Joanne Cleary-Holdforth

I’m a registered nurse and midwife and my clinical speciality was in the area of nephrology, dialysis and transplantation.  My career began in Limerick, training as a General Nurse in St John's Hospital and as a midwife at Limerick’s Regional Maternity Hospital.

At that point the travel bug struck so I moved to the US and it was then that I got into haemodialysis. I worked as a staff nurse initially and a few months later became a Charge Nurse at a satellite haemodialysis unit in New Jersey.

Following my return to Ireland 2 years later I began working in the Renal Unit at Beaumont Hospital where I worked in nephrology, haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and transplantation. I also completed my renal course here. In 1999 I became the Clinical Practice Support Nurse for the Renal Unit in Beaumont Hospital, working closely with newly qualified staff nurses, staff nurses new to renal nursing and students undertaking the renal nursing course in Beaumont Hospital.

Nurse Education

I completed my degree and my masters in nursing at the RCSI in 2000 and 2002 respectively. In 2001 I moved into the School of Nursing at Beaumont Hospital where I worked as a Nurse Tutor until August 2002, at which point nurse education in Ireland moved from the hospital-based Schools of Nursing and became fully integrated into the Higher Education sector. This move in nurse education saw my colleagues and I transferring into DCU, where I still work as a Lecturer in the School of Nursing and Human Sciences. In September 2014 I also registered as a PhD student in the school.

My Goal

I have always loved nursing and I have to admit I still miss the clinical scene and direct patient care. However, what drove me to embark on my nursing career in the first place is still what drives me today; that is the desire to make even the slightest difference for someone, to make someone’s day even a little better. Improving patient care and their experience remains my primary goal and I strive for that through both my teaching and my research.

Purpose and Focus

This study will explore the knowledge, understanding and utilisation of Evidence Based Practice among nurses / midwives working in the Irish healthcare system. As a nurse myself, I have always been interested in how we practice and what informs or underpins the clinical care decisions that we make.

I will be looking at these aspects across the spectrum of nursing / midwifery and this will include students, staff nurses / midwives, nurse / midwife, nurse managers and lecturers.

In addition, I will speak with patient advocates in order to ascertain the patient perspective, experience and expectations, as these are the people that a study such as this should benefit most.

In light of the long history between the medical and nursing / midwifery professions, I will also speak with medical consultants to obtain their perspective.

It is my hope that this study will demonstrate what is good about our nursing / midwifery practice along with any potential areas that could benefit from greater attention and focus.

Design

This study will employ a mixed methods design, so both quantitative and qualitative data will be collected. This should establish a comprehensive picture of the knowledge, understanding and utilisation of Evidence Based Practice among nurses / midwives and the factors that influence these aspects.

Quantitative data collection will be facilitated by using questionnaires. These questionnaires will contain some demographic questions as well questions relating directly to the knowledge, understanding and utilisation of Evidence Based Practice. There will also be one qualitative question on these questionnaires.

Qualitative data collection will entail the use of focus group interviews and individual interviews. Two focus group interviews will be conducted in each of the participating hospitals. There will be one focus group interview for staff nurses / midwives and another one for nurse / midwife managers. Individual interviews will be conducted with medical consultants and with patient advocates.

This study has been granted ethical approval from the Research Ethics Committees of the participating hospitals and higher education institutes.

Your participation in this study, while highly valued, is entirely voluntary. You are free to choose not to participate in this study and if you chose to participate you are free to withdraw at any time. There are no anticipated risks or discomforts associated with participating in this study.

All data collected will be anonymous. No names or any uniquely identifying information will be sought. All responses will be confidential with findings being reported in aggregate (groups) and not individually. Confidentiality of information provided is subject to legal limitations.

Only the researcher will have access to the data and it will be stored in a locked cabinet in a locked office (hard copies) and/or on a password protected, encrypted computer at all times. Data will be destroyed 5 years following completion of the study but written material may be subject to Freedom of Information legislation in the interim.

If you have any questions about your rights as a participant in this research, or if you feel you have been placed at risk and wish to contact an independent person, please contact the secretary of the DCU Research Ethics Committee, c/o Office of the Vice President for Research, DCU at 01-7008000.

Should you choose to participate in this study here is what participation will involve for you…

If you are a Staff Nurse / Midwife

As a staff nurse / midwife, participation in this study will entail you completing a questionnaire. You will receive a short survey booklet that will include a plain language statement about the study, some demographic questions about your nursing education & career, one open-ended qualitative question, along with three scales measuring various aspects of evidence based practice. It is anticipated it will take no more than 10-15minutes to complete this survey.

The booklet will also contain an invitation for you to avail of an opportunity to participate in a focus group interview with other staff nurses. There will be no more than 10 participants in the focus group and it is anticipated that they will take approximately 45 minutes. The invitation will contain my contact details so feel free to email, text or call me if you would like to participate in a focus group interview or discuss this further with me.

If you are a Nurse / Midwife Manager

As a nurse / midwife manager, participation in this study will entail you completing a questionnaire. You will receive a short survey booklet that will include a plain language statement about the study, some demographic questions about your nursing education & career, one open-ended qualitative question, along with three scales measuring various aspects of Evidence Based Practice. It is anticipated it will take no more than 10-15minutes to complete this survey.

The booklet will also contain an invitation for you to avail of an opportunity to participate in a focus group interview with other nurse managers. There will be no more than 10 participants in the focus group and it is anticipated that they will take approximately 45 minutes. The invitation will contain my contact details so feel free to email, text or call me if you would like to participate in a focus group interview or discuss this further with me.

If you are a Medical Consultant

As a medical consultant, participation in this study will comprise an individual interview with the researcher where you will be invited to share your perceptions on a number of issues such as Evidence Based Practice, its implementation in the Irish healthcare service to date and the role of nurses in its implementation.

If you are a Patient Advocate

As a patient advocate, participation in this study will comprise an individual interview with the researcher where you will be invited to share your knowledge of the patient experience of the healthcare services, your perceptions of how care is decided for patients, your expectations of the healthcare services and what you believe that patients need from the healthcare services.  

If you are a Student Nurse or Student Midwife

As a student nurse or student midwife, participation in this study will entail you completing an electronic questionnaire. You will receive a link to Survey Monkey in an email. By clicking on the link you will be taken to Survey Monkey where you can complete the questionnaire. This electronic survey will include a plain language statement about the study, some demographic questions about your nursing to date, one open-ended qualitative question, along with three scales measuring various aspects of Evidence Based Practice. It is anticipated it will take no more than 10-15minutes to complete this survey.

If you are a Lecturer in Nursing or Midwifery

As a lecturer in nursing or a lecturer in midwifery, participation in this study will entail you completing an electronic questionnaire. You will receive a link to Survey Monkey in an email. By clicking on the link you will be taken to Survey Monkey where you can complete the questionnaire. This electronic survey will include a plain language statement about the study, some demographic questions about your nursing education & career, one open-ended qualitative question, along with three scales measuring various aspects of Evidence Based Practice. It is anticipated it will take no more than 10-15minutes to complete this survey.

I can be contacted by email, text or telephone call. My contact details are as follows;

Email:           joanne.cleary-holdforth@dcu.ie

Mobile:         086-770 4515

Phone:          01-700 8522 (work)

Please feel free to get in touch if you think you might like to contribute to this study or if you have any question in relation to it.                                       Thank you!