Lauren Horne, Staff Nurse and Research Champion

Lauren Horne is a Research Champion in Critical Care. She told us how being a Research Champion makes her feel like she’s having a positive impact on future care.

How did you become aware of research in the department?

We have a dedicated Research Nurse who’s based in the Critical Care. She gives a short talk to all new starters about the research studies that are happening in the unit. I think this is great because at my previous trust I didn’t hear anything at all about research. It’s much more visible at WUTH.

The Research Nurse makes all clinical staff aware of the studies that are happening and the patients that are taking part. This directly affects our roles as it might mean, for example, that there are certain types of blood samples we should or shouldn’t take.

What do you have to do as a Research Champion?

First I want to say that our Research Nurse supports everything I do, so I never feel like I’m on my own. I start by learning all the details of an active research study. This might sound daunting but I began with the simpler ones and will move to more complex ones as I gain more experience.

Next I identify patients who are eligible to take part in the study by going through their notes. I will then talk to each patient, or their family if they are too unwell, to explain the study and invite them to take part. As a Critical Care Nurse I’m used to explaining things to people so it feels like a natural progression. I can also give them written information they can take more time to read.

Once the patient tells me they would like to take part, I go through the consent forms with them, then put the information on their patient record.

I’m given the equivalent of one shift every other month for the additional admin that’s needed, which I will fit in at suitable times around my shifts.

What skills do you need to be a Research Champion?

I would say that as long as you are good at being organised, the only other thing you need is an interest in research and why it’s important.

What do you get out of being a Research Champion?

I really think that being a Research Champion has improved my confidence as a nurse. It’s broadening my skillset, which is great for future career development. It gives me a greater understanding of medicine and so helps me do a better job. It has also given me the opportunity to build even stronger relationships with my patients.

I find it really rewarding because I know that research underpins all the treatments we give to our patients. At the moment I’m working on GenOMICC, an international study that aims to identify specific genes that make people more likely to become critically unwell. In 10 years’ time we could be targeting treatment around people’s genes, and it feels brilliant to know I’m having an impact on future care.