Tracey Harding
University of Southampton, England
Title: Post Qualifying Clinical Doctoral Education for Nurses
Biography
Biography: Tracey Harding
Abstract
Manley (1996) subscribed to the notion of advanced practice as that which advances nursing practice encompassing the role of educator, researcher and consultant, promoting and developing clinical nursing from clinical to strategic and policy levels effectively driving patient and health care delivery.
However deficits in the development of research leadership, capacity and capability among healthcare professionals within the United Kingdom (UK) were reported (UKGCE, 2003; UKCRC, 2006).
Leadership (Brook and Rushforth, 2011), education and research remained key to advanced practice (DH, 2010).
Rapid change within the health and social care arena has meant that more sophisticated knowledge and skills related to service/practice design and redevelopment as well as governance are required. The document published in December 2015, ‘Delivering the Forward View: NHS planning guidance’, refers to research and its improvement within the NHS, in implementing research proposals and initiatives, leadership of service developments.
The Doctorate in Clinical Practice (DClinP) programme places emphasis on strengthening clinical practice alongside research leadership, building on existing expertise focussing on practice in health and social care, promoting contribution made to meeting global contemporary health and social care challenges, thereby improving patient outcomes.
Within the last five years, approximately 24 students have been awarded a doctorate. The impact of clinical and research leadership training is evident. Practitioners have talked about being aware of a whole new world of research and academic practice, and the wider career opportunities available. The strength of the programme and its impact is in advancing practice through its rich mix of intellectual stimulation increasing research capacity and research-led practice.