Clinical Research Training For Nurses: A Guide to Becoming a Clinical Research Nurse
CLINICAL RESEARCH TRAINING FOR NURSES
Guide to Becoming a Clinical Research Nurse
What is Clinical Nursing Research?
Nurses are known for providing direct care for patients. However, nurses may take up roles that are completely new to them within the world of clinical research. These roles include clinical research coordinator, educator and manager. They can also take up less traditional role like regulatory specialist, study monitor and IRB (institutional board review) admin.
Regulatory specialist: their activities relate mainly with preparing regulatory documents and communicating with regulatory bodies. Nurses can work as a regulatory affairs specialist, a regulatory operation coordinator, or a regulatory coordinator. They can work within government agencies, pharmaceutical companies, academic medical centers.
Study monitor: they monitor clinical research practices and make sure that it complies with necessary research protocols and regulations. They tend work at government agencies, biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, device manufacturers etc. Aspiring study monitors can enhance their qualifications with a Pharmacovigilance Certification.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) administrator: they are the professionals in charge of overseeing, administrating, implementing and managing IRB activities, like policies and procedures that relates to protecting human welfare. They can work at all IRBs: local, commercial or central IRB.
Nurses that have developed interest in the field of clinical research can join professional organizations. This provides them with the opportunity to network and continue their education through mediums like conferences, webinars, discussion groups, publications and online resources. These avenues serve as part of their clinical research training.
Certification is often a parameter used to measure professional expertise. This is based on criterion that reflects skill, knowledge, educational preparation, ability, and competence that are developed from experience in that area of specialization. Nurses that developed an interest in clinical research and have taken a clinical research training program have an opportunity to be certified through the:
Society for Clinical Research Professionals, Inc. (Certified Clinical Research Professionals)
Association for Clinical Research Professionals (Certified Clinical Research Associate or Certified Clinical Research Coordinator)
This field of clinical research gives nurses a chance, an opportunity to advance themselves professionally in a field that might not have been explored by them before. The benefits of having a registered nurse cover letter are insurmountable. This also provides a career path that can show family members the benefits of working in the medical field.
Nurses that have gone through the clinical research for nurses, otherwise called research nurse can carry out research on the various aspects of the human health, such as illness, pharmaceutical and health care methods and treatment plans. The main aim of this research is to improve the quality of health care service delivery. Helping patients and their family in a healthcare facility also brings a level of joy that is hard to find in many other career paths.
Roles of Research Nurses
They are responsible for designing and implementing research studies.
They observe procedures for treatment, collect and analyze data.
They report their research results to appropriate quarters.
They write articles and report their research findings in nursing or medical professional publications and journals.
They help in recruiting participants for studies and are involved in providing direct care for the participants.
Clinical research nurse salary can make use of their communication skills as well as their critical thinking skills gotten from their knowledge and experience in healthcare to further their career in this exciting way.
Know that future CRNs can speak to our 24/7 chat and phone advisors to request information on partial scholarships and payment plans for nurses.
2. Clinical Research Nurse Salary
The average pay for a Clinical Research Nurse is $31.28 per hour.
MD Anderson Cancer Center Clinical Research Nurse salaries - $71,503/yr
Northwestern University Clinical Research Nurse salaries - $75,005/yr
NIH Clinical Research Nurse salaries - $77,331/yr
CLINICAL RESEARCH NURSE JOB Description
A clinical research nurse conducts scientific research on different aspects of human health like illnesses, pharmaceuticals, treatment plans and healthcare methods. Their major goal is to improve the quality of healthcare services that are administered to the patients.
3. How do I get Clinical Research Nurse Experience?
Experience don’t just jump on you, you have to get it by practice.CCRPS affords you an opportunity to acquire knowledge in clinical research, and not just knowledge but experience as well. Registering for the appropriate course will boost your knowledge base and as well you get experience of clinical research first hand.
As a clinical research nurse, you will be at the forefront of new medical discoveries, and help develop breakthrough cures and medical treatments. The work that you do during your career can help some patients live longer or better quality of life. You may be responsible for studying diseases and disorders, as well as developing new treatment plans. You will also help test new treatments and medications that could possibly change the way a disease or disorder is perceived.
The field of clinical research can be very rewarding and fulfilling. A good research nurse is dedicated to their work and ready to take on everything that the profession throws their way. If you’re looking to pursue a research nursing career, you should have an excellent understanding of the research process as well as the specialty area that you’re studying.
Excellent communication skills are also a must. You must be able to effectively communicate with scientists, physicians, researchers, patients, and corporate executives.
4. What Does a Clinical Research Nurse Do?
The duties of a research nurse will typically depend on their employer and role. Some research nurses may be responsible for studying diseases, while others may help create and improve new medications and other treatments.
clinical research nursing scope and Standards of Practice
Clinical research nurses can take up clinical research jobs in institutions like research organizations, pharmaceutical companies, universities, research laboratories, government agencies and teaching hospitals.
The work that a research nurse does is quite exhaustive and it includes;
They use their knowledge of the basics of clinical research in designing and implementation of research studies.
Observation of the procedures for patient treatment, collection and analyzing of data.
They report their research findings to the relevant authorities. They may also have to present their results at health conferences and publish them in journals.
They write grant applications in order to secure funds to carry out the research.
They render assistance in the process of recruiting study subjects.
They provide direct treatment for research participants.
Research nurses that study diseases and illnesses will often perform a great deal of research, both by studying previous findings and observing patients. They may be required to examine medical journals, for instance, as well as observe, study, and care for patients suffering from a particular disease.
They make decisions based on the observations made as to which patients are the best candidates for certain clinical trials. During clinical trials, the research nurse will administer medications or perform other treatment procedures, During this process, research nurses must closely monitor each patient’s progress. This includes documenting side effects, drug interactions, and the overall efficiency of the medication.
Aside from caring for patients, documenting and recording information during clinical trials are the most important responsibility that a research nurse has. The information and data gathered during the research must be compiled into reports and handed over to senior clinical researchers or specialists.
5. How Do I Become a Research Nurse?
Don’t expect to become a research nurse overnight. It's a lot of work and you are expected to undergo years of training and experience.
The clinical research nurse job is a competitive one and certificates are not just handed out to anybody. The conditions to be eligible to take the certificate exam is that you must be an experienced registered nurse and your experience must include having thousands of hours of experience in the area of clinical research.
How to Become a Registered Nurse (RN) in 2020 that contains everything a person pursuing a nursing job should know - responsibilities, education, salaries and more.
The first step toward becoming a research nurse is to obtain a proper education. You can start with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, although many employers prefer that their research nurses have master’s degrees or even doctoral degrees in their chosen specialty. During your schooling, classes in research and statistics are a must and are courses in your chosen area of expertise.
According to clinical research job websites, many research nurses have a MSN degree and some have a PhD in nursing. Many of them attain these degrees of education in order to give them an edge on getting clinical research positions. While studying, courses in statistics and research are mandatory.
There are two main certifications that clinical research nurses can get from the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP). You can get certification to become a certified clinical research associate or you can choose to become a certified clinical research coordinator.
Take courses from CCRPS and learn more on how to become a clinical research nurse.
Discover more from Clinical Research Training | Certified Clinical Research Professionals Course
6. Clinical Research Nurse Requirements and Certifications & Nursing Cover Letter
A bachelor's degree in nursing does meet licensure requirements for graduates to become registered nurses (RNs), which qualifies individuals for the specialized certification. Bridge programs, such as an RN-to-Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), require previous nursing education for admission. Nursing students complete traditional classroom courses, laboratory experiences, and a clinical practicum in a medical setting, which includes a hospital, assisted living facility, and long term care center.
For specific education in clinical research, trained RNs enroll in graduate certificate and degree programs. There students are introduced to case studies, ethical research practices, and financial matters affecting the design, implementation, and funding of clinical research trials. In a master's program, studies in research ethics point students towards ethical research practices, including a discussion on human rights, misconduct, and conflicts of interest. Graduate programs will also include quantitative research and a capstone project.
All RN-to-BSN programs will require an RN license to enroll. Master's and graduate certificates will need a bachelor's degree with sufficient prerequisite coursework in the field. In addition, they will need letters of recommendation or reference, a personal statement, and GRE scores.
Becoming a nurse researcher which is a highly specialized career requires an advanced degree and training in informatics and research methodology and tools. The initial step for these individuals, or for any aspiring advanced practice nurse, is to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and pass the NCLEX-RN exam. Once a nurse has completed their degree and attained an RN license, the next step is to complete a Master's of Science (MSN) in Nursing program with a focus on research and writing. MSN courses prepare nurses for a career in research and usually include coursework in statistics, research for evidence-based practice, design and coordination of clinical trials, and advanced research methodology.
A TYPICAL JOB POSTING FOR A RESEARCH NURSE POSITION WOULD LIKELY INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS, AMONG OTHERS SPECIFIC TO THE TYPE OF EMPLOYER AND LOCATION:
MSN degree and valid RN license.
Experience conducting clinical research, including enrolling patients in research studies, Implementing research protocol and presenting findings.
Excellent attention to detail required in collecting and analyzing data.
Strong written and verbal communication skills for interacting with patients and reporting research findings.
For a person to practice nursing legally, acquiring of nursing credentials and certifications is very important. For instance, some nurses who achieve a master's degree (MSN) leave the patient care aspect of nursing, and practice in a more managerial role.
CRA JOB OPPORTUNITIES
If you choose to become a Clinical Research Associate (CRA), you will have a key role in the success of clinical trials. Most CRAs have a nursing background, like yours. You will be the primary contact and support for trial sites, ensuring that the study is conducted according to the protocol, ICH-GCP, regulatory requirements and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
The Clinical Research Associates also offers you the unique opportunity to have an exciting career in the research of drug and medical device development while making a difference in the lives of those around them.
Take courses from CCRPS and learn more on how to become a clinical research professional.
Discover more from Clinical Research Training | Certified Clinical Research Professionals Course
Speak to our 24/7 chat and phone advisors to request information on partial scholarships and payment plans for nurses.
