An inspiring nursing and midwifery text that expertly connects research with practice. Complex research terminology is deconstructed to promote meaning and relevance. The web and think point activities skilfully link theory to practice transforming words into reality.

This is one of the most practical and engaging research text-books I have encountered. Harvey and Land stepped into the challenge of laying the foundations for novice researchers while at the same time delving into the sophisticated and complex philosophical frameworks that inform varied research traditions. In this they have produced a unique resource. From the outset the text establishes the relevance of research to everyday practice. It inspires nurses and midwives in direct practice to pay attention to the tensions and questions that arise for them. The book is designed to be interactive and to stimulate interest. It provides skills for both readers of research and those professionals interested in being involved in conducting research. It is a comprehensive resource to support teaching and learning.

Merryl Harvey qualified as a nurse in 1982. After qualifying as a midwife in 1984, her area of practice was neonatal intensive care. Merryl’s clinical career culminated in her working as a clinical teacher and this in turn led her to take up a post at Birmingham City University. Initially this was to run the post-registration neonatal intensive care course.

In more recent years Merryl was been seconded to work on a number of large-scale, funded research projects which have focused on aspects of parenting and preterm birth. She secured the Bliss Research Fellow post based at the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (2004–2007). Her MSc explored aspects of the neonatal nurse practitioner role and her PhD explored fathers’ experiences of the birth and immediate care of their baby.

Merryl has a strong journal publication history and has co-authored a text on fatherhood in relation to midwifery and neonatal practice (2012). Her co-authored text ‘Achieving Your Doctorate while Working in Higher Education’ is due to be published by Sage in 2021.  Merryl became Professor of Nursing and Family Health at Birmingham City University in 2017.

Before her retirement in 2019, Merryl was co-lead of the Family Health Research Cluster and co-lead of the Elizabeth Bryan Multiple Births Centre.

Lucy Land qualified as a nurse in 1980 and worked in haematology, caring for patients with leukaemia, sickle cell anaemia and other blood disorders. Eventually specialising in haemophilia, Lucy was one of the first clinical nurse specialists, supporting a regional outpatient and home treatment service.

Following this successful career in practice, she became a clinical nurse teacher and later qualified as a registered nurse tutor. After moving into Birmingham City  University, Lucy continued to teach and to undertake funded research projects which focussed  on patient experience and  completing several studies on this subject. In addition to a substantial history of journal publications, Lucy was co-author of an earlier Sage publication – Resources for Nursing Research: An Annotated Bibliography.

Now retired from her role as professor of nursing,  and Director of the Centre for Social Care, Health and Related Research (C-SHaRR) Lucy maintains a keen interest patient care and works in the voluntary sector to promote patient advocacy and inclusion.