Parental involvement in neonatal pain management: reflecting on the researcher-practitioner role
Caryl Skene Neonatal nurse consultant, Jessop Wing Neonatal Unit, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Sheffield, UK
Aim The objective of this paper is to identify and explore some of the ethical and professional issues facing the clinical researcher-practitioner and to discuss how these were addressed in one particular study.
Background The author’s experience of undertaking ethnographic research in the organisation in which she works as a nurse consultant highlighted a number of ethical and professional dilemmas. This paper discusses how some of these issues, particularly relating to informed consent, confidentiality, practice concerns and exploitation were addressed.
Data sources Doctoral research (DMedSCi) with Sheffield University.
Discussion This paper discusses the ethical and professional dilemmas and some of the advantages associated with the researcher-practitioner role.
Conclusion This paper identifies and discusses the need to:
Remember who the research is about and whom it should benefit.
Include a wide research team.
Acknowledge the researcher’s responsibility towards the participants.
Identify and act on problems as they arise.
Implication for research/practice The need to keep the participant as the focus of the research, to involve a wide research team and to reflect constantly on the process.
