Clinical Research Nurse

Clinical Research Nurse 1Job Summary: The Clinical Research Nurse 1 (CRN 1) is a licensed nurse who delivers clinical care to research participants while supporting the conduct of clinical studies under the direction of a Principal Investigator (PI). Working as part of a multidisciplinary research team, this role assists with participant recruitment, eligibility screening, informed consent, and protocol adherence. The CRN 1 monitors participants for changes in health status, manages adverse event reporting, and administers study medications when applicable. The nurse educates physicians and staff on study procedures and keeps the clinical team informed about protocol updates and participant status changes. This entry-level research nursing role requires strong foundational nursing skills, a willingness to learn clinical research regulations, and the ability to communicate with diverse participants and care teams. Exemplifies the Rush mission, vision and values and acts in accordance with Rush policies and procedures.Other InformationRequired Job Qualifications:Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) OR Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)Experience: Two years of clinical nursing practice experience requiredLicenses: Current State of Illinois Registered Nurse LicensureCertifications: Current Basic Life Support certification for Healthcare ProfessionalsKnowledge, Skills, And Abilities:Regulatory Compliance Awareness – Able to demonstrate introductory knowledge of Good Clinical Practices and/or Good Documentation Practices, human subjects protections, institutional, local, state and federal guidelines and regulations related to clinical researchCommunication Skills – Ability to communicate complex clinical and regulatory concepts in easy-to-understand language.Participant Engagement – Ability to build rapport with diverse participants and peersJudgment & Escalation – Demonstrated problem-solving, critical decision making, and professional judgment Time Management – Strong organizational skills and attention to detailTeamwork & Collaboration – Ability to work successfully both independently and in team settings.Flexibility – Flexible work hours and travel may be requiredPreferred Job Qualifications:Experience: Two years of experience in clinical research as appropriate to study population.Certifications: Clinical specialty certification appropriate to study populationResponsibilities:Delivers protocol-required nursing care to research participants, including monitoring of health status and documentationFollows participant care plans based on protocol requirements and participant needsAssesses participant status and communicates follow-up needs to the PI or interdisciplinary care team in alignment with protocolCommunicates study details and updates to participants, families, and interdisciplinary care team membersEducates interdisciplinary care teams on protocol requirementsNotifies the PI and care team of changes in participant health status.Performs protocol-defined procedures including medication administration, clinical assessments, and sample collection under supervision.Ensure accurate documentation of tasks performedSchedules study visits and prepares materials and source documentation per protocol.Reminds participants of required tests or proceduresReviews and enters data into study systems accurately and on timeCoordinates specimen handling and shipping; ensures compliance with sponsor and federal safety requirementsRecognizes and reports unexpected events, documentation errors, or potential deviations to appropriate staff.Reports protocol deviations and serious adverse events to the study sponsor and IRB as applicableMaintains current knowledge of disease-specific conditions and research trends relevant to assigned studies.Completes all required protocol-specific and system trainingsApplies ALCOA principles to ensure high-quality documentation and data entry across systemsNavigates multiple systems (including OnCore, REDCap, Epic) to manage participant data, schedule visits and support workflow accuracyReviews patient charts and study eligibility criteria; seeks additional information to ensure accurate enrollment, if needed.Supports recruitment activities for assigned study participantsTracks visit schedules and confirms that study procedures, labs, and documentation are completed per protocol.Identifies and communicates potential issues or protocol deviations to the PI or managerMaintains routine communication with PI and study team regarding visit completion and participant status, including changes in health statusPrepares basic documentation and supports monitoring and audit readiness under supervisionProvides required visit data and procedural documentation in CTMS or other systems to support financial tracking and billing accuracyParticipates in study team meetings and follows assigned responsibilities to support clinical research activities.Assists in orienting new research staff to study procedures under supervisionAssists in preparing regulatory documents and collaborates with regulatory coordinators to submit IRB forms or updates, as directedOther duties as assignedRush 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.