RN Clinical Research

We've made a lot of progress since opening the doors in 1942, but one thing has never changed - our commitment to serve, heal, lead, educate, and innovate.  We believe that every award earned, every record broken and every patient helped is because of the dedicated employees who fill our hallways. 

At Ochsner, whether you work with patients every day or support those who do, you are making a difference and that matters.  Come make a difference at Ochsner Health and discover your future today! 

This job evaluates, initiates, and maintains all activities related to the conduct of clinical trials in assigned area(s) of responsibility in coordination and collaboration with principal investigators. Communicates with external funding agencies, sponsors, departments, and patients to ensure understanding of the requirements of conducting and participating in clinical trials. Organizes and manages all patient care requirements. Provides patient care and assessment as determined necessary by the clinical trial in coordination with other care providers.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

This job description is a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the job and position. It is not intended to be a comprehensive or all-inclusive listing of duties and responsibilities. Contents are subject to change at the company’s discretion.

Education

Required – Associate degree in nursing.

Work Experience
Required - 3 years of experience in area of assigned clinical specialty including 2 years performing clinical research, or 2 years of relevant research experience in a clinical setting with ACRP, SOCRA, or relevant professional nursing certification.

Certifications
Required - Current registered nurse license in state of practice.
Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association.
 

Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

• Effective verbal and written communication skills and ability to present information clearly and professionally to varying levels of individuals throughout the patient care process.
• Working knowledge of ICH guidelines for ethical conduct of research.
• Strong problem solving and critical thinking skills and ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to follow and provide critical feedback on the investigational plan.
• Ability to train junior staff members standard operating procedures and other related research activities.
• Strong organizational and time management skills and ability to multi-task, pay close attention to detail, and learn new techniques.
• Strong working knowledge of the requirements and regulations associated with the conduct of clinical trials and other related research activity.
• Ability to interpret and carry out all aspects of a protocol including patient eligibility, assessing adverse events and dose modifications, treatment plan, associated required tests and procedures, and all other aspects of the protocol as required. 
• Knowledge and execution of the nursing process to assess toxicities from investigational therapies and works with the investigator in management of these adverse events.
• Working knowledge in using computers, software, and web-based applications, including working knowledge of Epic.
• Ability to travel throughout and between facilities and work a flexible work schedule, including on-call, weekend, and night shifts, shifts depending on area of assignment.

Job Duties

• Participates in clinical trial selection with research leadership and organizes strategies for recruiting study participants and screening study participants for eligibility on the telephone, in the clinic, and other settings as required.
• Uses the nursing process to ensure protocol compliance including but not limited to patient recruitment, engaging in informed consent, patient education, & oversight of investigational drug administration schedule and conducts daily work and clinical trial activity in accordance with Good Clinical Practice Guidelines.
• Coordinates and oversees patient (study participant) activity as it relates to the conduct of research and clinical trials, serving as a liaison for both patient and the private investigator (PI) and monitors patients for safety and adverse events during medical procedures, including administration of parenteral investigational agents depending on area of assignment.
• Assists in disbursement of oral investigational drugs, provides patient teaching regarding administration, and educates patients and family members about protocols including risks and benefits of participation, potential side-effects, and self-administration of drugs.
• Completes and/or supervises staff for the completion of case report forms on assigned protocols within the time frame required by the study and works in partnership with regulatory team to ensure appropriate credentialing, training, and maintenance of regulatory documents in accordance with SOP and applicable regulations.
• Oversees and/or conducts basic lab duties including centrifuging, aliquoting, and storing and shipping of study specimens.
• Completes data entry into sponsor-specific data entry systems and/or supports data coordinator, including query resolution and transcribes information across various internal and external electronic data systems.  
• Trains less senior team members and interns and identifies his/her ongoing professional development needs and seeks resources and opportunities to meet those needs (nursing organizations, independent classes, lectures, etc.)
• Adapts behavior to the specific patient population, including but not limited to respect for privacy, method of introduction to the patient, adapting explanation of services or procedures to be performed, requesting permissions and communication style.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work only. They are not an exhaustive list of all required responsibilities, duties, and skills. Other duties may be added, or this description amended at any time.

Remains knowledgeable on current federal, state, and local laws, accreditation standards or regulatory agency requirements that apply to the assigned area of responsibility and ensures compliance with all such laws, regulations, and standards.

This employer maintains and complies with its Compliance & Privacy Program and Standards of Conduct, including the immediate reporting of any known or suspected unethical or questionable behaviors or conduct; patient/employee safety, patient privacy, and/or other compliance-related concerns.

The employer is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.
 
Physical and Environmental Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Medium Work - Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.   (Constantly: activity or condition exists 2/3 or more of the time) to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job should be rated Light Work: (1) when it requires walking or standing to a significant degree; or (2) when it requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing and/or pulling of arm or leg controls; and/or (3) when the job requires working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing and/or pulling of materials even though the weight of those materials is negligible. NOTE: The constant stress and strain of maintaining a production rate pace, especially in an industrial setting, can be and is physically demanding of a worker even though the amount of force exerted is negligible.

Duties performed routinely require exposure to blood, body fluid and tissue.

The incumbent works in a patient care area; works in an area where patients enter; works directly with patients; and/or works with specimens that could contain communicable diseases. The incumbent has an occupational risk for exposure to all communicable diseases.

Because the incumbent works within a healthcare setting, there may