Clinical Research Nurse 3 - Oncology

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Business Unit: Rush Medical Center

Hospital: Rush University Medical Center

Department: Cancer Center-Res Fac

Work Type: Full Time (Total FTE between 0.9 and 1.0)

Shift: Shift 1

Work Schedule: 8 Hr (8:00:00 AM - 5:00:00 PM)

Rush offers exceptional rewards and benefits learn more at our Rush benefits page ().

Pay Range: $47.09 - $74.99 per hour
Rush salaries are determined by many factors including, but not limited to, education, job-related experience and skills, as well as internal equity and industry specific market data. The pay range for each role reflects Rush's anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position. Offers may vary depending on the circumstances of each case.

Summary:
The Clinical Research Nurse 3 is an expert research nurse who leads the delivery of clinical care to participants within the context of complex clinical research studies, including high-risk and early-phase trials (Phase 0 and I). This role contributes to protocol development, oversees study execution, and ensures adherence to all regulatory and clinical care requirements.

The CRN 3 independently manages participant recruitment, eligibility screening, informed consent, protocol adherence, adverse event monitoring, and clinical response assessments. The nurse administers study medications, educates staff and physicians on protocol requirements, and communicates participant status updates. The CRN 3 leads and mentors other research nurses and coordinators, supports study start-up processes, and promotes continuous quality and clinical care improvement across the research portfolio.

Exemplifies the Rush mission, vision and values and acts in accordance with Rush policies and procedures

Required Job Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) OR Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
• Experience: Six years of clinical nursing practice experience required
• Licenses: Current State of Illinois Registered Nurse Licensure
• Certifications: Current Basic Life Support certification for Healthcare Professionals
• Relevant research certification (Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP), Certified Clinical Research Associate (CCRA), Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC), OR Certified IRB Professional (CIP)). - Research certification must be obtained within 1 year of hire

Knowledge, Skills, & Ability:

• Regulatory Compliance Leadership - Relevant research certification (e.g., Certified Clinical Research Professional [CCRP], Certified Clinical Research Associate [CCRA], Certified Clinical Research Coordinator [CCRC], or Certified IRB Professional [CIP])
• Regulatory Compliance Awareness - Demonstrate skills in mentoring clinical research professionals in Good Clinical Practices and/or Good Documentation Practices, human subjects protections, institutional, local, state, and federal guidelines and regulations related to clinical research
• Communication Skills - Ability to communicate complex clinical and regulatory concepts in easy-to-understand language
• Participant Engagement - Ability to build rapport with diverse participants and peers
• Judgment & Escalation - Demonstrated problem-solving, critical decision making, and professional judgment.
• Time Management - Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Teamwork & Collaboration - Ability to work successfully both independently and in team settings.
• Flexibility - Flexible work hours and travel may be required

Preferred Job Qualifications:

• Six years of experience in clinical research
• Prior supervising or mentoring research staff
• Specialty certification in clinical or functional area of nursing granted by a national nursing organization

Responsibilities:
Relationship and Caring

• Leads protocol-required nursing care delivery for research participants in complex studies, including monitoring of health status and documentation.
• Develops and modifies participant care plans based on protocol requirements, participant needs, and participant safety indicators; evaluates outcomes across visits.
• Assesses participant status and health trends, coordinates follow-up actions with the PI or interdisciplinary care team in alignment with protocol.
• Communicates study details and updates to participants, families, and interdisciplinary team members.
• Coordinates a regular communication method to provide updates to the interdisciplinary team for the entire research portfolio.
• Leads education efforts on complex protocol requirements and participant care.
• Notifies the PI and care team of changes in participant health status.
• Coordinates any required actions per the protocol. Monitors for trends that may indicate protocol modification are needed.
• Oversees onboarding and mentorship of research nurses, and guides research nurses in clinical decision-making.
• Works with other departments to plan and deliver onboarding, education, and protocol training for staff and investigators collaborating on protocols.

Evidence-Based Practice.

• Oversees high-risk or advanced protocol-defined procedures, including medication administration, clinical assessments, and sample collection.
• Ensures accurate documentation of tasks performed. Guides others to ensure alignment with the protocol and participant safety.
• Oversees visit planning across research teams; adjusts workflows to ensure visit efficiency and study adherence.
• Monitors data workflows and supports documentation reviews to ensure protocol compliance and system accuracy.
• May review and enter data into study systems accurately and on time.
• Reviews specimen management processes and supports improvements in documentation, handling, and staff training
• Leads issue resolution across protocols; advises on workflow updates or training needs to reduce recurrence of variances or lack of appropriate documentation or reporting.

System Use and Documentation

• Stays informed on complex disease pathways; supports study portfolio alignment with the latest clinical and research developments.
• Oversees and facilitates team participation in trainings; ensures study staff meet protocol and system training requirements.
• Summarizes and shares key industry or relevant system updates with team members to support quality and compliance; may represent the team externally.
• Audits team documentation for ALCOA compliance; recommends corrections and supports process consistency.
• Oversees study documentation workflows across multiple systems and supports staff in troubleshooting or updating entries

Critical Thinking

• Leads patient eligibility confirmation and ensures complex eligibility assessments are escalated or reviewed with PI.
• Supports recruitment activities for study participants.
• Oversees scheduling across multiple studies and ensures teams proactively address visit conflicts or protocol changes
• Investigates complex or recurring issues, deviations, or data entry errors; recommends procedural changes and discusses with PI and sponsor when needed
• Maintains regular communication with PI, sponsor, and leadership about risks, timelines, and key protocol changes.
• Leads or coordinates monitoring and audit preparation, ensuring team readiness and documentation accuracy.
• Reviews protocol implementation patterns, suggests corrective actions, and leads updates to workflows or tools.
• Supports the development of new study protocols, providing operational input and lessons learned from past studies
• Monitors visit documentation and CTMS entries for billing alignment and proactively identify discrepancies or missing procedures that may affect financial reconciliation.

Leadership

• Serves as senior protocol expert for assigned trials and ensures all staff understand protocol requirements
• Trains and mentors new research staff; reviews staff work for adherence to protocol and workflow
• Leads small-scale quality improvement efforts to reduce deviations or increase visit efficiency across protocols
• Oversees day-to-day study-related activities of assigned team members and provides informal guidance
• Provides input on staff performance to the supervisor based on observed protocol execution and documentation accuracy Independently prepares and submits new protocols, amendments, and reportable events to the IRB and ensures protocol documents are current and compliant across all platforms.
• Other duties as assigned

Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.