Advanced clinical practitioners and the research pillar

Abstract

This paper considers the development of multidisciplinary advanced clinical practice in the UK and further afield. Consideration is given to education, governance and the four pillars of advanced practice: clinical, education, leadership and management, and research, as defined in Health Education England's Multi-Professional Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice (2017) . The research pillar is subsequently considered in more detail, with the following aspects being explored: the key drivers and support for increasing research engagement; the value of advance care practitioners (ACPs) developing research capabilities to enhance the provision of high-quality evidence-based patient care; and the barriers to achieving the research capabilities. The close relationship between advanced practice and clinical academic roles is identified, alongside both the evolving situation regarding clinical academic roles within the NHS, and the need to develop the research pillar through doctoral level study (to support the development of ACPs into future research leaders). This paper concludes by offering the Health Education England/National Institute for Health and Care Research's Integrated Clinical and Practitioner Academic programme as a potential solution to the challenges surrounding ACPs accessing additional training and development avenues—which are necessary for them to progress as professionals and active researching academics.