Hear from our interns...

Throughout my ACP training and nursing career, I have been encouraged to critically question practice and strive to provide the best possible care for patients, guided by the latest evidence-based local and national guidance and policies.

Completing my dissertation as part of my Advanced Practice Master’s pathway, and subsequently qualifying as an ACP, gave me valuable experience in developing a research question and undertaking a retrospective audit. This sparked my interest in research and service improvement, and a desire to explore opportunities to enhance patient care and improve the patient journey.

I was keen to develop a career combining clinical practice and research but initially found it difficult to know where to start, given the range of awards and internships available and the lack of clarity around which opportunities were most suitable for someone at the beginning of their research career.

A colleague signposted me to the Launchpad Scheme. From exploring the website through to submitting my application, I found the Launchpad team extremely supportive and approachable. I particularly valued the ‘Getting Started in Research’ study days and the drop-in sessions, which provided an opportunity to discuss my research ideas and career aspirations.

My current project focuses on preventing acute kidney injury by promoting preventative rather than reactive care. With support from an orthogeriatric consultant, I have developed a study protocol and worked closely with the Trust’s research nurses to develop patient information leaflets, consent forms and case report forms. I have secured Trust sponsorship and am currently awaiting review and approval of my documentation before submitting my application to the Research Ethics Committee.

The Launchpad team has provided invaluable support throughout this journey. The regular intern forums have been particularly beneficial, providing an opportunity to meet fellow interns, share ideas, troubleshoot challenges and learn from each other.

When I found out I had been successful in my application, I felt privileged, excited and proud. If you are interested in developing a research career or gaining experience in undertaking your own research project, I would highly recommend the Launchpad Scheme as an excellent place to start.

As a Physiotherapist, I’ve been lucky to see first hand the significant improvements in people’s health that occur as a result of increasing physical activity. But being physically active doesn’t always just happen and there are often multiple individual challenges and barriers that need to be overcome before becoming physically active is possible. This is particularly the case if you are living with a long term health condition, have lost confidence or don’t know where to start. 

Our model of care on the Isle of Wight places neighbourhoods at the heart of community health and wellbeing and this messaging is reinforced by the recent publication of the NHS 10 Year Plan. It made me reflect on the possibility of investigating in a more structured way the role that communities could play in facilitating physical activity and whether there was anything we could learn for our local area.

In trying to start investigating this question, I completed the Researcher’s Development Programme which was a great introduction to research methodologies. However, despite best efforts, I struggled to create any capacity (both time and thinking space) to pursue this further. When an opportunity arose to apply for the Launchpad Internship with a funding opportunity to release me from my role, I jumped at the chance and here I am today!

What I have really appreciated about the Launchpad Internship is that it allows you to focus on what you would like to achieve on your own personal research journey. For my own learning, I hoped to focus on 3 main areas: 1. To undertake a comprehensive and methodical literature search exploring the link between neighbourhood characteristics and physical activity in older adults 2. To facilitate a focus group in a local community to understand local need and perspective in relation to physical activity 3. To link in with other experts.

To date I’ve had phenomenal support from the Knowledge Specialist team who have assisted me with individual teaching and signposted to wonderful resources to support the undertaking of completing a literature search. Through the formulation of a search question and search terms I’m now in the process of writing up my literature search into a more structured review. My mentors have been very accessible and supportive and we’re just about to embark on our first focus group which is certain to create a wealth of useful information that we intend to build on in the future. I really can’t recommend this opportunity enough and would encourage anyone who needs a helping hand to get started on your research journey to give it a go.

I was curious about the work taking place within Living Well Services and had previous experience of research, but due to time and capacity constraints I was unsure how to take my ideas forward. The internship programme provided the ideal opportunity to explore how I could develop services through meaningful insight, with clear guidance on collaborating with patients and the wider community to shape improvements.

I was delighted (chuffed to bits) to be awarded the internship and immediately shared the news with my Clinical Director, who came to personally congratulate me. The application process was supportive and accessible, with comprehensive guidance materials, a helpful webinar, and excellent support from the team throughout. There was always time to discuss ideas, refine project plans, and explore opportunities for backfill, education, professional development, and patient and public involvement, all of which were invaluable in helping me shape my proposal.

The application process for the Launchpad Research Internship was supportive, well structured, and logical from start to finish. Having time to plan early was invaluable, particularly when developing the project plan, securing the necessary approvals, and gaining support from my manager and department. The guidance available through the Academy of Research and Improvement helped break the process down into manageable steps, making what initially felt like a daunting application much more achievable.

The most challenging aspect was arranging clinical cover for my part-time role to enable protected research time, which required careful planning and support from my manager. When I learned that my application had been successful, I was genuinely surprised and absolutely elated. It was a real confidence boost and marked the beginning of an exciting journey into research and clinical academia.