Working in COVID-19 research: Susan Johnston

Susan Johnston, a research nurse at Banbury’s Horton General Hospital, talks about her role in COVID-19 studies at Oxford's John Radcliffe (JR) Hospital. 

“The studies I was working on have been put on hold so that we can all switch to COVID-19 research. I was told this when I was on leave and started at the JR on Monday 30 March.

“I’m now working on three COVID-19 studies. I go into wards and explain to patients who have tested positive what is involved and ask for their consent to take part. Many patients are only too happy to help and want to say ‘yes’ before I’ve even had a chance to go through it. 

“But it is very important to explain it fully to them. One of the studies is a randomised trial testing the effectiveness of existing drugs that have been developed for other illnesses. For each patient, I check with the ward doctor that the drug is safe for them.

“The work is the same type as my usual role but I have to be extra mindful of the dangers of infection. It is vital to minimise contact and I wear personal protective equipment, or PPE, including a face mask, when on the wards. Ideally I would stay at least two metres from patients but a lot of them don’t have great hearing so I have to move closer for them to hear me properly.

“When I come off the wards I completely change my uniform for infection control. There is also admin in my role: recording consent, checking all the necessary checks have been done and things like that. So I have a separate uniform to do the office work.

“Morale in the hospital is good. I appreciate the support from the public, I think we all do. But really, my colleagues and I are doing the jobs we’ve trained to do. The pandemic hasn’t changed that.”