What is it about?
This study explored the experiences of nurses, midwives and allied health professionals (NMAHPs) who were pursuing a clinical academic career pathway. The aim was to track their progression, find out how they had overcome obstacles along the way and explore the benefits of supporting NMAHPs to pursue a clinical academic career. The study found that NMAHPs are in a good position to identify and carry out research which has multiple and wide-ranging benefits. Therefore there should be support at all organisational levels to enable NMAHPs to fully utilise their clinical and research expertise and experience for the benefit of patients and the NHS as a whole.
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Why is it important?
This study of nurses, midwives and AHPs experiences of pursuing a Clinical Academic Career is important because it reveals multiple benefits emanating from the individual level through to (inter)national levels. Academic study by these healthcare professionals should therefore be encouraged and supported. However, investment is needed to establish more clinical academic roles to enable NMAHPs to continue to utilise their experience and expertise post-PhD, otherwise the full extent of their value will not be recognised.
Perspectives
As a medical sociologist I was able to take an outsider's perspective when conducting this research. I found amazing people who are able to combine clinical roles and academic study and that they do so often at a huge personal cost. Nurses, midwives and AHPs should be supported and encouraged to become clinical academics because they are passionate about improving patient care within their own healthcare setting as well as disseminating it for the benefit of patients at national and international levels. Having received a lot of very encouraging feedback for this article on Twitter, I feel honoured to have been able to highlight the challenges and benefits of pursuing a Clinical Academic Career for nurses, midwives and AHPs.
Dr Diane Trusson
University of Nottingham
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: A mixed-methods study of challenges and benefits of clinical academic careers for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals, BMJ Open, October 2019, BMJ,
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030595.
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