Cardiovascular nurses take on varied roles. While care delivered by a research nurse may not be part-and-parcel of a patient's routine medical care, it demands the same level of skill and integrity, and a higher degree of patient advocacy and vigilance to ensure minimal risk for novel interventions. Indeed, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has set priorities for developing this important role which includes enhanced patient experience, improved standards of research delivery and practice, and improved awareness of the role of the clinical research nurse (Hamer, 2013). In this issue, Mwada Lawan, Honorary Secretary for the British Association for Nursing in Cardiovascular Care (BANCC), shares her personal experience and satisfaction in her role as a cardiovascular research nurse at Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust.

Tootie Bueser -

Mwada Lawan -