Research & Audit

The vision of the SCTS NAHP research sub-committee is to encourage, promote and assist in the development of nursing and allied professional clinical academic career and research opportunities in cardiothoracic surgery in the UK.

This is particularly important in areas that impact clinical practice, patient and staff well-being and have the potential to influence policy. 

For SCTS members, we provide:

• A dedicated research group called the SCTS NARG (Nursing and Allied health professional Research Group), a group of nurses and AHPs who are interested in cardiothoracic research, at any level. The aim is to provide the opportunity to network, seek and offer research support, and to facilitate research collaborations.
   
• A SCTS Forum Research Support Directory. The directory includes SCTS NARG members, and others, who are willing to provide research support/mentorship/supervision to other SCTS Forum members
• Provide an expanding online research resource library, including relevant funding calls and MSc and PhD opportunities
   
• Provide details of and report on research events hosted by the SCTS or other affiliated associations.

To join the SCTS and access any of the research resources highlighted above or join NARG, please login OR If you are not yet a member and wish to join the SCTS to access these resources, please register to join here

Research Newsletters and Bulletins

RCN Research and Innovation Bulletin: https://www.rcn.org.uk/professional-development/research-and-innovation/research-and-innovation-bulletin

The Researcher: A digital publication, created for early career researchers by early career researchers aims to raise awareness of research careers among nurses, midwives and allied Health professionals: https://hee.nhs.uk/our-work/developing-our-workforce/clinical-academic-careers/researcher

Post Graduate Training

MSc courses: https://www.findamasters.com

Post-graduate research training opportunities: https://www.rcn.org.uk/professional-development/research-and-innovation/research-training-and-careers/postgraduate-research-training

HEE/NIHR Clinical Doctorate Research Fellowships: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding-and-support/funding-for-training-and-career-development/training-programmes/nihr-hee-ica-programme/nihr-hee-ica-programme-cdrf.htm

PhD opportunities: https://www.findaphd.com

HEE/NIHR Integrated Clinical Academic Programme for Non-medical Health Professionals: The Health Education England (HEE) and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Integrated Clinical Academic (ICA) Programme provides personal research training awards for healthcare professionals (excluding doctors and dentists) who wish to develop careers that combine clinical research and research leadership with continued clinical practice and clinical development: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding-and-support/funding-for-training-and-career-development/training-programmes/nihr-hee-ica-programme/

Internship programme: https://hee.nhs.uk/our-work/developing-our-workforce/clinical-academic-careers/research-internships

Pre-doctoral Clinical Academic Fellowships: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding-and-support/funding-for-training-and-career-development/training-programmes/nihr-hee-ica-programme/nihr-hee-ica-programme-pcaf.htm

Clinical Doctorate Research Fellowships: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding-and-support/funding-for-training-and-career-development/training-programmes/nihr-hee-ica-programme/nihr-hee-ica-programme-cdrf.htm

Clinical Lectureship: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding-and-support/funding-for-training-and-career-development/training-programmes/nihr-hee-ica-programme/nihr-hee-ica-programme-cl.htm

Senior Clinical Lectureship: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding-and-support/funding-for-training-and-career-development/training-programmes/nihr-hee-ica-programme/nihr-hee-ica-programme-scl.htm

BHF: Project grants, special project grants and clinical study grants are open to nurses and AHPs:  https://www.bhf.org.uk/research/information-for-researchers/what-we-fund

Burdett Trust for Nursing: http://www.btfn.org.uk/grant-programmes/

General Nursing Council for England and Wales Trust: Research grants http://www.gnct.org.uk/grants/

Websites with a variety of grant opportunities (Fellowships, project grants, travel scholarships etc)

RCN Research and Innovation: A range of opportunities are highlighted on this webpage including research projects, attending a conference, post-registration course fees including studentships and fellowships: https://www.rcn.org.uk/professional-development/research-and-innovation/research-funding-opportunities

Research Professional: Includes a database of research funding opportunities. Access the sign-in page at: https://www.researchprofessional.com/sso/login?service=https://www.researchprofessional.com/0/

Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP): http://www.casp-uk.net/#!casp-tools-checklists/c18f8

Clinicaltrials.gov: A registry and results database of publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants: https://clinicaltrials.gov/

European Society Intensive Care Medicine – Nursing and AHPs: http://www.esicm.org/nursing

RCN Research and Innovation: information and resources for those looking to use or develop research to enhance their practice: https://www.rcn.org.uk/professional-development/research-and-innovation. This webpage includes access to the RCN Research Society: https://www.rcn.org.uk/get-involved/forums/research-society

NURSING AND ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME

We are delighted to welcome you to join the SCTS Nursing and Allied Health Professional  

MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME.

The MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME is specifically aimed at Nursing and Allied Health Professionals who are interested in or are already undertaking research activities.

This is a new initiative that will provide SCTS members with access to a research mentorship network to facilitate development of high-quality cardiothoracic nursing and allied health professional research. The programme will be tailored to the needs of the individual whether it be simply support with getting started in research to  progression and development of a clinical academic career.

As part of this programme, you will be linked to an appropriate mentor and you will be provided with essential resources to enable you to excel in your research journey.

The mentorship programme will last 6 months, and you will be expected to have at least 4 interactions with your mentor during this time (virtually or face to face). You will also be expected to attend a series of group lunchtime/evening workshops (maximum of 3 for the duration of the programme lasting for approximately 1 hour each). Your acceptance means a commitment to attend these. Failure to do this may jeopardise your place in the programme.

If you would like to be considered for this programme, please complete the form below and return to emma@scts.org and z.khanbhai@rbht.nhs.uk.

Closing date for the application is 30^th April 2023. This programme is only open to SCTS members. If you are not a member, please join us. The membership form can be accessed via the following link: Research & Audit | SCTS

NAHP Mentorship Application Form