Abstract
This qualitative paper by Hammond and Hasson (2026) examines a crucial yet often overlooked professional role in the modern healthcare system for the Clinical Research Nurse (CRN). Simply put, the paper aims to understand what motivates clinical nurses to enter the research field, their actual experiences in the field and their career aspirations. Through in-depth interviews with 23 research nurses, the study highlights three main themes. Firstly, there is widespread misunderstanding about the core duties of a CRN. Secondly, it reveals the role dynamics and internal motivations that drive their dedication to science and patient care. Thirdly, there is a real struggle regarding professional identity and values in the workplace.
The key message of this study is clear – that the role of CRNs is currently undervalued professionally due to the lack of clear standardisation regarding job nomenclature, scope of practice and career paths. For clinical research to operate with high ethical standards and ensure patient safety, healthcare institutions need to formally recognise the unique identity of CRN practitioners to reduce cross-professional misunderstandings.
The findings in this paper strongly resonate with the reality of evidence-based nursing practice today. Theoretically, nursing combines caring with rigorous science. However, the literature shows that CRNs often find themselves caught in the ambiguity of this dual role – having to balance adherence to the integrity of research protocols with empathy for patients (Jones et al., 2022).
In my experience leading and managing various large-scale nursing studies – such as the implementation of community-based randomised controlled trials for stunting prevention and child development promotion in rural areas (Susanto et al., 2019) – the presence of research nurses in the field is fundamental to the success of the study. They are not simply administrative data collectors. They act as case managers, skilled communicators and protectors of family rights in the community. The participants’ complaints in this paper about their misunderstood role strongly align with my field observations. Particularly in expanding the reach of healthcare services in the agro-industrial sector through an agronursing approach (Susanto and Berdida, 2025), research nurses are the first to adapt to local cultures while ensuring interventions strictly adhere to ethical guidelines.
A surprising and reflective finding is the depth of the identity crisis experienced by CRNs, where their role is viewed as ‘different’ not only by other medical professionals but also by fellow nurses in traditional clinical settings. This paper significantly contributes to challenging the current work culture that marginalises research nurses (Whitehouse and Smith, 2020) and affirms that clinical research is an autonomous and vital area of specialist expertise.
This research examines the root causes that have held back the development of research nursing capacity, making it invaluable for institutional leaders, policymakers, educators and nurses themselves. In clinical practice and policymaking, so hospital leaders, ethics committees and directors of research centres of excellence can use these findings to develop standardised job descriptions. A clear career pathway is needed to ensure nurses do not feel they are sacrificing their clinical future when choosing to become a CRN (Johnson and Marsh, 2023). This will significantly support strategic decision-making in retaining talented nurses within the healthcare research system.
In education, schools of nursing need to begin integrating core competencies in clinical research and field trials into their professional education curricula. Students and recent graduates should be introduced to the fact that CRN positions are a viable, secure career option with significant impact on the population. Environmental and patient relevance, these insights are highly relevant for teaching hospitals and community projects for vulnerable populations. Clinical decisions involving at-risk patient populations – such as infant nutrition programmes, family farm health programmes or new drug trials – rely heavily on the keen observation and advocacy of a CRN who is recognised and fully supported by their institution.
