Research Nurse

Job overview

The main responsibilities will include providing senior skilled nursing care to ensure safe and efficient running of research studies within the designated facility. Ensuring research has full approval to proceed; screening, recruiting participants, collecting and entering data. The appointee will also identify barriers to recruitment and overcome these. The role requires the development and maintenance of clinical skills and competencies including venepuncture, cannulation, IV, oral drug administration, Spirometry, small airways testing, bronchial provocation testing, analysis of blood samples, vital signs measurements, Basic Life Support and advanced skills as required for specific studies.

The post-holder will be allocated to a specific research clinical area. Travelling across UHL 3 sites (Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester General Hospital and Glenfield Hospital) will be required and they may be required to work in other research services. Opportunities to develop expertise in other research specialities will be available. This post may involve shift patterns, including internal rotation onto night duty to ensure 24 hour cover (including bank holidays).

Main duties of the job

To develop and maintain constructive working relationship with muti-professional teams within the speciality. Have responsibility for ensuring good communication between all service providers within the speciality. Actively participate in local and national networking groups to develop an expert level of knowledge in the speciality and cascade learning back to the team.   Manage a personal caseload of clinical trials and patients independently with minimal supervision/mentoring from Principle Investigators/senior research nurses/team leaders.

Provide highly specialist nursing management for an individual client caseload delivering care in a variety of settings; outpatient clinics, on hospital wards and over the telephone. Support the Lead Investigator in delivering the funded study protocol and supporting the service associated budget. To ensure all work is undertaken in line with the research protocol, ICH-GCP and Research Governance guidelines. To act as one of the primary points of contact for clinical trials patients.  To educate other staff as to the responsibilities of the role and function of the research nurse and disseminate information on specific studies.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

As a Research Nurse within respiratory the Research Nurse will manage and co-ordinate specific trials and take responsibility for the trial. They will use their skills and knowledge to achieve this to the highest standard and complete the following for their research studies. The post holder will provide the highest standards of patient care in line with research protocols ensuring research safeguards the well-being of the patients and is conducted within ICH Good Clinical Practice guidelines.

They will work alongside the Principle Investigators and the research team delivering high quality research using clinical expertise, professional advice, educate the multi-professional team, patients and carers. A personal caseload of clinical trials and patients will be managed independently with minimal supervision.

• Organisation of any necessary tests and investigations as detailed within the protocol
• Sample preparation (e.g. blood, urine, tissue and faecal samples): retrieval, centrifuging, pipetting, slide making and preparation for storage, liaising with the hospital and external laboratories when appropriate
• Undertake high risk clinical duties  (advanced therapies)
• Maintaining logs of stored samples and freezer temperatures
• Maintaining adequate stock levels of sample kits
• Organising the logistical aspects of diagnostic specimens, packaging, and shipment, including handling of dry ice
• Organising and completing follow up assessments including toxicity, Quality of Life assessments and telephone assessments
• Resolving data queries raised by sponsoring organisations
• Archiving all study related material including patient’s notes after study closure
• Reporting and submitting of Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) from this site within stipulated time frames to sponsor organisations and the Research and Innovation Office
• Tracking Serious Unexpected Event reporting
• Maintaining and updating study specific site files
• Notify General Practitioners of their patient’s involvement in a clinical trial
• Observe patients and monitor treatment/toxicity side effects; escalating findings accordingly
• To maintain Professional Accountability for nursing research practice at all times.Identifies, screens and recruits patients for the clinical trial using agreed protocols in accordance with ICH-GCP and Research Governance
• Provides education and support for patients in research trials. Work with the lead clinician to evaluate clinical trial proposals, identifying potential patient populations and evaluating cost implications of the trial
• Participate in set-up/initiation/monitoring visits, site audits and study close-down meetings carried out by sponsoring organisations and regulatory authorities
• Responsible for resolving data queries raised by sponsoring organisations
• Demonstrates commitment to the role of patient advocate for patients considering or participating in clinical trials
• To provide mentorship and supervision for other research professionals and staff within and outside the department
• Act as a resource for ward based nurses wishing to undertake research once competencies have been achieved
• Responsible for assisting with the completion of study costing templates along with assisting with invoicing and the recovery of income for commercial research as per financial contract agreement

As a new post holder, training will be provided for the key aspects of this role, and a period of induction identified, however, the post holder will be expected to take advantage of opportunities to upgrade their skills and to attend meetings and workshops to enhance their knowledge.