System Nurse Scientist

Location Kalamazoo-535 S. Burdick St-BHG Skyrise Business Center Title System Nurse Scientist

This role provides strategic scientific leadership and mentorship for the nursing research program. It serves as a key scientific leader supporting the development of rigorous nurse‑led research and evidence‑based practice initiatives, fostering a culture of inquiry, and aligning nursing research with institutional priorities and ANCC nursing excellence standards. The role reports directly to the Director of Nursing Professional Practice and collaborates with nurse leaders, educators, and interdisciplinary teams to build research capacity, ensure research integrity, and promote scholarly excellence across the system.

Key Responsibilities

• Scientific and Research Program Leadership Sets nursing research priorities in partnership with nursing leadership and drives system initiatives to build, strengthen and maintain nursing research infrastructure.
• Provide scientific consultation and leadership for the design and execution of nursing research studies and distinguish research from quality improvement and evidence‑based practice, supporting integration into clinical care.
• Guide investigators in developing scientifically rigorous research protocols, IRB submissions, and regulatory documentation.
• Guide research activities including study design, recruitment plans, data collection, interpretation, and reporting.
• Mentor nurses and nurse leaders in dissemination of research findings through presentations, posters, and publications.
• Participate in and/or lead the Nursing Research Council and other professional governance councils as applicable to align research priorities with organizational strategy, and identify opportunities for nurse‑led inquiry.
• Provide scientific oversight of study progress, methodological rigor, data integrity, research ethics, and protocol compliance.
• Education & Engagement: Mentor nurses and nurse leaders in developing evidence‑based practice research skills, including clinical inquiry, through research question development, methodology, proposals, IRB submission, study implementation, data interpretation, and dissemination.
• Support facilitation of journal clubs, research workshops, investigator development, and bedside inquiry initiatives.
• Develop and deliver educational programs on nursing research, evidence‑based practice, clinical inquiry, and Magnet research standards.
• Promote nurse‑led research and scholarly dissemination.
• Magnet® Program Support: Facilitate nursing research activities that support nursing excellence and Magnet® designation efforts.
• Serve as a liaison between nursing leadership, staff, and Magnet Program Director.
• Assist in the preparation, writing, and submission of Magnet documentation, including empirical outcomes and research reports.
• Monitor current trends and best practices in nursing research and Magnet standards to ensure organizational compliance and excellence.
• Ensure adherence to Magnet standards, institutional, federal, regulatory, and ethical requirements governing nursing research and human‑subject protections.
• Maintain documentation for ongoing and completed studies.
• Collaboration & Scientific Leadership: Work closely with nursing leaders, professional governance councils, and interdisciplinary teams to identify, develop, and carry out nurse‑led research and evidence‑based practice.
• Participate in strategic planning and operational initiatives related to nursing research.
• Collaborate with clinical teams to design and implement evidence‑based practice projects and quality improvement initiatives.
• Coordinate communication strategies and events to promote a culture of research and nursing inquiry.
• Track and communicate nursing research program progress, outcomes, scholarly productivity, and impact to stakeholders.
• Collaborates with academic, IRB, compliance, and data partners to advance nursing research.

Qualifications

Required

• Registered Nurse (RN) with current licensure in State of MI
• PhD required. If PhD not in Nursing, graduate degree in Nursing required.
• Minimum of 2 years of clinical nursing experience and demonstrated experience conducting nursing or healthcare research.
• Experience mentoring nurse investigators and building research capacity.
• Proficiency in research design and methodologies, IRB processes, data collection, statistical analysis, research ethics, scholarly dissemination and quality improvement tools.
• Evidence of scholarly dissemination through peer‑reviewed publications, abstracts, or professional presentations.

Preferred

• Prior experience in nursing leadership preferred.
• Knowledge of Magnet Recognition Program® standards and components strongly preferred.
• Certification in Research (i.e., CCRA, CCRC, CCRP, or ACRP‑CP).
• Evidence‑based practice or Quality Improvement Training.
• Familiarity with electronic health records (EHR) and data analytics tools.
• Experience serving as a principal investigator or co‑investigator and contributing to grant proposals or funded research.
• Experience contributing to or developing nursing research infrastructure.

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional communication, leadership, collaboration, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong scientific, analytical and critical thinking abilities.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to influence, lead change and foster collaboration across departments.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and research data management software.
• Commitment to nursing excellence and lifelong learning.

Working Conditions

Primarily office-based with occasional time on clinical units. May require attendance at evening or weekend meetings or conferences.

Shift First Shift Time Type Part time Scheduled Weekly Hours 32 Cost Center 1500 Nursing Administration (BMH)

About Bronson

Bronson Healthcare is a community‑owned, not‑for‑profit health system that has been serving southwest Michigan since 1900. Today, with a workforce of 9,000 people and 1,500 medical staff members, it is the area’s largest employer and leading healthcare system. Bronson provides care in virtually every specialty and offers a full range of services from primary care to critical care at more than 100 locations. Bronson’s exceptionally high quality standards enable us to do what’s right for our patients and their families. We are empowered as individuals and as teams, to apply our skills and experience so that every patient receives safe, timely and effective treatment. What’s more, our state‑of‑the‑art, technology and evidence‑based processes give us the tools we need to deliver the right care, at the right time. By putting each patient and their family at the center of our work, we demonstrate the dignity and respect we have for each individual we serve. This unwavering commitment to serving others combined with our unique healing environment helps make the patient experience here an exceptional one. The excellence and Positivity of our employees and medical staff has contributed to Bronson Healthcare being ranked by Forbes as one of America’s Best‑In‑State Employers (2022-23), by Newsweek as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women (2023) and by the National Association for Business Resources as one of the 2023 Top 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For.