This year, Hospiscare Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Emily Collyer, became our first Research Nurse. Here she explains how the role was developed and the impact it has on our hospice.
“I joined Hospiscare in 2019 as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Sidmouth team. I have always been interested in health research and before joining the hospice, I was a Senior Research Nurse in the haematology department of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
“An opportunity arose for Hospiscare to work in partnership with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to develop the new role of Research Nurse. The role is funded for one year by the NIHR.
“Historically, research in palliative care has been limited and this is something we are working to change. My role enables Hospiscare to be a research-active organisation and therefore provides our clinical staff with opportunities to engage in research, as well as giving our patients access to research opportunities.
“Every day is different, from finding and embedding other people’s research into our organisation, to working with and educating my colleagues to get them interested in developing their own research. My position also fosters collaboration as I work closely with the NIHR as well as the other hospices in the South West to develop practices across our region.
“My role will ensure that Hospiscare continues to improve and grow, not just on a local level, but on a national level too. We will be at the forefront of informing best practice for end-of-life care across the country and bringing this level of care to our ward and community services”.
