International Nurses Day 2023
May 2023: We caught up with Isaac Chau, about his work as a research nurse.
We chatted with Isaac on International Nurses Day to find out more about how he became a research nurse and his role at the Anne Rowling Clinic.
Can you start by telling us a little bit about yourself and how you became interested in nursing as a career?
I became a nurse because I was very interested in the human body and what happens when the body is sick. I had a desire to help those who are sick, and that is why I started to volunteer in a local hospital when I was in high school. I asked my friends what they thought about me being a nurse, and all of them said that I was friendly and kind, and that being a nurse would suite me. I want to spend time with patients and create a relationship that would benefit them, and that is why I chose to be a nurse.
That's really interesting. When you made the decision to be a nurse, what were your next steps? How did you go about finding out about studying to be a nurse?
I found out about the nursing training in Dundee because my uncle is a surgeon in Hong Kong, but he had trained in Dundee and Glasgow in the 80s. He recommended that I train in Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, because it was well-known for their clinical training.
What made you decide to become a research nurse?
I was doing a Masters of Science in Nursing when I was in Dundee. When I started to think of my dissertation idea, I enjoyed the entire process. I started to wonder "how can I make this my career?"
I also had a clinical placement in a neurology ward in Ninewells and that is where I fell in love with neurology. Working in the neurology ward made me realise how much I didn't know, which prompted me to some research. I found that neurodegenerative conditions appeared to be lacking research. That made me want to be a research nurse in neurology and working for the Anne Rowling Clinic means that I am part of a team that delivers research and trials for people with neurodegenerative conditions.
The role of a research nurse sounds different. What things do you do in a typical day as a research nurse at the Anne Rowling Clinic? And we know there are no typical days!
Usually, a research nurse will be involved in several clinical trials or studies. Their involvement could be leading a clinical trial. This can involve setting up site files, contacting the local research and development department for approvals, ensuring that the clinicians and researchers are fully trained and able to conduct a visit appointment as well as see participants for their visits.
What piece of advice would you give to someone thinking about becoming a research nurse?
To first ask yourself - are you a detailed-orientated person? Are you organised with managing patient documents? Are you passionate about research and do you want to promote it? These are the things that you should be thinking about if you want to be a research nurse. It is a bonus if you are ambitious about research because it will take you very far.
I understand that you are also about to be studying for a PhD - are you able to tell us a little bit about that?
Sure, I am finalising my PhD proposal and I am in contact with experts in the field of neurophysiology. The PhD topic that I will be doing is to investigate if a wireless surface electromyography is a feasible assessment tool in the tracking of MND disease progression based on the strength and fatigue level of motor functions, to support the evaluation of trail drugs in motor neuron disease clinical trials, compared to standard assessment tools currently used.
What is electromyography?
Most patients and trial participants will know it as EMG - this is a test used to measure muscle response or electrical activity in response to a nerve's stimulation of the muscle.
Thanks for explaining that! It is good to hear that research nursing opens up other opportunities such as undertaking a PhD or further studying. What other opportunities have you had so far as a research nurse at the Anne Rowling Clinic?
I have been given the opportunity to train in undertaking neurological examination and to use an optical coherence tomography machine. I also have an opportunity to go to Barcelona for an MND academic conference this summer to present a poster about the MND register we have called CARE-MND, which is short for clinical audit research evaluation in motor neuron disease.
Finally Isaac, can you share with us what you do when you're not working as a research nurse?
Great question! When I am not working, I usually exercise and work out, or I hang out with my friends from church to go on hikes or meals.