Recognising the importance of advanced nurse practitioners

Advanced nurse practitioners play a vital role in early-phase oncology research across the UK, bridging the gap between clinical care and research delivery.

Their extended scope of practice, including clinical assessment, prescribing, and decision-making, supports the wider research team in delivering more autonomous and patient-centred care within clinical trials. Their integration into research enhances patient access and experience while improving operational efficiency.

Specific responsibilities can differ across sites, trials, and sponsors, but often include patient screening, consent discussions and administration of investigational treatments.

Thanks to their advanced clinical skills, advanced nurse practitioners can assess patients, manage toxicities, and adjust dosing in accordance with trial protocols. As independent prescribers, they can act swiftly to address side effects and assist patients with symptom management.

Advanced nurse practitioners also contribute significantly to multidisciplinary team meetings, offering clinical insights that enhance both the safety and feasibility of trials. Their role allows them to practise advanced clinical reasoning and make independent decisions, which helps to alleviate the workload of other clinicians and accelerates trial delivery.

The impact of advanced nurse practitioners on clinical trial sites is substantial. Their involvement enhances trial capacity, expedites patient recruitment, and provides timely clinical interventions. Importantly, patients benefit from holistic, expert support throughout their trial journey, resulting in improved care continuity and overall satisfaction.

Within our network, we recognise the importance of embedding these roles into research teams and structuring our centres to make full use of the breadth of research nursing roles. This approach maximises capacity and places patients at the centre of our clinical research delivery.

We are pleased to note that the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is undertaking a review of advanced nurse practitioner roles within the research setting. We support this work, which proposes the development of standards of proficiency and revalidation requirements tailored for advanced nurse practitioners working in research.

For a personal perspective on the importance of these roles, you can read our article from Linda Gomm, an advanced nurse practitioner in our network. In this piece, she shared her experiences and thoughts on the evolving research landscape.

Hear from Linda Gomm