Close
Blog written by Alison Finch, Registered Nurse and Senior NIHR Research Leader
From the moment I embarked on my undergraduate nursing studies in the 1990s, I have been research active. As part of my degree, I undertook a small study exploring blood pressure measurement among nurses – one of the most elementary aspects of our professional practice. Evidencing how variance in people’s technique not only impacted readings but clinical decision-making, I learned early on the value of research in determining safe and effective care.
Fast forward ten years, and for my MSc dissertation I undertook a qualitative exploration of young people’s experiences of first learning about their parent’s cancer diagnosis. This was an area where at the time, little was empirically known. The research informed the development of a support service for parents at UCLH, together with national charities’ support and written advice.,
I went on to develop my clinical practice in the haematology and broader cancer field, caring for both adults and younger people. Most of my patients were or had been, enrolled in a clinical trial. Working for many years within this dynamic and progressive setting, I saw firsthand the life-giving or life-extending impact of research on many people’s lives. Interested in supportive care, I led a few small-scale research projects. I became cognisant that if I were to develop as a researcher, this would require more formal academic training. I applied for, and was awarded a research internship from the CNMAR at UCLH; this provided time and support one day a week to develop my research ideas and write competitive doctoral funding application.
The combination of protected time, guidance and tenacity resulted in being awarded an NIHR clinical doctoral research fellowship, an Academy programme training award which I commenced in 2019. My research centred on establishing an experiential evidence base about young people's ambulatory cancer care.
Currently, my professional role both embeds and intersects clinical leadership, developing research capacity in others, and developing my own clinical academic interests in cancer care. Research features prominently in my role as an assistant chief nurse for research and professional practice at UCLH. Alongside this role, I am an NIHR Senior Research Leader for Nursing and Midwifery and nursing lead with the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North Thames. What motivates me is knowing that nursing’s engagement in research not only contributes to life-changing treatment; it enriches nurses' careers and helps ensure those we serve receive effective person-centred care.