A day within the lifetime of…a professor of clinical nursing

In the third blog in our “day in the life of…” series, Catherine Paterson, Professor and Clinical Head of Nursing on the University of Canberra, Australia, talks about her current role and profession in academic clinical nursing research.

(1) What is your position and most important role/responsibilities?
My nursing title is Clinical Professor of Nursing and my position is jointly funded by the University of Canberra and Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Health. I’m honored and privileged to have the ability to tackle this role and support academic clinical nurses of their profession development. This role focuses on conducting and facilitating nursing research, constructing the capability of nurse clinicians to interact in research, translating research evidence into clinical practice, and supporting innovation in nursing by: 1) developing a research culture that fosters productive, research-centered relationships amongst universities and health services, 2) promoting and supporting innovation in nursing research and practice by constructing evidence-based practice, 3) using health services and research knowledge to contribute to clinical service design, service innovation and strategic direction, 4 ) leading the event of research projects, financing proposals and high-quality publications, and 5) supervising activities promoting the expansion of the potential and opportunities of a clinical profession as a tutorial nurse.

(2) How did you get into your current role/field of labor?
I’ve all the time desired to be a nurse since I used to be 4 years old. I began my skilled profession in 2004 as a registered nurse. Within the primary two years of qualifying I transitioned to working in a dual clinical and research role and in 2006 I modified my profession trajectory to concentrate on uro-oncology. I accomplished my academic studies to acquire a Master of Science in Nursing (Hons) in 2007. I then received competitive funding for a full-time PhD fellowship specializing in prostate cancer (during which period I had the nice surprise of becoming pregnant for the second time – my children are 18 months apart).

When I accomplished my PhD in 2013, there have been few clinical and academic nurse positions available, so I needed to get creative and develop a task in cancer care. I negotiated funding with two organizations to take up a pioneering recent role as a senior academic nurse specializing in prostate cancer within the UK. I actually liked this role. I even have had significant input into the strategic development and implementation of evidence-based nurse services across three major hospitals within the North East of Scotland. I used to be the top of the Cancer Department on a research topic related to cancer survival and supported early-career researchers. I even have worked at a complicated practice level providing nurse-led diagnostic services for prostate biopsies, a golden sperm referral clinic for men requiring intensity modulated radiation therapy, and a complicated metastatic prostate cancer clinic. I even have since been transferred overseas and proceed to work professionally in each clinical and academic camps as a Nursing Clinical Manager.

(3) Can you tell us what a typical day is like for you as a nurse?
No two days are the identical for me. As a clinical nurse manager, I should be dynamic and aware of university and healthcare priorities. I’m involved in teaching, learning and assessment of undergraduate and postgraduate nursing courses, research and supporting innovation in clinical practice. I normally have appointments on the hospital, nursing school, and broader university level. I try to put in writing every single day. I can truthfully say that I never see my role as a job or a typical day. More of a lifestyle – a nursing ethos that ensures that my each day contributions are kind, caring and supportive of others to assist them achieve their full research potential.

(4) What parts of your role would you describe because the “best” or most satisfying?
My role has so many rewarding features that it’s hard to decide on. Perhaps one of the best and more rewarding aspect is watching nurses gain confidence, ability and competence of their research skills from novice to expert. I’m very happy with all of the nurses I mentor. Recently, the abstracts of two early profession nurses (one a clinical nurse with no research experience and the opposite who was a second-year nursing student) had their abstracts accepted for national oncology congress meetings, each were accepted for podium presentations, and each, their research papers were accepted in a top quartile journal (impact 3.7). It’s very satisfying and provides me a giant smile.

(5) What advice would you give to others who would love to pursue an identical nursing position?
As nurses, we offer roughly 80% of direct, hands-on patient care. Therefore, as professionals, we all know the necessary questions from clinical trials about what’s most vital to the patients and families we now have the honour and privilege of caring for. We can only provide one of the best care with high-quality evidence. My advice is to search for a pacesetter in nursing research in your clinical field. They will definitely need to support you because we’d like more clinical academic nurses around the globe. Explore options similar to Nursing Research Interns (these are 50% clinical: 50% full-time research-funded positions), seek clinical academic fellowships for small projects or advanced degrees; these are a few of the supports we now have developed here at ACT. Another necessary aspect requiring attention is support for mid-career academic nurses (Associate Professor/Reader). We have published pathways, but funding to support them just isn’t yet fully a reality in international landscapes. Believe in yourself, all the time be kind, caring, and conduct your research truthfully and with passion.

Catherine (@catheripaterson) is Professor and Head of Clinical Nursing on the Faculty of Health (@UCFacultyHealth) on the University of Canberra (@UniCanberra) and Canberra Health Services (@ACT_CHS) in Australia.

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