Nurse-led Research
Developing the research capability of nurses will enhance patient care and health outcomes. A knowledgeable, research-enabled and research-active nursing workforce is fundamental to quality, safety and innovation in cancer care.
Areas of impact can include:
- Equitable access to treatment
- Symptom and side-effect management
- Patient-centred models of care
- Care coordination and navigation
- Patient education and self-management
- Survivorship
Developing cancer nursing research capability
The VCCC Alliance is committed to developing research capability across clinical member organisations and beyond.
Professor Meinir Krishnasamy is Director, Academic Nursing Unit, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the VCCC Alliance Research & Education Lead, Cancer Nursing. She is the program champion for the VCCC Alliance Nurse-led Research Program. She is also honorary Professor of Cancer Nursing at the University of Melbourne.
Professor Krishnasamy leads a program of supportive care research that focuses on improving access to and coordination of care for adults with cancer; addressing the impact of social determinants of health on patient outcomes, and development and evaluation of nurse-led interventions. Her research is informed by embedded consumer engagement and encompasses the breadth of patient care from diagnosis, to treatment and follow-up.
Nurse-led Research Hub
The key element of growing research capability is centred around a Nurse-led Research Hub (the Hub). The Hub is a practical and interactive initiative that supports connections, research knowledge and opportunities for nurses across the clinical members of the VCCC Alliance.
The Hub uses multiple strategies and activities to support nurses to:
- Turn clinical ideas into research
- Network with other nurses who work with people with cancer
- Grow research knowledge and skills
Opportunities that the Hub provides to support nurses to engage in research include:
- Online information-sharing forum
- Education sessions and workshops
- Research training opportunities
- Training and mentoring
- Promotion and profiles of nurse-led research
Workshop resources
A program of online research-based workshops has been developed in recent years for nurses who work in the cancer domain. These workshops cover a broad range of topics and are designed to increase skills and build confidence to undertake nurse-led research.
They include how to perform literature searches, the application of research approaches such as co-design and implementation science, knowledge translation and sessions on ethics, governance and more.
Nurse-led research impacts on patient care
Are you interested in nurse-led research? Getting started and not sure how to begin?
Check out our series of video resources, with case studies, discussion of the benefits and challenges of research and lots of recorded workshops to build understanding and proficiency.
Register your interest and contact
If you are a nurse who cares for patients affected by cancer and work in Victoria, join the VCCC Alliance Nurse-led Research Hub by registering your interest.
For further information about the program, please contact Sharon De Graves, Program Manager, e: sharon.degraves@unimelb.edu.au.