A new nursing programme that will enhance the care provided to patients in clinical trials was officially announced by RCSI today.

The year-long ‘Certificate in Nursing (Clinical Research)’ will be the first formal education programme for clinical research nurses in Ireland.

Run through the Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery at RCSI in partnership with the Dublin Centre for Clinical Research, the programme will provide nurses with the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to manage and co-ordinate clinical trials. The first cohort of nurses will begin the course later this month.

Professor Seamus Cowman, Head of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at RCSI, said: "The clinical research nurse acts as the advocate for patients as they go through their research experience. It is their responsibility to make sure that trials run smoothly and are conducted in the best interests of the patients. This new programme will ensure that they are provided with the specialist knowledge, along with considerable expertise in handling and managing data."

"The course also fulfils a need that has been recognised for many years,” continued Professor Cowman. "The programme combines the expertise, experience and resources of the Clinical Research Centres at RCSI/Beaumont, the Mater and St Vincents, along with the RCSI School of Nursing. It will ultimately help to enhance the high quality research for patients’ benefit within the healthcare setting."

The provision of the Certificate in Clinical Research Nursing Programme is supported by funding from the Health Research Board (HRB) and the Wellcome Trust, through the Dublin Centre for Clinical Research (DCCR).