Clinical research nurses and midwives are crucial to delivering research.

They provide and deliver high quality patient care, deal with data collection, follow-ups, patient groups and industry. They also develop and build multi-disciplinary teams that deliver research.

The NIHR wants to attract, develop and retain the best research professionals to conduct people based research. Key to this is realising the potential of the NIHR funded clinical research nurses (CRNs), midwives and specialist community public health nurses and recognising the vital role they play in the delivery of quality clinical research care.

The NIHR has a mission to “provide a health research system in which the NHS supports outstanding individuals working in world class facilities, conducting leading edge research focused on the needs of patients and the public”.

NIHR funded clinical research nurses (CRNs), midwives and specialist community public health nurses have a vital role in the delivery of quality clinical research care. The 2017-2020 NIHR Clinical Research Nurse Strategy sets out the next set of strategic goals to ensure we meet the expectations of the society we serve.

Nurses and midwives are by far the largest group of health care professionals and have an unparalleled contribution to make to clinical research. Our nursing and midwife strategy sets of our vision for achieving this.

Our current 70@70 Research Leader programme is aimed at senior nurses and midwives and promotes the importance of a vibrant integrated research culture in health and care to improve quality of patient care and health outcomes. Our 70 leaders are championing research , driving innovation and informing research priorities in their organisations. They are actively involved in advising and influencing policy makers in the NHS and NIHR and ensuring key findings and evidence are accelerated into practice.

• To find out more email: crncc.training@nihr.ac.uk

• Follow: #CRNurse

• For research training awards visit: Integrated Clinical Academic (ICA)