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Cardiovascular Network’s support for research nurses leads to ‘truly inspiring’ international experience
27th August 2024
Two NHS Scotland staff working within cardiovascular research have enthused about their experiences and fresh learnings after successfully applying to attend a key international gathering
The NHS Research Scotland (NRS) Cardiovascular Research Network helped Research Nurses Jocelyn Abernethy and Anna Struthers to further their professional development at the European Society of Cardiology Annual Congress of the Association of Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professionals (ACNAP) held in Poland in June with the aim of ‘linking them into the international arena’.
Jocelyn, of NHS Grampian, and Anna, of NHS Ayrshire and Arran, received funding which supported their event registration, flights, and hotel accommodation.
Jocelyn, a new Cardiology Research Nurse, believes that attendance at ACNAP “marked a pivotal moment in my career” while Clinical Trials Research Nurse Anna – who has been in Cardiology Research for 14 years – called it “truly inspiring”.
Jocelyn said: “The conference theme Patient-Centred Multidisciplinary Perspective in Cardiovascular Care was highly relevant to my work at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI), the largest hospital in Grampian. This experience broadened my knowledge and transformed my professional outlook and aspirations.”
She believed the event’s international perspectives served to “highlight the importance of adopting best practices from around the world to improve local patient care” and found sessions on artificial intelligence (AI) advancements in cardiology for potentially improving diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes “especially intriguing”.
Anna, who received her nursing degree in Canada and has been practicing in the UK since 2007, stated of the congress: “It was a great international platform where ACNAP delegates disseminated lots of diverse information covering advances in cardiovascular disease, from prevention and modification to latest scientific advances, and implementation of the latest guidelines with a very patient-centred approach, to name just a few.
“A presentation which I felt was really inspiring was called Nursing and allied professional research at St Bartholomew’s Hospital: Ward managers and the creation of a positive environment. It included a great discussion about the promotion, conduct, and use of research in healthcare services. As nurses are the largest clinical staffing group in the NHS, they have the potential to make the greatest impact.”
Anna said she “felt inspired to come back to my clinical area and feedback to my colleagues” as well as “motivated to think outside the box”.
She added: “With ACNAP being set on a global stage, it really highlights the remarkable work that nurses and allied professionals are implementing within their practice.”
The congress drew Jocelyn’s attention to her belief in a need for more academic mentors in nursing cardiology across north east Scotland.
She said: “Enhancing local collaboration between Principal Investigators and nursing leadership is essential to provide research opportunities that foster academic growth and improve patient care.”
Both agreed that ACNAP represented an excellent relationship-building experience, with Anna noting that she forged stronger links across the wider NRS Network, as well as Edinburgh Napier and Aberdeen Universities.
“It was a really welcoming environment and was a great opportunity to network and meet new colleagues,” she said.
Jocelyn added: “These interactions have laid the groundwork for future collaborations, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose. Engaging with PhD students and established professionals reaffirmed the importance of continuous learning and collaboration in the field.”
She concluded that attending ACNAP was “an overwhelming yet enriching experience as a research nurse. The knowledge gained, connections made, and inspirations drawn from this event have equipped me with new tools and perspectives to enhance patient care in cardiology”.
Anna thought that by delivering “a dynamic, engaging and interactive programme” the event had helped to underline her view that “the central focus of our practice should be patients at the forefront”.
Jocelyn said she was grateful for the support she’d received, adding: “These programmes are vital for immersing nurses in the field, igniting their passion for learning, and ultimately enhancing patient care. Encouraging more nurses to attend such events can inspire participation in future studies, and ultimately improve patient-centred care.”
The NRS Cardiovascular Research Network supports the delivery of high-quality clinical research. It helps to manage participant recruitment to time and target, both for studies which are led from Scotland, and studies led from other nations which Scottish sites are participating in.
