Perceived Outcomes of Research and Audit Activities of Clinical Specialists in Ireland

Abstract

Increased investment in specialist/advanced practitioner posts, with resources and support for research activity, will increase evidence-based care, strengthen quality, and lead to improved practice.

Evidence‐based practice among epilepsy specialist nurses in the Republic of Ireland: Findings from the SENsE study

“…The ESNs were very positive about their research role, but their research activity was limited and mainly consisted of small‐scale unfunded research projects, with some involved in recruitment or data collection on larger MDT research studies. This finding is similar to findings from other studies involving advanced practitioners (Begley et al, ; Gerrish, McDonnell et al, ). Positively, however, all the ESNs were actively involved in, or were leading clinical audit and service evaluations, and most importantly were using findings from the audits to improve the patient experience by arguing for changes, with formal dissemination at national and international fora apparent.…”

“…In contrast to nurses in many other studies, who tended to privilege evidence derived from work‐based activities, such as clinical experience or from interaction with senior nursing or medical colleagues (Gerrish, Ashworth, Lacey, & Bailey, ; Jansson & Forsberg, ), the ESNs in the SENsE study not only drew on these resources but also used formal educational programmes and continuing professional development opportunities. In addition, in line with the findings on ANPs in other studies (Begley et al, ; Gerrish, Guillaume et al, ; Profetto‐McGrath, Smith, Hugo, Taylor, & El‐Hajj, ), they accessed peer‐reviewed evidence from literature specifically tailored to their speciality and evidence synthesized by others, such as NICE guidelines. In addition, medical consultants with an expertise in epilepsy were key sources of up‐to‐date evidence for all of the ESNs, with the RANPs being a source of information for more junior ESNs.…”

“…This level of research or evidence‐based practice activity is not as clearly articulated in studies of specialist or advanced practice nurses in other countries (McDonnell et al, ). Within the literature, irrespective of country, nurses report various factors that hinder their ability to implement EBP, including lack of knowledge and skills to conduct research and appraise literature (Begley et al, ; Gerrish, Guillaume et al, ; Veeramah, ), lack of support from managers, resistance from nursing and medical colleagues, lack of time, insufficient resources and lack of autonomy to change practice (Hutchinson & Johnston, ; Rycroft‐Malone, ; Veeramah, ). Whilst some ESNs in the SENsE study did mention difficulties in accessing library resources and databases, and all mentioned the challenges of competing demands and workloads, a lack of autonomy or a lack of support from managers or medical colleagues were not barriers identified.…”

“…As key members of the health care team, epilepsy specialist nurses (ESNs) have a critical role to play in advancing the evidence‐based practice agenda. International literature on specialist and advanced practice nurses identifies the need for these nurses to be “knowledge brokers” linking evidence to practice (Gerrish, McDonnell et al, ), “opinion leaders” influencing front‐line nursing staff's views on evidence (Kleinpell & Gawlinski, ) and be involved in the generation and dissemination of evidence (Begley, Elliott, Lalor, & Higgins, ; Begley et al, ; Gerrish, Guillaume et al, ). Although a significant body of research exists on nurses’ knowledge and attitudes to EBP and the barriers to nurses implementing EBP (Rycroft‐Malone, ; Veeramah, ; Williams, Perillo, & Brown, ), much uncertainty exists about how epilepsy specialist nurses engage with EBP, with literature mainly focussing on the clinical dimension of the role (Hopkins & Irvine, ; Noble, McCrone, Seed, Goldstein, & Ridsdale, ).…”

An inductive qualitative approach to explore Nurse Practitioners views on leadership and research: An international perspective

“…There is a requirement and expectation by regulators that Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are clinical leaders and research active (Begley, Elliott, Lalor, & Higgins, ; Elliott, Begley, Sheaf, & Higgins, ; Lamb, Martin‐Misener, Bryant‐Lukosius, & Latimer, ). Nurse Practitioners are at the crux of changes to healthcare delivery, by leading and implementing changes in challenging demographic and economic climates (Elliott et al, ; Lamb et al, ; Poghosyan, ).…”