The Benefits of Having Nurses in Medical Research

[keh49848]

Hi all. I'm an RN/BSN considering pursuing a PhD in medical sciences (immunology research, cancer research, vascular physiology research, etc) through a local med school. It's not an MD program - it's strictly science and medical research. The majority of students have science backgrounds and I doubt any applicants have healthcare experience. I'm not good at selling myself in interviews, and I was wondering if anyone would be willing to help me brainstorm ways that someone with nursing experience would be a valuable addition to this type of program.

What I have so far:

- Someone with healthcare experience could offer a lot of insight when researchers are trying to apply in-vitro (test tube) study findings to in-vivo (living) models. As nurses, every time we give a med on the floor, we're giving someone a product that was developed in a lab, and we're monitoring for its effects on their body.

- When talking about a disease process or medication, someone with a science background is more likely to see it as a group of molecules or cells. A healthcare provider automatically thinks of the big-picture effects on a patient. It could be a valuable perspective.

Thanks in advance for your insight :)

[llg, PhD, RN]

Perhaps ... your familiarity with nursing perspectives would shed a different light on the field and open up new avenues of investigation ... or new avenues of research utilization?