In an evolving cancer landscape, cancer nurses are innovative leaders in cancer research. Their unique position at the intersection of clinical care and patient advocacy equips them to drive meaningful advancements in many critical areas, particularly symptom science. Symptom science is a clinical research field focused on understanding, preventing and managing the physical, psychological and social symptoms associated with cancer and its treatment or late effects.¹  It aims to improve patients’ and informal caregivers’ quality of life by addressing the often-debilitating side effects of cancer therapies.

The current European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) Research Working Group brings together a diverse group of experienced nurse researchers in cancer care from Italy, Turkey, Greece, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Portugal and Switzerland. The EONS’s strategic goals underpin this group’s activities with four specific objectives:

1. To increase research literacy among nurses working in clinical practice

2. To build capacity and provide opportunities for nurses to learn, network and develop skills and experience

3. To influence priorities and funding to promote person-centred cancer research;²

4. To generate evidence that will have a sustainable impact on critical practice.

This blog centres on our group’s second objective: to develop cancer nurses’ research skills and experience. Drawing from our group’s collective research backgrounds and the numerous lessons learned during our varied research careers in cancer care, we aim to share our agreed-upon ‘top 5 tips’ for developing and gaining research experience in cancer nursing.

This has been an area of interest to researchers for many years. We know that cancer nurses need more support and/or training to engage in research activities,^3,4  and that access to funding to support research in practice is fundamental to promoting a research culture.⁵ Our message here is some practical tips on achieving these essential elements.

1. Find your ‘tribe’ and work together

Don’t try to research independently; join a team. The best teams are a mixture of experienced and less experienced clinical and academic colleagues, as well as public and patient involvement (PPI). There is a synergy in such teams that is perfect for developing and undertaking research. A research team offers diverse perspectives, interdisciplinary approaches, constructive criticism and better access to institutional support and funding opportunities.⁶  Moreover, research teams often include experienced investigators who can provide mentorship.

2. Find a mentor

A mentor is someone with a track record of securing research funding and publications who can enhance research productivity.⁷ They can introduce you to experts in the field, keep you on track with research ideas that have potential and steer you away from projects that are unlikely to proceed. A mentor will also inform you about funding research opportunities in your field and how to engage with funders and interpret funding application guidance.

3. Network

Attend conferences and meet the experts in the field. This can be pivotal in building professional relationships and securing future collaborations.⁸ Don’t be shy, approach an expert and tell them about your research interests and what skills you can bring to a project. Be visible to your intended network and ensure you have a LinkedIn profile or an equivalent online presence.

4. Keep up to date

Stay current with research methodologies by regularly reading the research on your topics of interest, joining a research journal club,⁹ and attending research training webinars. Take advantage of any workshops on grant writing and getting published. These activities will increase your confidence and broaden your knowledge of research, from generating research questions to dissemination.

5. Your clinical experience is a strength

Remember that your clinical experience and affiliation in cancer care are a strength on a research team. Your research questions will be grounded in clinical practice and will likely result in projects that funders will support. Furthermore, you can implement research results directly in clinical practice.

Conclusion

Our ‘top 5 tips’ outline practical advice on developing and gaining experience in cancer research. These tips are likely to lead to success in a healthcare environment that promotes strategic investment in mentorship, protected research time, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Ultimately, developing cancer nurses’ research experience will further improve evidence-based practice and enhance the quality of care for individuals affected by cancer.

Learn more about EONS and the RWG here: ResearchWG | EONS

Disclosure: This blog was prepared by touchONCOLOGY in collaboration with the European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS). No fees or funding were associated with its publication.

Cite: Practical advice on developing and gaining research experience in cancer nursing: top 5 tips. touchONCOLOGY. September 17th, 2025

References

1. Justesen RM, Ikander TM, Thomsen TG, Dieperink KB. 2024. Nursing Roles in Cancer Rehabilitation: An Integrative Review. Cancer Nurs. 47(6):484-494. doi: 10.1097/NCC.0000000000001243.
2. Coyne E, Heynsbergh N, Dieperink KB. 2020. Acknowledging cancer as a family disease: A systematic review of family care in the cancer setting. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 49:101841. doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2020.101841.
3. Caldwell, B., Coltart, K., Hutchison, C., McJury, M., Morrison, A., Paterson, C., Thomson, M. 2017. Research awareness, attitudes and barriers among clinical staff in a regional cancer centre. Part 1: a quantitative analysis. European Journal of Cancer Care. 26 (5), e12434.
4. Ryder, M., Jacob, E., Hendricks, J. 2019. An inductive qualitative approach to explore Nurse Practitioners views on leadership and research: An international perspective. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 28 (13-14), 2644-2658
5. Morrison, L., Johnston, B., Cooper, M. 2022. Mixed methods systematic review: Factors influencing research activity among nurses in clinical practice. Journal of Clinical Practice. 31 (17-18), 2450-2464.
6. Matus J, Walker A, Mickan S. 2018. Research capacity building frameworks for allied health professionals – a systematic review. BMC Health Serv Res. 18(1):716. doi: 10.1186/s12913-018-3518-7.
7. Akhtar, E.K., Ali, T.S. 2023. Mentoring in Research and Academia Is a Faculty Life Saver: Theoretical and Practical Evidence. In: Rollins Gantz, N., Hafsteinsdóttir, T.B. (eds) Mentoring in Nursing through Narrative Stories Across the World . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25204-4_60
8. Toomey, E. (2022). Networking and Collaborating in Academia: Increasing Your Scientific Impact and Having Fun in the Process. In: Kwasnicka, D., Lai, A.Y. (eds) Survival Guide for Early Career Researchers. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10754-2_8
9. McConkey RW, Kelly T, Dalton R, Rooney G, Healy M, Murphy L, Dowling M. Developing a culture of nursing research through clinical-academic partnership. International Journal of Urological Nursing. 2023; 17 (1), 78-83. http://doi.org:10.1111/ijun.12339

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