REACH project
Monday 6th October marks the beginning of National Nurses and work is continuing in DCU School of Nursing and Human Sciences on the new REACH (Research Excellence across Clinical Healthcare) project which aims to provide academic support to clinically-based nurses and midwifes. The project is being led by Dr Mary Rose Sweeney & Professor Anthony Staines of DCU’s School of Nursing and Human Sciences in DCU and by Eithne Cusack in the Nursing Midwifery Planning and Development Unit, HSE Dublin North area.
Traditionally nurses and midwives in Ireland have not embraced research in their practice in the way that doctors have. The aim of the programme is to build clinical research capacity within nursing and midwifery services in North Dublin. Through REACH, support is provided to nurses and midwives on developing research proposals, progressing research projects in their own clinical settings, publishing research, and translating research to practice. REACH is also investigating current research activity amongst nurses and midwives in the clinical setting and examining skills and training needs. Dr Linda Nugent, a post-doctoral researcher, is responsible for the implementation of the programme.
As part of REACH a conference was held in June in DCU with Professor Anne Scott (DCU) and Professor Graeme Smith (Edinburgh Napier University) delivering keynote addresses. Research posters and oral communications were also presented by 35 clinically based nurses. Some highlights of the conference are shown in the video clip below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPWVDSCWrPE&feature=youtu.be
Other activities undertaken as part of REACH to date include academic writing, literature searching, reference management and writing for publication workshops. The REACH project has 2 more years to run and will see many more joint research activities.