Abstract

Clinical Academics are key to furthering clinical practice through their contribution to increasing the current body of knowledge around care and service provision, and their knowledge of the best evidence based practice. The developmental pathway for clinical academics from nursing and allied health professions has gained impetus in recent years and opportunities for developing the skills and attributes necessary to progress have increased.

This Clinical Academic Interns Project has provided practitioners with one such pathway for development. A group of interns have been given support to develop their skills in a way that is individualised to meet their learning needs and the needs of their service. The evaluation of this project identifies that required to ensure interns are successful in their endeavour to develop a clinical academic career. This report provides evidence on how to design, develop and implement a Clinical Academic Careers developmental pathway to prepare practitioners for doctoral study.

Interns have exited the programme with heightened research skills, the ability to use best evidence to inform their own practice and influence the practice of others and the service within which they work. They have been prepared for the next stage in their development and are ready to embark on doctoral study to make an original contribution to knowledge which will have a positive impact on the people to whom they are providing care. This programme has therefore made a positive contribution to the clinical improvement agenda.