documents for projects.
• Coordinate communication between sponsor, IRB, PI, study participants, and various research offices.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed and are not an  exhaustive   list of all associated responsibilities.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree in a health-related field is required; Master's degree preferred.
• One (1) to two (2) years relevant work experience in human subject research.
• Medical experience/background with understanding medications and health conditions preferred.
• Candidate must have excellent communication skills, with the ability to receive and convey information clearly and concisely for various mediums. 
• Excellent computer skills, including demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office products including Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint.

Attributes:

• Excellent problem solving and decision-making skills. 
• Proven analytical skills and follow-through; a high degree of creativity, initiative, resourcefulness, and the ability to anticipate needs.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Solid interpersonal and organizational skills, and the ability to work effectively with diverse groups of people in a diplomatic, collaborative and effective manner.
• Candidate must be a team player, flexible, and able to work in a fast-paced research environment. 
• Candidate should have   a basic understanding   of  the scientific research process.
• Ability   to work independently   as   well as effectively   in teams; must have the ability   to work   comfortably   with individuals at all levels.
• Ability to promote the School of Nursing's Declaration of Values to E mpower   each other to interrupt or disrupt disrespect; P ractice communication that is beneficial, kind and true; I nspire and be inspired by our members' worth, significance and integrity; C ultivate respect for ourselves and others routinely, publicly and privately.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes .

Additional Information

Shift/Hours/Days: 8:00   a.m. - 5:00 p.m.,  Monday through Friday; may include some occasional evening hours for evening classes. Currently, this position has the option to be remote; and will be reviewed annually per the university and School of Nursing policy.

Salary:   The target salary range for this position is up to a maximum of $51,000 due to salary funded on a grant. The actual salary determined will be based on the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate and may be less than the maximum. We encourage all interested parties apply.

Authorization to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment. Applicants will not be sponsored for work visas. Authorization to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment. Applicants will not be sponsored for work visas.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

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Clinical research nursing

A one-stop-shop for nurses working in clinical research

Clinical research nurses play a vital role in delivering clinical research, and ultimately improving patient care.

Clinical research is essential.

It is the only evidence-based method of deciding whether a new approach to treatment or care is better than the current standard, and is essential to diagnose, treat, prevent, and cure disease. Clinical research nurses play a vital role in delivering clinical research, and ultimately improving patient care and treatment pathways.

Duties could include:

• supporting a patient through their treatment as part of a clinical trial
• preparing trial protocols and other trial-related documentation
• helping to develop new drugs, treatments, care pathways or regimens for patients
• dealing with data collection
• submitting study proposals for regulatory approval, and co-ordinating the initiation, management and completion of the research
• managing a team.

Celebrating clinical research nursing and its vital role in health care

29 April 2021, London

COVID-19 and clinical research nurses

The current pandemic has raised the awareness of clinical research and the impact it has on identifying effective treatments to treat this recently emerging virus. From the outset, clinical research has been a key part of the government's response and the plan to contain, delay, research and mitigate. Clinical research nurses (CRNs) have been key to the effective delivery of many of the COVID-19 interventional and observational studies now running or completed. In order to focus recruitment on key treatment studies, trusts have been encouraged to prioritise studies approved by the UK's four Chief Medical Officers (CMO) and running within the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network.

The following articles provide further information on the work of CRNs during the current pandemic.

• Iles-Smith H et al on behalf of the Association of UK Lead Research Nurses (2020) How research nurses and midwives are supporting COVID-19 clinical trials . Nursing Times [online]; 116: 11, 20-22.
• Jones H et al (2020) Clinical research nurses and midwives - a key workforce in the coronavirus pandemic . Nursing Times [online]; 30 Apr 2020.

Clinical research and the NIHR

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funds health and care research and provides the people, facilities, and technology that enables research to thrive.

The NIHR invests significantly in people, centres of excellence, collaborations, services and facilities to support health and care research in England. Collectively these form the NIHR infrastructure, which can support you to:

• find collaboration opportunities
• access methodology advice
• access facilities for early stage research
• run your study
• access data, patient cohorts or sample support

Collaborations, services and support for your research

Are you a nurse, midwife or allied health professional (AHP) practicing in the NHS? Do you have views about how research is delivered by Clinical Research Nurses in the NHS? Would you be prepared to share those views?

The Represent-CRN study is part of the Royal College of Nursing Strategic Research Alliance with the University of Sheffield. It aims to explore the views of registered NHS staff operating outside of clinical research delivery teams, in relation to the Clinical Research Nurse role and research delivery.

By exploring these views, we hope to shed light on what leads to different perceptions of research, ultimately to enable more patients to have the opportunity to participate in research that is relevant to their health.    Find out more about the study .

Looking for a career in clinical research?

If you work in the NHS, most Trusts have R&D departments, who will put you in touch with the lead clinical research nurse: there may be opportunities to shadow, or do short-term work placements.

• National directory of NHS research offices

Research nursing across the UK

National Institute for Health Research

• The role of the clinical research nurse

Health and Social Care R&D Division

• HSC Trust research offices
• Northern Ireland Clinical Trials Unit
• Cross-border Healthcare Intervention Trials in Ireland Network (CHITIN)

Chief Scientist Office

• NHS Research Scotland (NRS)

Scottish Research Nurse and Co-ordinators Network

Health and Care Research Wales

• Clinical Trials Units

Organisational research structures and strategies

Publications which may help organisations to develop their own research infrastructure.

• Whitehouse, CL. And Smith, HA. (2018) The Whitehouse Report: Review of research nursing and midwifery structures, strategies and sharing of learning across the UK and Ireland in 2017. The Florence Nightingale Foundation .
• Jones, HC. (2017) Exploring the experience of Clinical Research Nurses working within acute NHS trusts and determining the most effective way to structure the workforce: A mixed methods study .

Further reading

A selection of articles about research nursing.

• Tinkler L. Smith V. Tuannakou Y and Robinson L. (2017) Professional Identity and the clinical research nurse: A qualitative study exploring issues having an impact on participant recruitment in research . Journal of Advanced Nursing
• Jones H.C. (2015) Clinical research nurse or nurse researcher? Nursing Times. 111(19) 12-14
• Hamer S. (2015) The nurse's changing role in clinical research . Nursing Times. 111(39) 12-14
• Gleason K (2013) What is a Research Nurse and what do they do? Clinfield Blog

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© 2024 Royal College of Nursing

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK

Research Associate

• Division of Scholarship & Rsch
• Columbia University Medical Center
• Opening on: Sep 18 2024
• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Salary Range: $62,400-$62,400

Position Summary

The School of Nursing is seeking a detail-oriented Research Associate to provide support for federally funded projects focusing on HIV prevention and management. This hybrid position will include both in-person and virtual work.

Responsibilities

The selected candidate will be expected to work on research focused on digital health and HIV/ AIDS. 

Under the supervision of the Principal Investigator, the Associate will be responsible for a broad range of research and administrative activities. Other duties will include:

• Providing daily support for research projects, including recruiting subjects, enrolling study participants, and scheduling other research-related meetings.
• Assisting in the staffing of research study visits, including overseeing logistics, communicating with participants, and preparing materials for both staff and participant use.
• Conduct observations and collect survey data on enrolled study participants.
• Experience working with confidential data and maintaining confidentiality, privacy, and integrity in professional interactions.
• Handling data entry and database management.
• Assisting with research and manuscript preparation for publication and dissemination of results, including conducting literature searches, article summaries, and basic coding and analysis.
• Contributing to the development of study-related documents and/or materials.
• Performing other related duties as assigned.

This is a grant-funded position, and continued employment is contingent upon grant funding. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent communication, organizational, and database management skills.
• Excellent quantitative and qualitative data analytic skills.
• Computer fluency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and statistical software. (SPSS/SAS/Stata/R).
• Ability to organize and perform multiple tasks and meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Available nights and weekends.
• Interest in developing health information technology, public health LGBT health, HIV prevention or management, and/or health informatics.
• Experience working on research involving the LGBT community, people living with HIV, or other vulnerable and diverse populations.
• Experience conducting observational or survey data collection.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.

Commitment to Diversity 

Columbia university is dedicated to increasing diversity in its workforce, its student body, and its educational programs. achieving continued academic excellence and creating a vibrant university community require nothing less. in fulfilling its mission to advance diversity at the university, columbia seeks to hire, retain, and promote exceptionally talented individuals from diverse backgrounds.  , share this job.

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