Role recognition, assessing training requirements and meeting skills gaps are top of the agenda for the latest special interest group (SIG) from the Institute of Clinical Research (ICR)
The Study Site Co-ordinators SIG has revised its scope and will now focus on the role of the research nurse.
The group will address the needs of this previously under-supported group of professionals while still remaining concerned with study site co-ordinator issues.
The strategy for the renamed Research Nurses SIG includes developing and issuing a training needs survey, the development of training needs competencies and a forum, to be held on 18 June 2008 this year.
Caroline Gunnell, chair of the Research Nurse SIG, commented: "It is our mission to become internationally recognised as the co-ordinating body for research nurses, provide standards, training and professional development and become respected as a key promoter of good clinical research.
"We will also be having discussions with the UK chief nursing officer to make her aware of our aims, the training survey and the need for professional development and career structure for research nurses and the way forward.
"One of the main issues we will be tackling is that there is no recognised professional role for clinical research nurses so a co-ordinated approach to the subject will go a long way to addressing this".
Research Nursing - the Way Forward, will be held at the ICR's offices in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, UK, 10am - 3pm on 18 June 2008.
