Shaping clinical practice – nursing students engage with the world of research

by London-TV in Business

Nursing students from UWL’s College of Nursing Midwifery and Healthcare (CNMH) attended the inaugural Research in Practice conference held across sites in London and Reading on Monday 23 February. The event brought together voices in healthcare research, offering students the opportunity to engage directly with those shaping evidence-based clinical practice.

Real-world implications

Student delegates heard inspiring presentations from doctoral candidates, patient representative researchers, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and lead research nurses from NHS Trusts. Speakers shared the motivations, challenges, and real-world implications of their work, helping to demystify the research process and highlight the impact on patient care. A highlight was hearing from their own lecturers, who spoke about research they had undertaken and the impact it has had on both clinical practice and the skills they teach.

Prizes for the best posters

Students also had the opportunity to showcase their own research posters. The Students’ Union kindly sponsored prizes for both London and Reading, awarding first place and runner-up awards for the best posters in each location.  

Because research can often feel abstract or hidden behind technical language, the aim of the conference was to bring research to life, to make it accessible, relevant, and grounded in everyday clinical reality. Through practical examples, lived experience, and open conversation, delegates gained valuable insight into how research happens in practice. 

Senior Lecturer Anna Impey said:

“Hearing colleagues from both clinical and academic practice share what drives their research and the real impact it has on patient care was so interesting. It was an enjoyable day made possible by the support of colleagues from Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, West London NHS Trust, and the UWL Students’ Union.”

One student said:

“The conference helped me to understand and recognise that research is an essential part of my learning and development, preparing me to become competent and gain new knowledge.”