International Nurses Day 2020: life as a Primary Care Research Nurse

“Dealing with patients and hearing their motivations for getting involved in research makes being a nurse so worthwhile.”

That’s the message from Research Nurse Stephen Bosel-Doyle, part of the CRN East Midlands Lincolnshire Primary Care Research Team, speaking ahead of International Nurses Day, a day where the role of nurses is celebrated across the globe.

Stephen is one of thousands of research nurses across the country and works with GP practices to provide patients with the opportunity to take part in research studies to help with the discovery of new treatments and medicines.

International Nurses Day takes place annually on 12 May, the anniversary of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale, who grew up in Derbyshire in the East Midlands. CRN East Midlands supports the delivery of research in many settings including hospitals, hospices, care homes and in Primary Care, with over half of GP practices in the region working to deliver research.

“One of the great things about working in Primary Care research is that I get to be involved with studies in so many different areas,” Stephen says. “It’s incredibly varied, and it’s so rewarding to see the impact of research that I’ve been involved in - it gives you a real sense of pride.”

Stephen became a nurse in his late thirties, beginning in orthopaedics before eventually developing his career to focus on research in Lincoln. “Working across a county as big as Lincolnshire means that I get to work with people from all different backgrounds, and it is important to have a flexible approach so that we can provide research opportunities to people tailored to their needs,” he says.

He works closely with the other Primary Care research teams as part of the CRN East Midlands, and says that collaborating with other research staff helps to develop practice so that the patient experience is continually improving. “It’s a role where you never stop learning and developing, and of course research itself is vital to enable us to develop the healthcare of the future.”

Stephen’s advice to anyone considering a career as a research nurse? “Go for it! Research is so important, and there is a great sense of fulfilment that comes from working as a research nurse. The commitment of staff across the NHS is inspiring, but nothing can match the experience of working with patients - they are the true heroes of research.”

Thank you to Stephen for sharing his story on International Nurses Day.