Every organisation needs a Sherpa

There has never been a more exciting or well-supported point in time to develop and lead research within a clinical role in the nursing, midwifery and allied health professions (NMAHPs). In the past year, we have seen key strategic research-focused appointments into the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) team, and the launch of dedicated strategies to support research within clinical practice, from our CNO and Chief Allied Health Professional Officer (NHS England/NHS Improvement, 2021; Health Education England, 2022). NMAHPs benefit from continued Health Education England funding and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) pathways and influential networks such as the Council of Deans Clinical Academic Roles Implementation Network (CARIN) to drive forward this agenda through advocacy and influencing (Baltruks and Callaghan, 2018).

The evolution of the landscape is encouraging; however, the pace of change is slow and the reality of developing, leading, and sustaining research for the benefit of others, while working in a busy clinical role as an NMAHP remains challenging (Trusson et al, 2019; Cowley et al, 2020; Olive et al, 2022).