Chief Nurse Scholarship

Four UHB members of staff - Helen Horton, Shendrine Wijendra, Khush Bhandal, Jocelyn Choyce successfully completed the Chief Nurse Scholarship programme in September 2024

The Scholarship aims to impact several areas:

• Improve the quality of care and experience of service users at UHB by undertaking research, quality Improvement or service evaluation that directly relate to the clinical practice setting of the Chief Nurse Fellow.
• Increase opportunities for NHS staff to participate in research, therefore utilising the talents of this group of individuals.
• Strengthen the role of Nurse, Midwife and AHP (NMAHP) research in the Trust.
• Support staff recruitment and retention.
• Offer an opportunity to develop a sustained clinical academic role.
• Provide robust research education and practical skills for staff to undertake projects.

Why apply for the Chief Nurse Scholarship?

The scholarship programme is aimed at those who wish to increase their awareness of clinical research and to lead and instigate changes of practice within their clinical area. They may even wish to pursue a clinical academic career.  A clinical academic is someone who engages in clinical practice and research at the same time.

The Scholarship offers:

• A structured clinical academic development programme
• Support to undertake a research or quality/service improvement project, focusing on an area pertinent to the fellow’s practice and aligned to organisational and NMAHP specific strategic objectives.
• One day per week out of direct patient care for a minimum of 1 year to provide time to undertake the clinical academic development programme and to complete their project.
• Monthly clinical and academic support meetings to review personal and project plans.
• Enrolment onto the Preparing for Research Delivery (PReP) programme.

the new cohort of Scholars 2024-2025 on their Induction Day with Deputy Chief Nurse Davina Thomas, Professor Annie Topping, and Professor Ruth Pearce and Teresa Melody.

Who can apply to the CNS programme?

The Scholarship programme is open to all nurses, midwives and AHPs employed by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.

What is the eligibility criteria?

Applicants must:

• Have full support of their line manager for one day per week release from clinical practice for the duration of the scholarship.
• Not be enrolled or undertaking any other course or programme of study during the scholarship (1 year duration)
• Identify a research idea, in conjunction with their line manager and multidisciplinary team that will benefit their clinical specialty or the wider organisation.
• Complete all aspects of the application process in full.