Contribution of an advanced nurse practitioner in a haemato-oncology clinical trials unit: a service evaluation

This service evaluation sought to examine the clinical, operational and economic contribution of an advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) embedded within a haemato-oncology clinical trials unit in a UK tertiary hospital. The evaluation comprised a semi-structured interview with a senior ANP, supported by 12 months of service data from the authors’ clinic such as the number and phase of trials supported, number of outpatient and inpatient consultations, and prescribing activity. Thematic analysis identified five themes – professional identity, clinical authority, research integration, systemic misunderstanding and team leadership. Service metrics demonstrated high levels of autonomous assessment and prescribing, and increased clinic capacity associated with the ANP role. The findings indicate that ANPs can function as integrative clinicians at the interface of patient care and research delivery, supporting patient safety, service continuity and operational capacity.