Doug ElliottDoug Elliott

Professor, Critical CareProfessor, Critical Care NursingNursing

Clinical research: Clinical research:

context and importancecontext and importance

Research Workshop:

‘Conducting research in a clinical setting’

Roles of nurses in research

ACCCN competencies:• Reading, keep up to date (RN, …)

• Using, EB practices and protocols (RN,

CNS, CNE)

• Cooperate, facilitate others’ projects (RO)

• Clinical co-investigators (CNC, RO, RN)

• Principal investigator (CNC, academic)

• Systematic review, policy development

The 4 A’s of ResearchThe 4 A’s of Research

Awareness ApplicationAppreciation Ability (to do)

NOT ALL nurses need to DO

research, but ALL nurses must

USE research in their practice

Practice triad for a learning organisation

Clinical practice

development

Education & professional development

Research production & utilisation

Communication

Cooperation

Collaboration

Coordination

Advancing Nursing Research

6

ClinicalNursing

Research

Professional Links

Health ServicesStaff

Universitystaff / students

Multi-disciplinary links

Internationallinks

National links

ACCCN Research Advisory Panel

H ealth / fu n ctio n als ta tu s / H R Q O L

P atien t / fam ilyex p erien ces

E co n o m icevalu atio n

P a tien t O u tco m es(examp le s )

C lin ical in fo rm atio nsys tem s

P ro d u ctevalu atio n

Im p act o f tech n o lo gyo n p atien t care

T ech n o lo g y A ssessm en t(examp le s )

R eso u rce u til isatio n(eg T IS S -2 8 , N E M S , A O R T IC )

P ro fess io n al issu esim p actin g o n p ractice

E vid en ce-b asedp ractice

P ra ctice Issu es(examp le s )

C o m p eten cies

C red en tia llin g

E valu atio n o f tra in in gan d ed u catio n

E d u ca tio n & T ra in in g(examp le s )

C o m m o n w ealthan d S tate p o lic ies

Im p act o fin tern atio n al facto rs

Legal an d eth icalissu es

P o licy Issu es(examp le s )

C C N R A P R e se a r c h P r o g r a mC o llab o ratio n , co o p eratio n an d co o rd in atio n

o f C ritical C are N u rse research ersw ith co m m o n th em es / p ro jects / in teres ts

Undertaking original research

• Identified question (literature search & review)

• Match question(s) to method(s)

• Identify research team

• Develop plan / submit proposal

• Implement and manage research participants

and data

• Write-up and dissemination

Infrastructure & resources

• Support staff (warmware)

• Access to operational funds

• IT – software, hardware, internet access,

library databases

• Funding opportunities

• Active organisational support to foster a

research culture

Consider Workload / Timeframe

Clinical Nurses (in particular) are time-poor:

• Direct patient care

Down time

• Limited opportunities for research involvement

Team approach:

• Balance work – flexible use of time

• Balance roles in the team

Funding for Research

• ACCCN Research Fund• industry grants (eg Abbott research) • Health Services• University internal grants• competitive grants

• NHMRC / ARC

• other focussed schemes• Intensive Care Foundation

The Future:Challenges and Opportunities

Politics

Time-poor

Collective vision

Modelling – leadership / innovation /

inquiry / engagement

4Cs – communication, cooperation,

collaboration, coordination

GoalsGoals

• Improve research utilisation in practice

• Increase primary clinical research activity

• Increase collaboration between sites and

disciplines

• Develop a sharper focus

• Obtain external funding

Sharing the load

In a ‘politicised’ environment, In a ‘politicised’ environment, we need to watch our back …we need to watch our back …

… and keep ahead of the pack!