Barbara Sananowicz, Staff Nurse and Research Champion

Barbara Sananowicz told us about how she became one of the Trust’s first Research Champions.

What is your job role?
I’m a staff nurse on WUTH’s Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU). I joined the unit during the COVID-19 pandemic, so I’ve been here five years now.

What sparked your interest in becoming a Research Champion?
I guess I’ve always been interested in research, because I know that without research there would be no new medications or treatments.

During the pandemic, I saw trials for new COVID-19 medications going on in the unit. In fact during the COVID-19 pandemic WUTH was one of the most successful recruitment sites for the Recovery Trial. I noticed how well the patients responded to the new treatments in these times of emergency, and I found it inspiring.

Then last year I took a critical care nursing course to develop my skills. It included a research module which I really enjoyed.

I knew Jessie Huang, Critical Care Research Nurse who worked on our unit, so one day I decided to approach her to see how I could get more involved. Along with my colleague, Lauren Ann Horne, I started as a Research Champion in May this year.

What’s involved in being a Research Champion?
First I had to do Good Clinical Practice training, which was an online course with a short test at the end. This is something all members of staff involved in research have to do.

Being a Research Champion means I draw on my knowledge of patients, their diagnoses and test results. I’m also aware of the current studies that are happening at the Trust and so I can identify patients who meet the participation criteria. If I spot someone is eligible to take part, I can speak to Jessie, or Craig Denmade who is the Principle Investigator for studies in ITU. If the patient’s eligibility is confirmed, then Craig and Jessie will speak to them about the study. My Matron and Ward Manager are really supportive, and they allocate a number of hours each month for me to carry out my Research Champion duties.

What do you get out of it?
I love being a Research Champion. It has a really positive impact on my relationships with my patients. The staff teamwork is also amazing and it feels so good to be part of a team that’s striving for improvements. And it’s rewarding, because I know it’s helping us to deliver better care for our patients. Sometimes the patient will be part of a new treatment trial so they could see improvements straight away. Sometimes it doesn’t involve any change to their treatment, but by taking part they are helping to find new treatments.

Finally, having that knowledge and experience of research has rounded my skills as a nurse, so I feel like I’m doing the best job that I can do. It makes coming to work each day even more rewarding.