International Nurses Day 2025 – a blog by Laura Kusyk, Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner 

On International Nurses Day (IND), Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Clinical Research Facility (CRF) at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (RMCH), Laura Kusyk shares her passion and pride for the role of nursing in research and innovation to support the transformation of healthcare practice. 

Having worked with ACPs in my nursing career and admiring the clinical skills that they practice I was excited to train as an ACP on the CRF at RMCH, as I wanted to expand my practice to better meet the needs of research participants. ACPs are nurses and other qualified healthcare professionals, educated to a master’s degree level, with the role tailored to meet the needs of their service.  

ACPs have a high level of independence in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients, and this requires advanced clinical decision-making skills.  

I am now in my final year of the ACP MSc programme, and I contribute to clinical research by practicing clinical assessment skills, taking medical histories and creating treatment plans, and prescribing Clinical Trial Investigational Medicinal Products (CTIMPS) and other medications.  

I enjoy this role as I am autonomous as a practitioner, and yet part of an incredible team of research delivery staff. I enjoy the relationships we build with children and families on the unit – they can travel and stay for extended periods of time or visit every week or two for CTIMP infusions. We also create great reciprocal relationships with their clinical care teams to ensure successful trial delivery.  

Clinical Research at the NIHR Manchester CRF at RMCH 

Since starting my role on the CRF at RMCH, I have been lucky enough to follow the journey of patients on an early phase, first in human trial for Hunter syndrome, which is also known as mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II). This is a rare genetic disorder where, due to the lack of a particular enzyme, the body cannot properly break down certain sugar molecules, leading to their accumulation in tissues. This build-up causes damage which in turn causes the symptoms of Hunter syndrome which include joint stiffness, hearing loss, and developmental delays. Current licensed treatment aims to introduce the missing enzyme to patients, which helps to improve the mobility and organ problems, but doesn’t cross into the central nervous system to treat brain disease.  

As my training has progressed, I have been able to build on the ACP role, adapt treatment plans and make clinical decisions for these patients. I contribute to the wider multi-disciplinary team and liaise with their clinical teams with updates and for advice. I work with the metabolic Clinical Fellow to update the sponsors on patients’ progress and make recommendations going forward. Hunter syndrome is progressive. There is currently no licensed treatment to stop the deterioration of thinking and learning abilities which makes research studies such as this even more vital. 

What International Nurses Day means to me  

The theme for International Nurses Day 2025 is “Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies” and I believe that this highlights how the nursing workforce should feel supported and encouraged to look after themselves. Having worked across several teams in my nursing career, it is evident that supported teams flourish, and with that comes high-quality care. Through our civility champion on the Manchester CRF, we have completed exercises to help recognise strengths in ourselves and each other, which has helped nurture relationships within the team.  

Each year, I look forward to celebrating all the inspirational and hard-working nursing professionals. Those who have helped me achieve my nursing successes, those who I work with each day, giving their all to clinical research; and those who I am yet to meet.  

I think that by celebrating nurses, it’s a reminder to every nurse of the impacts they make each day. By working in research, our roles are key in shaping the future of healthcare. The strong relationships we build with families is not just rewarding, but key to the successful delivery of these studies.  

Looking to the future 

Within the clinical research world, I would love for nurses to be able to contribute more to research design through collaboration with industry and pharmaceutical companies. We are the individuals on the ground, delivering clinical trials each day, and so are familiar with the challenges present with rare disease population groups. I would like to see the nursing profession continue to grow in strength, courage and power.