Research Nurse- 3 positions available

The Research Nurse provides nursing care and coordinates study activities for participants in clinical trials and other community and clinical research programs. Working with clinical leaders, principal investigators, the clinical trials team, and treating clinicians, the nurse supports safe, consistent delivery of research from participant identification and screening through study visits, follow-up, and closeout.

Studies may include investigator-initiated, industry-sponsored, and publicly funded projects across therapeutic areas, including diabetes, obesity, and cardiometabolic disease. The role combines participant-facing nursing care with protocol implementation, safety surveillance, accurate documentation, and interdisciplinary coordination. All clinical and research activities are performed within professional nursing scope, documented competencies, approved protocols, and delegated responsibilities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Participant Recruitment and Study Visits

• Support participant identification, approved recruitment activities, and screening against protocol criteria. Collect relevant medical and medication histories and coordinate investigator confirmation of eligibility before enrolment.
• Explain study activities using approved materials and support the informed consent process. Obtain or document consent only when trained, authorized, and delegated to do so under the approved study procedures; confirm completion before research-specific procedures begin.
• Plan and conduct study visits, coordinate appointments and investigations, and track protocol visit windows. Provide clear instructions and follow‑up to support participation, retention, and completion.
• Identify barriers related to travel, health literacy, language, technology, or caregiving and coordinate appropriate support. Respect participant choice, including decisions to decline or withdraw from research.

Nursing Care and Protocol Procedures

• Perform nursing assessments, vital signs, anthropometric measurements, and other protocol‑required procedures within training and competence. Recognize changes in clinical status and arrange timely assessment by the investigator or treating clinician.
• Collect, process, label, store, and arrange transport of biological specimens according to protocol requirements, laboratory instructions, and institutional procedures. Maintain accurate specimen records.
• Administer study treatments or investigational products only when authorized by the protocol, applicable orders, institutional policy, and professional scope. Coordinate storage, preparation, accountability, and reconciliation with research pharmacy and other responsible staff.
• Educate participants about study procedures, treatment instructions, symptom reporting, and approved self‑management activities. Reinforce instructions without making unauthorized changes to treatment or study procedures.
• Support remote visits, connected devices, or remote patient monitoring where required by a study. Review assigned information, document contacts, and route alerts through approved clinical escalation pathways.

Participant Safety

• Identify, document, and promptly elevate adverse events, serious adverse events, abnormal results, and other safety concerns according to protocol and institutional timelines. Support investigator assessment and follow‑up without independently assigning medical causality or making treatment decisions outside nursing scope.
• Respond to urgent clinical concerns using established emergency procedures and maintain required clinical competencies and emergency‑response training.

Research Documentation and Data Quality

• Maintain timely, accurate source records, nursing notes, visit documentation, and case report forms in approved clinical and research systems. Ensure entries are traceable and consistent with source information.
• Track outstanding assessments, missing data, and study queries; resolve discrepancies with investigators, coordinators, laboratories, and data teams. Protect confidentiality and maintain appropriate access to participant information.
• Document protocol deviations and missed procedures promptly. Participate in reviews of their causes and implementation of corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Study Coordination and Quality

• Work with research coordinators, Clinical Trials Research Managers, project managers, investigators, pharmacy, laboratories, and clinical departments to maintain clear handoffs and reliable study delivery.
• Contribute to protocol feasibility reviews, visit schedules, nursing resource planning, study initiation, and development of practical visit checklists and participant materials.
• Maintain required training and delegation records. Follow Good Clinical Practice ( GCP ), Institutional Review Board ( IRB ) approvals, applicable research requirements, and institutional policies.
• Support sponsor monitoring visits, audits, inspections, and study closeout. Provide requested documentation through approved channels and follow assigned findings through resolution.
• Participate in team meetings, quality‑improvement activities, and staff training. Support transition to routine care at study completion and communicate unresolved follow‑up needs to the responsible clinician.

Location

Location OTHR - Other Off‑Campus Location

Salary Range

Salary is commensurate with education, experience, and internal equity

Required Qualifications

Education

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing from an appropriately accredited institution.

Experience

• Current, active registered nurse (RN) licensure and authorization to practice in West Virginia by the start date. Maintain applicable licensure, institutional credentialing, and required continuing education throughout employment.
• At least two years of relevant clinical nursing experience, with demonstrated skills in patient assessment, education, clinical documentation, and coordination of care.
• Ability to follow detailed study protocols, manage time‑sensitive activities, recognize concerns requiring escalation, and maintain accurate records across multiple participants or studies.
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with participants, caregivers, investigators, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Proficiency with electronic health records and routine office software, and the ability to learn electronic data capture and clinical research systems.
• Current Basic Life Support certification by the start date and completion of required GCP , human‑subjects protection, and study‑specific training before undertaking assigned research activities.
• Ability to travel to participating sites and accommodate protocol‑driven visit schedules as required by assigned studies.

Preferred Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing ( BSN ) or a relevant graduate degree.

Experience

• Experience in clinical trials, research nursing, study coordination, or delivery of protocol‑driven interventions; relevant research certification such as CCRC or CCRP .
• Experience in diabetes, obesity, cardiometabolic disease, chronic disease management, outpatient care, or rural and underserved populations.
• Experience with phlebotomy, specimen processing, ECG acquisition, investigational product administration, or other study procedures relevant to the unit’s portfolio.
• Experience with remote monitoring, telehealth, sponsor monitoring visits, research documentation, or quality‑improvement activities.