Summary

The Research Nurse II is a competent level professional nurse who provides professional nursing skills involving patient-related research efforts to support the Office of Clinical Research and associated investigators and study teams. Responsible for patient care in BLSMC Clinical Research Center (CRC). Duties may include screening and enrolling subjects, obtaining blood and other specimens for tests, administering medications, recording data for research analysis, maintaining patient records, and quality reviews. Occasional overnights and weekends.

This position is needed to support clinical research visits in our in-patient and out-patient Clinical Research Center at BSLMC and McNair. A registered nurse with clinical research experience is necessary to support these visits. After hours and weekend visits are a common necessary to support the clinical research agenda for the College.

Job Duties

• Coordinates care for patients enrolled on assigned protocols to ensure that the study is implemented as it is written and that all required data are available and collected.
• Coordinates treatments and tests with inpatient and outpatient staff; requests or assists with scheduling and ensures results are received.
• Coordinates Affiliate involvement with study conduct, Investigational Pharmacy, Research Office, Diagnostics, Credentialing, etc., as needed.
• Ensures research needs are met at all patient/family meetings (discuss the progress of treatment, changes in therapy, etc.).
• Acts as liaison between patient and PI/MD concerning problems, adverse reactions, and other patient care issues as they may relate to the study drug.
• Follows-up with patients during study visit to answer questions and assess for any toxicities or side effects.
• Maintains effective communication with patients, physicians, and the company representative or clinical monitor for each research protocol.
• Serves as a consultant and provide assistance to nurses, fellows, and professional staff for education on specific ongoing research projects to include investigational drugs, devices, or procedures.
• Performs responsibilities in a manner that promotes quality and safe patient care and customer service. 
• Adheres to the scope of practices as defined by the Texas Nurse Practice Act.
• Screens, enrolls, and evaluates patients that participate in a research study.
• Performs study-specific procedures (i.e. blood draws, collects study specimens, vitals, education, investigational product administration, and accountability, and administers questionnaires).
• Follows subjects’ progress and advises the Principal Investigator.
• Maintains patient charts and medical records.
• Ensures the clinical studies are conducted in accordance with guidelines of the FDA and other regulatory agencies.
• Educates patients in significant aspects of the study.
• Serves as a liaison and distributes research information to faculty, research staff, principal investigator, and others as required.
• Maintains a clean and safe work environment.
• Stocks and orders supplies.
• Completes case-report forms and performs quality assurance checks on all data.
• Participates in additional projects as directed by College leadership and research nurse manager, as a central office within the Office of Research.
• Provides cross-coverage across OCR clinical research study support as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate's Degree or Bachelor's Degree in Nursing.
• Two years of relevant experience as a licensed Registered Nurse (RN). Degrees in lieu of experience will not be accepted.
• Current license as a Registered Nurse (RN) by the State of Texas Board of Nursing.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Oncology experience.
• Must be a team player and open to cross-training to support other team members on short notice.
• Ability to think outside of the box and be proactive.
• Good outward-facing ability to interface with multiple departments across the College.