A recently established community nursing research forum is to be hosted by the Queen’s Nursing Institute to help widen its reach across the profession.
The forum, which is open to all community nurses regardless of specialty or research experience, aims to strengthen the capacity of community-based nursing research through peer support, mentorship and by supporting research opportunities.
“This is an inclusive forum where colleagues can share ideas, network and build research capacity in community nurse-led research”
Ben Bowers
It was first launched at a webinar held in June, which saw more than 100 nurses in attendance and focused on the diverse career journeys of three community nurses.
By becoming the institutional home for the forum, the QNI will offer support through additional webinars, a dedicated webpage and through regular online newsletters. It will also help the forum expand its reach and ensure it is inclusive for all community nurses.
The forum was convened by Dr Ben Bowers, community nurse and end-of-life care researcher at the University of Cambridge’s primary care unit, and Professor Catherine Evans, professor of palliative care and honorary nurse consultant at Cicely Saunders Institute, King’s College London and Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust.
With almost 250 members from around the UK, the forum was recently awarded financial support from the chief nursing officer’s office within NHS England.
Those behind the initiative aim to use the forum to help share expertise in nursing research and build research capacity through peer support and mentorship.
An early objective is to plan a series of webinars and online research masterclasses for members to meet, network and learn from each other over the coming year.
The masterclasses will be supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) School for Primary Care Research, a partnership who work to increase evidence base for primary care practice.
Dr Bowers said: “This is an inclusive forum where colleagues can share ideas, network and build research capacity in community nurse-led research.
“Research led by community nurses is needed to generate high-quality evidence to advance patient-centred care.”
He added that the forum welcomes any nurse wishing to develop their research skills, including on critically evaluating research papers, research methods and publishing.
