The sustained growth of clinical research in Portugal has transformed the healthcare landscape, creating a demand for highly qualified multidisciplinary teams capable of addressing the ethical, scientific and organisational challenges inherent to this field. In this context, nurses are playing an increasingly important role, not only in the delivery of patient care but also in the implementation, coordination and management of clinical studies, actively contributing to knowledge generation and therapeutic innovation.

Despite the increasing complexity and demands of clinical practice, undergraduate nursing education rarely provides structured training in the core principles and competencies required for effective participation in clinical trials. This gap highlights the need for specialised education that enables nurses to develop an advanced professional profile aligned with the current demands of clinical research.

The Postgraduate Programme in Clinical Trials for Nurses has been designed as a strategic response to this need. Based on internationally recognised competency frameworks, including those established by the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, the programme addresses five core domains of clinical research nursing practice: Contributing to Science, Study Management, Care Coordination and Continuity, Clinical Practice, and Participant Protection.

The programme supports the professional development and recognition of nurses while expanding their career opportunities across a wide range of settings, including hospitals, research centres, academic institutions, the pharmaceutical industry, non-governmental organisations and regulatory bodies. Furthermore, the internationalisation of clinical research and the increasing digitalisation of research processes are creating new opportunities for remote collaboration, international mobility and participation in multicentre clinical studies.

In Portugal, clinical trials have become a strategic sector with a significant impact on the economy, innovation and the creation of highly skilled employment. According to the 2019 PricewaterhouseCoopers report commissioned by APIFARMA, the clinical trials sector was responsible for creating more than 1,200 jobs, demonstrating its important contribution to national development.

Although oncology represents one of the main fields in which this specialised training is particularly relevant, due to its strong research focus and continuous therapeutic innovation, clinical trials play a vital role across many other healthcare specialties, including cardiology, neurology, rare diseases, mental health and palliative care. Through this postgraduate programme, nurses will be equipped to contribute ethically and competently to the advancement of scientific knowledge and the continuous improvement of healthcare.

General Objectives

• Understand the proactive role of nurses in the day-to-day management of patients participating in clinical trials.
• Develop the knowledge and practical competencies required to implement, coordinate and monitor clinical trials.

 

Learning Outcomes

This programme provides participants with the knowledge and practical skills required to develop comprehensive competencies as Clinical Research Nurses, covering the entire clinical trial lifecycle with a strong emphasis on scientific rigour, ethical practice and quality of care.
 

Target Audience

Registered nurses and other healthcare professionals who can demonstrate a relevant professional connection to the subject areas covered by this postgraduate programme.