What does a Clinical Research Nurse do?
Published 4 min read
A clinical research nurse is a registered nurse who works with patients who are participating in clinical trials. The nurse is responsible for providing care for the patients, educating them about the trial, and monitoring their health.
Clinical Research Nurse job duties include:
- Identifies potential subjects for clinical research studies.
- Informs subjects of study requirements and obtains informed consent.
- Schedules and monitors subject participation in clinical research studies.
- Collects data from subjects according to protocol guidelines.
- Ensures that all collected data is accurate and complete.
- Maintains accurate and up-to-date records of all subject interactions.
- Communicates with the study sponsor or principal investigator regularly to update them on study progress.
- Identifies and reports any adverse events experienced by subjects.
- Assist in the development of new clinical research protocols.
Clinical Research Nurse Job Requirements
A clinical research nurse is a registered nurse who has specialized training and experience in conducting clinical research studies. Clinical research nurses work with investigators to develop and implement research protocols, and they are responsible for the care of study participants. In order to become a clinical research nurse, one must first obtain a nursing degree and obtain a license as a registered nurse. Many clinical research nurses have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, but some have a master’s degree or higher. In addition to their nursing education, clinical research nurses must complete training in research methods and regulations. Some clinical research nurses also obtain certification in clinical research from professional organizations such as the Association of Clinical Research Professionals.
Clinical Research Nurse Skills
- Patient recruitment
- Clinical study design
- Regulatory Affairs
- IRB submissions
- Patient care
- Data management
- Specimen collection
- Informed consent
- Monitoring visits
- Adverse event reporting
- Closeout visits
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How to become a Clinical Research Nurse
A clinical research nurse is a registered nurse who works in a hospital or other healthcare setting and coordinates the care of patients participating in clinical research studies. Clinical research nurses work with investigators to develop and implement study protocols, and they are responsible for ensuring that studies are conducted according to federal regulations. They also educate and support patients and their families throughout the course of a study.
To become a clinical research nurse, you must first earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited school of nursing. Once you have obtained your RN license, you can then pursue a master’s degree or doctorate in nursing with a focus on clinical research. Alternatively, some hospitals offer training programs for RNs interested in becoming clinical research nurses. These programs typically last one to two years and include coursework in research methods and regulations, as well as hands-on experience in coordinating and conducting clinical trials.
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