Lorraine McKenna

"It is an experience which allows us time to reflect on our current practise as nurses, and to take back ideas to positively influence our professional development."

Lorraine McKenna
Clinical Research Nurse
NICCTU
Belfast City Hospital

Reflections on the 2006 NCI Clinical Trials Training for Nurses

As a recently appointed clinical trials research nurse, I had known of the opportunity to attend the National Cancer Institute Clinical Trials Training for nurses at the National Cancer Institute. So when the opportunity to apply for this program arose, I applied and successfully obtained a place.

Having qualified as a staff nurse in 1998, I have worked in both the oncology and haematology setting. I have been employed as a haematology research nurse for the Cancer Clinical Trials Unit in the Belfast City Hospital for the past year, and have gained valuable experience working with a wide variety of clinical trials in haematology. So my main objective was to gain experience and knowledge of new developments for haematology treatments, resulting in further development of my current practice.

On October 10 2006, I, along with my colleague Aishleen Brunton and two girls from Beaumont Hospital, arrived at the clinical center to meet up with Elizabeth Ness and Georgie Cusack, who were to be invaluable, both as mentors and coordinators, and also as friends and social planners!!

At our orientation day in Dublin, we were given the opportunity to express what our areas of interest were, ahead of our trip, so that each individual could plan their program to suit their needs and objectives for the program. On arriving at the NCI we were then allocated a mentor who assisted us with coordinating our activities for the 5 weeks.

The educational opportunities at the NCI are excellent, and our aim was to attend as many as possible in our 5 week program. The 3 day Fundamentals in Clinical Trials course was an excellent overview of clinical trials, especially for people new to this area. We attended the weekly Bioethics course, which had an excellent and varied content, with different speakers attending from across the USA. Nursing educational sessions, such as literature review and abstract writing were interesting and inspired me to further my professional development.

My area of interest while attending the NCI was haematology, and my mentors were research nurses in charge of lymphoma trials and transplantation protocols. These nurses were very helpful in linking me with other personnel, and were very helpful in providing information to take back to Belfast City Hospital. They were also interested in trial activity in Northern Ireland and what phases of trials were being offered to patients today.

As a result of our visit, we have identified areas for development, and, on returning back to Belfast we now have unlimited access to resources and material to improve our practice. The NCI staff have offered us continuing support and help in any area we require assistance.

Finally, I would like to recommend this opportunity to anyone who will get to attend the NCI in the future. It is an experience which allows us time to reflect on our current practice as nurses, and to take back ideas to positively influence our professional development.