Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (ANNP) Jodie Brown has been awarded a place on the National Institute for Health and Care Research Associate Principal Investigator (PI) programme.
This gives six months of valuable practical experience and recognition to healthcare professionals starting their research career, under the mentorship of an experienced investigator. The scheme is endorsed by the NIHR and Royal Colleges.
Jodie, who works on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at The Royal Oldham Hospital, originally qualified as a midwife in 2013 and has spent her career caring for pregnant women and babies, which led her to neonatal nursing in 2019.
During her master’s degree in Advanced Nursing Practice she took a particular interest in research, as she was continuously appraising and critiquing research studies.
Jodie explained: “I completed a module in which I was required to write a research proposal – this opened my eyes to the rigour and detail required to undertake a research study. In addition, writing a systematised review for my dissertation module further inspired my love for research.
“On qualifying as an ANNP, I put myself forward to be the Associate PI for the FEED1 study, which is trying to find the best way to feed babies born between 30 and 33 weeks. I felt this would be a good opportunity to get involved in research first hand and enable me to learn more about conducting a research study.
“Taking part in the FEED1 study as an Associate PI, and working alongside the site’s PI, has helped me developed skills in teaching, as well as learning the ‘behind the scenes’ aspect of research.”
Jodie joins a growing cohort of more than 20 NCA colleagues who have undertaken the Associate PI programme, including several who have supported Covid19 research. She is one of five from a nursing background.