Speaker
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Prof. Rebecca JESTER
Professor of Nursing, Institute of Health, University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
Hon. Professor of Orthopaedic Nursing Research, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
Prof. Jester (Rebecca) is Professor of Nursing at The University of Wolverhampton since 2017. She qualified as a registered nurse in the UK in 1985. Rebecca then worked as a staff nurse, sister and ward manager in a number of trauma and orthopaedic settings in the UK and Sweden before completing a BSc (Hons) Education Studies in Nursing in 1995 and embarking upon a clinical academic career working across the interface of education, research and clinical practice. Rebecca was awarded a PhD in Health Sciences from the University of Birmingham in 2001, supported by a National Smith and Nephew Fellowship. She was awarded a personal chair (professorship) in Orthopaedic Nursing in 2008 by Keele University and has held several senior academic positions including: Head of School of Nursing & Midwifery, Keele University, Head of the Nursing School Abu Dhabi for Griffith University and Head of Department of Adult Nursing and Midwifery, London South Bank University. She is an Honorary Advisor to The Hong Kong College of Orthopaedic Nursing and Associate Editor of the International Journal of Trauma and Orthopaedic Nursing. She is also an Adjunct Professor of Orthopaedic Nursing Research at the University of Southern Denmark. Rebecca has authored a number of leading text books in orthopaedic nursing and advancing rehabilitation nursing practice and has a track record of research and associated publications in clinical research mostly related to orthopaedic care.
Abstract
Embedding Research and Evidence Based Practice into the Advanced Nurse Practitioner Role
Globally there remains inconsistency regarding titles, roles and responsibilities and educational preparation of Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) and variability of how well embedded the roles are across the developed and developing world. However, it is generally acknowledged that there are four components or pillars of the ANP role: clinical practice, leadership and management, education and research (HEE, 2017). Whilst many ANP job plans reflect these 4 components, role overload often results in the research component falling by the wayside.
Nursing has a long history of generating and using research data to underpin nursing care. Florence Nightingale (1859) wrote “In dwelling upon the vital importance of sound observations, it must never be lost sight of what observation is for. It is not for the sake of piling up miscellaneous information or curious facts, but for the sake of saving life and increasing health and comfort”. Research saves lives and research improves lives, so it should not be considered a dispensable aspect of the ANP role. This presentation explores the possible reasons for the research pillar of the ANP role being underdeveloped/non-existent and how we might support current and future ANPs to be able to effectively engender the research component into their roles. Barriers such as:-lack of knowledge /inadequate preparation, lack of designated time, lack of interest, lack of research supervision and support and lack of understanding of research funding and network opportunities will be discussed. Also facilitators such as: the demystifying of research, improving access to support and mentoring from experienced researchers and specialist networks, fostering links with University and clinical research departments, ensuring research training is embedded into ANP educational programmes and ensuring research time is embedded into ANP job plans and job descriptions with protected time will be presented.
References
Health Education England (2017) Multi-professional framework for Advanced Clinical Practice in England.
Nightingale F (1859) Notes on Nursing. Lippincott, Philadelphia