Nurses are a vital piece of the medical research puzzle

CCF research nurses Susan Freeman, Monika O’Connor, Shelley Davey and David Pryce.

12 May, 2022

Today is International Nurses Day (IND) and we'd like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the incredible team of research nurses we have here at the Clifford Craig Foundation.

At the moment our team of 4 (Monika, Susan, Shelley & David) are working on 8 projects covering Motor Neurone Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, COVID-19, orthopaedics, weight loss, cardiology and vaccines. That’s one nurse for every 2 projects.

Clifford Craig Foundation chief executive Peter Milne said IND was an opportunity to acknowledge the year-round commitment of research nurses, who form an essential part of our ever-expanding medical research program.

“Nurses are often referred to as the ‘workhorses’ of healthcare - they get the job done and they make it work,” he said.

“Clinicians might have the ideas for projects, but it is the research team who make it happen.

“For a regional hospital like ours here at the Launceston General, medical research wouldn’t happen without the tireless efforts of nurses.

“They are essential, and we thank them for their dedication.”

Setting up a research project and seeing it through is no easy feat. Our nurses cover everything from ethics, governance, training and case reports.

They advocate for patients, ensure their safety and protection, and make sure they are supported throughout the study.

We know that clinical research is vital for finding new treatments and improved patient care, and research nurses are at the forefront of this process.

Thank you team!

IND is celebrated on May 12 on the birthday of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale, renowned for her revolutionary nursing leadership in the Crimean War (1854-1856).