This week’s blog is written Becky Nisbet and Olivia Matthais, two nursing students from the University of York, sharing their experiences of the NIHR Undergraduate Internship scheme.
In 2024 the NIHR Academy launched its first round of the Undergraduate Internship programme. This scheme encouraged undergraduate students from under-represented disciplines to consider a career in health and social care research. The following blog describes the experiences of two undergraduate pre-registration nursing students who completed an internship at the University of York.
The two of us were lucky enough to have spent our 2024 summer break on the Undergraduate Internship Programme funded by the NIHR. We both worked on projects in the Department of Health Sciences, University of York, situated in the Mental Health and Addictions Research Group on projects related to severe mental illness (‘SMI’ – the term for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses involving psychosis) and comorbid physical health conditions. As both of us were already interested in research career pathways, these internships allowed us to get some practical experience and training in research skills, all whilst working on live projects.
Becky’s Experience – Chronic Kidney Disease and Severe Mental Illness
I was working on my supervisor’s Advanced Fellowship project, which focused on the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in people with severe mental illness. During the 6-week internship, I screened over 12,000 papers, 180 full texts and began data extraction for the final 44 studies, which was a great opportunity to work on a live project beyond my degree requirements. I also wrote a short editorial with my supervisor, which was then accepted for publication, something I had never done before. I was also able to attend meetings for a grant application for an upcoming project, so it was great to be involved in projects at all different stages. I am extremely grateful to have had this opportunity to get my foot in the door of the research world and have continued to be involved since my internship ended.
Becky, along with her supervisor Dr Claire Carswell, had an editorial published in Kidney News. You can read it here.
Olivia’s Experience – DIAMONDS (Type 2 Diabetes and Severe Mental Illness)
During my internship, I worked on the DIAMONDS project, a tailored intervention supporting individuals with diabetes and severe mental illness (SMI). I gained valuable experience by attending Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) meetings and codesign workshops, receiving training in systematic review methods, and developing skills in delivering professional presentations. I screened 1,000 papers, initiated data extraction, and contributed to the final systematic review, significantly enhancing my academic and analytical skills. Additionally, I participated in a co-design workshop that brought together individuals with diabetes and SMI alongside healthcare professionals to create relatable role model personas. It was inspiring to see these characters develop over time, enriched with life experiences from real people. This opportunity provided me with an enriching introduction to research in mental health and its intersection with physical health, fostering both academic and professional growth.
Both of us have found that this has been a valuable experience for our professional development and clinical practice, and we hope the projects we have been involved with will continue to influence clinical practice. Determining the prevalence of CKD in people with severe mental illness and, subsequently, the causes for this disparity will help determine risk in these populations and shine a light on inequalities in access to care. DIAMONDS as a complex intervention, is also promoting self-management and empowering patients to manage their health with support, aiming to reduce health inequalities. We look forward to being involved in more research and continuing to develop the evidence base for our professional practice and patient care.