ORGANISATION

The CRNA was founded in 1983 as a direct result of a growing awareness among a group of nurses that they had been continuously extending their role. Nurses are not only working for hospital and community health services but in less familiar situations such as university based clinical research centres. Today they are widely accepted as vital members of multi-disciplinary research teams investigating all aspects of health care. They are employed by industry in market research, by social survey organisations and by medical research centres. These nurses use all their clinical expertise as well as developing valuable specific research skills, due to the variety and complexity of their jobs within multi-disciplinary settings they may become isolated from their peers. The committee is democratically elected from and by full members and endeavours to maintain good liaison with other nursing organisations including the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of Midwives and the Community Practitioners and Health Visitors' Association.

AIMS

This association exists to support nurses interested or involved in any form of research which relates to patient or client care and aims to provide an organisation to disseminate research findings. Nurses and other clinical researchers need a platform from which to present the knowledge and expertise developed in their work. They have a unique contribution to make to research in that their training enables them to complement investigations whilst caring form and protecting the patient or client. There is a growing awareness of the potential for improving patient care by drawing on the expertise of others. This Association aims to further multi-disciplinary co-operation.

The Association provides a forum for discussion and an opportunity for the presentation of papers by anyone in clinical research. There is minimum preliminary abstract appraisal as the Association encourages open forum where participants are free to question the presenters on their own work. Members at the meeting decide whether or not each presentation is acceptable for publication in the proceedings of the Association. This format enables participation, education and accountability.

MEMBERSHIP

The Association is keen to attract members from other organisations and professions, especially those who are members of research teams or who are interested in employing nurse researchers. The subscription fee is kept to a minimum in order to encourage novice researchers. Rules concerning membership are contained in the Association's Constitution. Please see the attached MS Word brochure for details on how to join the CRNA.

LINKS

MCRN. The UK Medicines for Children Research Network (MCRN) was established in 2005 as part of the UK Clinical Research Network, which was set up by the Department of Health with the aim to improve the speed, quality and integration of clinical research, ultimately resulting in improved patient care.  The aim of the MCRN is to enable the provision of safe and effective medicines for children. The MCRN will provide a network of local research centres throughout England, which will develop and conduct clinical trials and other studies of medicinal products for children throughout the whole range of healthcare, and includes the active involvement of children.  An exciting opportunity now exists for research nurses or other health professionals of varying grades, to join the MCRN local research networks across England. Recruitment of approximately 30 such professionals will be taking place in the local networks based in the following areas; West Midlands, Trent, London, North West, South West.