title: A competency based educational programme for research nurses: an Italian experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  the EU Directive states the requirement of staff working in trials to be qualified by education, training and experience [14]. This includes the research nurse; however, in the transition from ward nurse to research nurse, new and highly developed skills and knowledge are required in order to work effectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  an educational programme was developed, which included a review of current knowledge and baseline practice, development of competencies related to the role of research nurse, haemato-oncology and clinical trial education to support this advanced practice for nurses in clinical trials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  overall, the feedback on the course by the nurses was very positive, and the nurses were able to undertake the role of research nurse within specified clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Division of Haemato-oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liptrott
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Orlando
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clerici
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cocquio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinelli