The Science Committee of the CCNAP: Eager to Start

In 2010, the Council of Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professions (CCNAP) initiated the forming of a Science Committee (SC) with the aim to take responsibility for activities related to research and the scientific foundation for cardiovascular nursing and allied professional practice within the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). The formation of such a council seems a logical step in further developments of the CCNAP and can contribute to optimization of cardiovascular patient care. Nurses have played a vital role in the development and success of cardiac care [1] since the early 1960s when the first cardiac care units were formed to reduce mortality after acute myocardial infarction [2]. However, the responsibilities included in the daily work of cardiovascular nurses in 2011 differ from those performed fifty years ago and today demands extensive knowledge, not only in care aspects but in advanced technology and “computernology” as well. With improvements in medical treatment and the availability of advanced technical equipment, the chance of surviving a myocardial infarction in Europe have increased dramatically and is today over 90% [3]. In parallel, the care of the cardiac patient has become more complex and involves care not only from physicians and nurses, but from many other disciplines such as physiotherapists, dieticians, psychologists, technicians and many more. Nurses have also started to play an increasingly larger role, direct or indirect, in research activities [4,5]. In 1991, the Working Group on Cardiovascular Nursing was founded within the ESC and in 2006 the Working group initiated its transformation into the Council of Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professions (CCNAP). CCNAP coordinates nursing activities and allied professionals within the ESC [5] and also creates a platform for those without a nursing or physician degree who are directly involved in cardiovascular care or its research [6]. While still a Working group, important steps were undertaken in improving education and to support and initiate research activities in cardiovascular nursing. One was to initiate the European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing (EJCN) in 2002 [7] and another was the formation of the Undertaking Nursing Interventions Throughout Europe (UNITE) Study Group. UNITE includes cardiovascular nursing researchers from European countries with the aim to propagate international research in the field of cardiac nursing [8]. The mission of the Science committee shares the same goal of the EJCN and UNITE; to advance and promote international research in the field of cardiovascular nursing: “The mission of the Science Committee is to build evidence based practice to optimise cardiovascular patient care by enhancing research possibilities, research skills and research collaborations among Cardiovascular Nurses and Allied Professionals.” Its responsibilities are to 1) build evidence-based practice, research capacity and skills among European nurses and allied professionals within CCNAP and beyond; 2) plan mentoring sessions for pre-doctoral and post-doctoral CCNAP researchers; and 3) link CCNAP researchers for collaboration across Europe and the world. Detailed short and long term goals can be found in Table 1. CCNAP science committee short and long term goals CCNAP science committee short and long term goals The newly started Science committee consists of eight members representing the diversity in CCNAP and includes nurses, biomedical analysts and a psychologist from Belgium, Lebanon, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Turkey and Denmark. Members of the committee are assigned for a 2-year term that can be extended for another 2 years by the CCNAP board based on mutual agreement. To avoid that all members are on a same year turnover, the board are recruiting 1–2 new members during the fall of 2011 and all CCNAP members with an interest in science are welcome to apply. The success of committee work stands and falls with the input of its members but also with the engagement within the field. We would like to invite you to contact us to share your ideas and we encourage input on how to accomplish our short and long term goals. The science committee will report its activities on the website of CCNAP and at ESC and CCNAP conferences and meetings.