Definition of research nurse
Nurse is generally the person who is educated to take care of care of the sick or disabled people, watch over them and their symptoms and make sure they are safe and well. This is a generous profession that requires a lot of effort but also sense of humanity and compassion.
The difference between a nurse and a research nurse comes with the type of medications and treatments you use in order to help and cure the patient. Research nurses are at the forefront of new medical discoveries, and help develop breakthrough cures and medical treatments. This position can be really challenging but also very much rewarding and exciting, this is why it is one of the top wanted jobs in the healthcare and pharma sector.
Where can you find a job as a research nurse?
There are plenty of options to start as a research nurse. Some of them are:
- Universities
- Research organizations
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Teaching hospitals
- Government institutions etc.
What responsibilities do research nurses have?
All responsibilities of the research nurses are related to the patients but probably the most important task they have is documenting and recording the information about a clinical trial. They have to closely monitor each patients progress and document their side effects and overall drug interaction. Sometimes research nurses also participate in studying the diseases and making sure a new treatment or drug is better than the old one.
The other important aspect of the research nursing job is to have a deep understanding of the patients’ psychology, especially when you deal with patients that have rare of life-threatening diseases. You need to be able to make them calm and feel safe with you and in the same time know who of them are a good fit for a certain clinical trial.
What type of education a research nurse should have?
A clinical background education mixed with experience working with patients is a must if you want to start a career as a research nurse. The minimum education required is Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) which you can get in some nursing school even right after highschool and in others you need to complete some classes in college first. Then you can pass an additional certification for Clinical Research Nurse, which provides you with more insights of the procedures and regulations within the sector. It is definitely a plus if you are a member of the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SoCRA) and you are aware of the Good Clinical Practice guidelines.
Is work experience necessary?
Besides proper education many employers are looking for a proven track record of working in the research environment. One- two years of working as a research nurse might be just enough to have a success career in any of the institutions, but this of course depends on the level of responsibilities you might have. If you are at your starting point, you might consider going through one of the programmes (SoCRA or ACRP) for certification of clinical research staff and become registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of becoming a research nurse?
As a research nurse you will always need to be there for your patients even in the night or during holidays. The working schedule is flexible though, which might be challenging for some people and for others not so much. The payment for this might be also considered as a negative side compared to the one of the clinicians. But it comes with a lot more freedom and less responsibilities in the process. What research nurses really benefit from is the great circle of experienced people they are constantly working with, who provide them with a lot more value to the job and their knowledge.
What are the steps to have a great career as a research nurse?
- Get a Bachelor Degree
- Get licensed and additionally certified in the main regulations of the clinical research area
- Look for a job/or first practice
- Practice to get more soft skills (skills for better communication with people)
- Make sure you maintain your certification and you are up to date with new regulations
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