running an action jumps to record

Although the user may not have any actions to perform when they click the action (as you say, they are just kicking off the data collection), you can still have a simple form with a record link: forum.appian.com/.../SAIL_Components.html. That way, either after you've finished running whatever needs done in the process, or before (up to you), they can link to the Record summary page. You can also make the task node that the simple form is on a Quick task so that the user won't have the process/form sitting in their task list once they navigate away.

@williamr Thanks that looks like a sensible solution, the suggestion of setting it as a quick task is interesting as well, I shall give it a try.