Clodagh McHugh

". . . an opportunity to develop my own practice and establish contacts with health professionals from both the NCI and Northern Ireland."

Clodagh McHugh
Oncology Liaison Nurse
Beaumont Hospital, Dublin

Reflections on the 2006 NCI Clinical Trials Training for Nurses

I have been working in the Haematology/Oncology area for the past seven years. I am currently employed as an Oncology Liaison Nurse in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin. A fundamental part of my role is providing education and support for people with cancer and their families, from the time of diagnosis and for the duration of their treatment. As part of my role I encounter a wide range of cancers and their treatments and therefore research and knowledge of innovative therapies is imperative.

In 2000 I recall receiving feedback from my managers about the North/South Cancer Consortium. I could not have envisaged that six years later I would be fortunate enough to be selected for the Clinical Trials Oncology Nurse Training Program at the NCI. As I reflect upon this experience at an internationally recognized research institute, I can only say that it was an invaluable opportunity. It provided me with not only a greater insight into the area of clinical trials but an opportunity to develop my own practice and establish contacts with health professionals from both the NCI and Northern Ireland.

The program was facilitated by three very dedicated people: Georgie Cusack, Liz Ness and Joyce Stocker. Throughout the program they offered support and encouragement and gave us direction. The program was a combination of structured courses, including Ethics, Research and Clinical Trials, and Evidence Based Practice, plus informal sessions and placements with Clinical Nurse Specialists/Research Nurses and Advanced Nurse Practitioners within varied specialties. We also attended journal clubs, medical and nursing grand rounds, case conferences and staff education sessions. The lectures we attended were of a very high standard; many of the lecturers have published and are well recognized and established in their own field. The underlying quality in all we met was willingness to share and disseminate knowledge. There is strong ethos among the NCI staff towards continuing education and achieving academic recognition.

This unique experience has provided me with resources and ideas for development within my own practice and Oncology unit and I would highly recommend it for nurses working in the clinical Oncology area. I am very appreciative of my managers and colleagues for facilitating me during this five week program. I am also very grateful to the HRB and the NCI for providing me with this wonderful opportunity.