Role of the specialized neuro intensive care nurse in neuroscience research

It is widely acknowledged that the quality of research is greatly improved when nurses are involved at the investigators' site. Many papers highlight the knowledge, skills and expertise required by nurses for the conduct of trials. The known skills include reliability, organization, communication, motivation, self-discipline and critical thought. The responsibilities of nurses in the conduction of research trials are wide ranging from the collection and recording of data, recruitment and screening of patients, ensuring informed consent has been gained, randomization of drugs, the follow-up of patients to development and training for staff to the required international standards. In the past, clinical research nurses have been considered as data collectors by their peers, due to the lack of knowledge of the true extent of the role of the clinical research nurse. The rise in popularity of the role and the publication of an employment brief for clinical research nurses by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) publication on 'Developing the best research professionals' has readdressed this prior imbalance; recognizing in detail their role, knowledge, skills, expertise with appropriate grading and remuneration. The role of the clinical research nurse in the neuroscience setting is equally as diverse with the added requirement of a higher level of knowledge and understanding of the pathophysiology of neurological diseases and specific skills required to work in the intensive care environment. This paper will attempt to explore the role of the specialized neurosciences intensive care nurse and the relationship with high-quality neuroscience research.