ABSTRACT
Background: The delivery of research in healthcare in the UK is dependent on a subgroup of clinicians - clinical academics - who concurrently engage in clinical practice and academic activities. The need to increase access to such roles for general practice nurses has been identified, although the need for a robust career framework remains. Aims: This study, with a qualitative interview and focus group design, aimed to explore the concept of clinical academic careers for general practice nurses by identifying barriers and enablers associated with pursuing and performing such roles. Methods: General practice nurses (n = 18) and general practitioners (n = 5) engaged in either an audio -recorded interview or focus group. Verbatim transcripts were subjected to thematic analysis. Results: Four themes were identified: awareness and understanding; career pathway; personal and professional attributes; and organisational factors. Awareness and understanding were generally poor. Participants suggested that the career pathway was unclear, although it was generally assumed that such roles were 'out of reach' and require a minimum of Master's level education. An interest in research and the confidence to perform such duties were reported as the required personal and professional attributes. Organisational factors included the need for employers to understand the value and benefit of general practice nurse clinical academic roles, along with ensuring that the inevitable competing demands of such a role were appropriately managed. Conclusions: This study highlights the difficulties faced by general practice nurses wishing to pursue a clinical academic career. Academia is seemingly placed on a pedestal, emphasising the need to embed research training early in nursing education to alter general practice nurse perceptions that clinical academic roles are unobtainable. The development of a robust career pathway for general practice nurse clinical academic roles may have a positive impact on the retention of experienced general practice nurses and attract newly qualified nurses. This research provides evidence as to the need for one.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Clinical academics are health professionals who provide direct patient care alongside engaging in health research. Despite the generally agreed consensus that such roles enhance evidence-based care, availability and uptake has been sporadic in non-medical professions. With no data readily available regarding general practice nurses undertaking clinical academic roles, there is a need to understand the barriers and enabling factors that impact general practice nurses considering or pursuing a clinical academic career. AIMS: This review aims to address the question 'What are the barriers and enablers relevant to general practice nurses in the UK pursuing clinical academic careers?' by providing an overview of the relevant existing literature and drawing out the implications for policy and practice. METHODS: Literature published in the past 10 years was systematically searched. Using agreed inclusion criteria, papers were first screened on titles and abstracts, with papers included at this stage reviewed as full texts. RESULTS: Thirteen papers met the criteria for inclusion. The extraction and synthesis of findings allowed for the development of three themes: roles and responsibilities; embarking on a clinical academic career; and organisational research culture. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that infrastructure developments are required across higher education institutions and general practice organisations to bring about a cultural change to equip and empower general practice nurses to consider and pursue clinical academic careers.
