What place does nurse-led research have in the COVID-19 pandemic?
Author(s)
Castro-Sanchez, E
Russell, AM
Dolman, L
Wells, M
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Aim
Reflect upon the visibility of nursing-led research during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background
The emerging SARS-CoV-2 infection has galvanized collaborative and multidisciplinary efforts in clinical and research practice worldwide. The scarce evidence-base to manage patients with COVID-19 has included limited nurse-led research.
Introduction
Clinical research nurses have greatly contributed to the delivery of COVID-19 research, yet the number of COVID-19 nursing-led research papers appears to be limited, with even fewer nurse-led research projects funded.
Methods
Authors’ views and PubMed search on ‘COVID-19 and nursing’.
Findings
There is a dearth of nursing-led research. Most papers describe the nursing contribution to COVID-19 care, changes in nursing working arrangements and emotional burden. There are opportunities to explore the consequences to vulnerable population groups of public health measures implemented to stop the progress of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Discussion
Workforce gaps, limited integration in research structures and clinical redeployment may have hampered nurse-led research. COVID-19 may exacerbate staffing deficits by disrupting the education pipeline, obstructing the transition from clinical to academic practice, particularly in areas where clinical academic roles are yet to emerge.
Conclusion
The absence of nurse-led research in COVID-19 can be explained by chronic, underlying factors and the features of the pandemic response. Emerging models of care, effective staffing and inequalities related to COVID-19 appear obvious research areas. Nursing leadership needs to strengthen its political voice and lobbying skills to secure nurse-led research funding.
Implications for Nursing Policy
Embracing international nursing research, strengthening collaborations and lobbying policymakers for investment in nurse-sensitive research would enhance the response to COVID-19.
Reflect upon the visibility of nursing-led research during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background
The emerging SARS-CoV-2 infection has galvanized collaborative and multidisciplinary efforts in clinical and research practice worldwide. The scarce evidence-base to manage patients with COVID-19 has included limited nurse-led research.
Introduction
Clinical research nurses have greatly contributed to the delivery of COVID-19 research, yet the number of COVID-19 nursing-led research papers appears to be limited, with even fewer nurse-led research projects funded.
Methods
Authors’ views and PubMed search on ‘COVID-19 and nursing’.
Findings
There is a dearth of nursing-led research. Most papers describe the nursing contribution to COVID-19 care, changes in nursing working arrangements and emotional burden. There are opportunities to explore the consequences to vulnerable population groups of public health measures implemented to stop the progress of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Discussion
Workforce gaps, limited integration in research structures and clinical redeployment may have hampered nurse-led research. COVID-19 may exacerbate staffing deficits by disrupting the education pipeline, obstructing the transition from clinical to academic practice, particularly in areas where clinical academic roles are yet to emerge.
Conclusion
The absence of nurse-led research in COVID-19 can be explained by chronic, underlying factors and the features of the pandemic response. Emerging models of care, effective staffing and inequalities related to COVID-19 appear obvious research areas. Nursing leadership needs to strengthen its political voice and lobbying skills to secure nurse-led research funding.
Implications for Nursing Policy
Embracing international nursing research, strengthening collaborations and lobbying policymakers for investment in nurse-sensitive research would enhance the response to COVID-19.
Date Issued
2021-06-01
Date Acceptance
2020-12-21
Citation
International Nursing Review, 2021, 68 (2), pp.214-218
ISSN
0020-8132
Publisher
Wiley
Start Page
214
End Page
218
Journal / Book Title
International Nursing Review
Volume
68
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2021 The Authors. International Nursing Review published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Council of Nurses. 214 This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33565619
Subjects
COVID-19
Health Policy Research
Infection Control
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Nursing
Nursing Capacity Building
Nursing Policy
Nursing Research
Pandemic
Science & Technology
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England
Date Publish Online
2021-02-10