Research
Within the School of Nursing and Midwifery our area of strength is health innovation through co-design and rigorous evaluation of health promoting and healthcare interventions with policymakers, practice partners, patients and carers. Within the School we have two core (Maternal and Child Health; Chronic Illness and Palliative Care) and one emerging (Education and Practice) innovative research themes, which encapsulate lifespan health research from conception to end-of-life.
RESEARCH AREAS
in the UK for research intensity
Research Excellence Framework (2014)in the UK for Research Intensity for Nursing (Joint)
Complete University Guide 2021in the UK for research quality
Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021- Our research is funded from the European Commission under Interreg and Horizon 2020, large charities such as Alzheimer’s Society, Dunhill Trust, Marie Curie, Movember Cancer Research United Kingdom, Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke as well as the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the Medical Research Council (MRC), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Newton Fund, the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), and the Health and Social Care, Research and Development Division, Public Health Agency (PHA) of Northern Ireland.
- The success of our research depends on the meaningful and long-term partnerships we have developed with a range of key stakeholders, including practice and patient public involvement. In continuing to work with our key stakeholders at all stages of the research process we aim to ensure that the research conducted within the School is relevant and will lead to changes that improve healthcare outcomes for our society.
Professor Joanne Reid, Director of Research

The School of Nursing and Midwifery has worked in close collaboration with Marie Curie and the School hosts one of four Marie Curie senior research fellows throughout the United Kingdom. This is a joint post between the School of Nursing and Midwifery and Marie Curie Hospice Belfast which aims to address important issues in palliative and end-of-life care. It also supports capacity building in palliative care and end-of-life research.

In 2020 the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Queen’s University Belfast and Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) in Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) formed a novel college of Nursing and Midwifery. The college currently offers MSc programs in Cardiovascular and Paediatric nursing - Read more here: College of Nursing and Midwifery - MBRU
We have an expanding group of postdoctoral researchers from a variety of applied health discipline backgrounds who contribute to a diversity of multidisciplinary research across our School. Meet our Postdoctoral Research Fellows.

We have a vibrant and growing community of postgraduate research students from a number of countries including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Kurdistan, Indonesia, Oman, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Kuwait.
The School of Nursing and Midwifery has a regular program of local, national and international seminar events which invite participation from a range of audiences including service users, charity representatives, healthcare staff, academic staff and post-graduate research students. Additionally, staff within the School lead the International Network of Doctoral Education in Nursing (INDEN) global classrooms, bringing together doctoral nursing students from across the globe.
Latest Publications
Critical elements in nursing graduates’ transition to advanced practice roles and their perceived impact on patient care: an exploratory, descriptive study of graduates’ and their managers’ perceptions
- Janita P Chau
- Suzanne Lo
- Simon Lam
- Ravneet Saran
- David, R. Thompson
‘Getting involved in Research’: A co-created, co-delivered and co-analysed course for those with lived experience of health and social care services
- Carolyn Blair
- Paul Best
- Patricia Burns
- Anne Campbell
- Gavin Davidson
- Joe Duffy
- Anne Johnston
- Berni Kelly
- Campbell Killick
- Denise Mac Dermott
- Alan Maddock
- Claire McCartan
- Paula McFadden
- Anne McGlade
- Lorna Montgomery
- Sonia Patton
- Dirk Schubotz
- Brian Taylor
- Fiona Templeton
- Paul Webb
- Chris White
- Jade Yap
Professionalism in Nursing 3: The value of self-care for students
- Alison Smart
- Laura Creighton
Implementing and evaluating online advance care planning training in UK nursing homes during COVID-19: findings from the Necessary Discussions multi-site case study project
- Emily Cousins
- Nancy Preston
- Julie Doherty
- Sandra Varey
- Andrew Harding
- Adrienne McCann
- Karen Harrison Dening
- Anne Finucane
- Gillian Carter
- Gary Mitchell
- Kevin Brazil
Association between participation self-efficacy and participation in stroke survivors
- Suzanne Lo
- Janita P Chau
- Simon Lam
- Chinese University of Kong
- Kai Choi
- David, R. Thompson
Future research direction in Nursing and Midwifery
- Collaboratively developing and evaluating healthcare innovations together with practice, public and policy partners to deliver transformational improvements in health and healthcare locally and internationally that address major health challenges ensuring our research contributes towards attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is impactful to both policy and practice.
- Developing transdisciplinary health innovations driven through external and university partnerships through the Life and Health Science sectoral strength within the Institute of Research Excellence for Advanced Clinical Healthcare (iREACH).
- Building on our strengths of leading rigorous and policy relevant evidence syntheses in partnership with both Cochrane and Campbell Collaborations and through funded NIHR evidence syntheses.
- Delivering evidence informed innovations and clinical guidelines with local partners, such as the Health Trusts of Northern Ireland, charities such as Marie Curie, as well as international partners, notably the World Health Organization and the European Society of Cardiology.