Heather Gilbert

Tuesday, 1 May 2012

Thank you for a well-written and 'researched' article. I am delighted to see that Research Nurses are, if even in a small way, starting to be recognised at last. I believe this area of nursing is greatly undervalued and overlooked. As mentioned, there is no formal training, no recognition in the world of academia and no relevant pay scale which sufficiently addresses the skill and knowledge required of Research Nurses. I am a Senior Research Nurse, a role I have filled for approximately 7 years, a role which I absolutely love, even though my clinical background is Theatre and Recovery Room Nursing, amongst other things. I work on an observational study with women who take antipsychotic medication during pregnancy, helping to develop evidence-based guidelines for the safe use of these medications during this important time. Our study, The National Register of Antipsychotic Medication in Pregnancy (NRAMP), is unique, and will help many families in our communities as they strive to maintain good mental and physical health and wellbeing. The longitudinal aspect of NRAMP provides the possibility of following mothers and babies into the future. I feel very privileged to be in this role, knowing that here is a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in the lives of these families, for future Australians. It is clear that Research Nurses fill many important roles, and for this we need recognition, for our patients, our places of work and for ourselves.