Background: the EU Directive states the requirement of staff working in trials to be qualified by education, training and experience [14]. This includes the research nurse; however, in the transition from ward nurse to research nurse, new and highly developed skills and knowledge are required in order to work effectively.

Methods: an educational programme was developed, which included a review of current knowledge and baseline practice, development of competencies related to the role of research nurse, haemato-oncology and clinical trial education to support this advanced practice for nurses in clinical trials.

Results: overall, the feedback on the course by the nurses was very positive, and the nurses were able to undertake the role of research nurse within specified clinical trials.