Making a difference: the role of Chief Nurse

The role of Chief Nurse was brought in across the Clinical Research Network in April 2023 to provide key leadership in the ongoing engagement, development and oversight of the Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions (NMAHPs) workforce. 

Here in Wessex, Marie Nelson was appointed alongside her existing role as University Hospital Southampton R&D Head of Nursing and Health Professions.

More than a year into the Chief Nurse role, we caught up with Marie to find out more - what she’s been involved with, the difference it has made, as well as challenges and looking to the future. 

“My two roles as Chief Nurse and R&D Head of Nursing and Professions for University Hospital Southampton (UHS) have complemented each other. They have allowed me to have access and opportunity to have impact. 

My role at UHS allows me specifically to be creative and develop initiatives that I can share regionally and nationally.  As Chief Nurse I have had more freedom to freely discuss working practices and initiatives with our partner organisations and with other local groups and infrastructure to identify areas of good practice and initiatives to share.

I have been involved with many activities including the South Coast Insight Programme, the Development of SORT Tool (Self-Assessment of Organisational Readiness), the Review of Chief Nursing Officer for England’s Strategic Plan for Research and the interview panel to appoint a National Nursing Lead for Alzheimer’s Research Society. I have also supported successful applications for the NIHR Senior Research leaders Programme, applicants for NIHR DSE Awards and applicants for NIHR Principal Investigator Pipeline Programme." 

Achievements

"The role has provided a visible leader for NMAHP research and brought people together to think about the research opportunities. It has helped establish relationships with clinical and research leaders in stakeholder organisations and facilitated the sharing of good practice across the region and nation.  It has helped create a pathway and resources to support NMAHP research capabilities and careers within the region. These achievements are echoed by fellow Chief Nurses across the network."

Challenges

"As a group of Chief Nurses we have recognised that there have been challenges. We have had to navigate the overlap with other people and workstreams and understand where the role fits within the National Institute for Health and Care Research, Local Clinical Research Networks and wider landscape. Whilst we have had a significant presence both regionally and nationally sometimes getting a voice at the table has been a challenge. And as always, there are clinical and workforce pressures." 

Looking forward

"Much of the Chief Nurse role has been liaising, engaging, networking, making introductions and identifying where to focus to have impact.  It has significantly enhanced the sharing of successes and challenges of routine research delivery alongside generating and sharing of new initiatives and established working practices. 

However, it has become apparent that there is still much to do in identification and joining up of networks and resources.  As we enter the new Research Delivery Network from October and the new roles that come with that  it is important that we continue to build on what has been achieved to date. We need to continue to give NMAHPs  and the wider workforce  a voice at a regional and national  level.. We must continue to develop a supported and sustainable workforce with research roles defined by skills, knowledge and experience that align with  the needs of our population and research ambitions.  With uncertainty and change , comes opportunity and I look forward to what that will bring.“