A leading Essex nurse has been appointed to chair a new unit at Anglia Ruskin University, designed to look at the training and attitudes in the nursing profession.

Professor Nancy Fontaine, chief nurse at the Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust, in Harlow, has been the driving force behind the initiative.

The unit, launched at Anglia Ruskin’s Chelmsford campus this week, will work closely with a number of local trusts, including Colchester Hospital University Trust, Southend University Hospital Trust, and Cambridge University Hospitals Trust.

Professor Fontaine said the findings made by the unit could have a direct impact on the way nurses are trained at Anglia Ruskin, the main centre for nursing qualifications in the county.

Dr Leslie Gelling, vice-chairman of the research unit and himself a trained nurse, said: “The key for us is, we want to make a difference.

“This means embarking very quickly on research projects.

“It is an opportunity for nurses in both Essex and Cambridgeshire to come together and make a difference.”

One of the initial projects the unit is working on is a study looking at factors that influence how nurses make decisions when caring for patients.

“We will interview nurses about their experiences,” said Dr Gelling.

He said their findings could also be taken to politicians.

He added: “If it’s the fact there aren’t enough nurses and they are having to make rushed decisions, perhaps we will have to go to the Government and say they feel unsupported.”