Job Description

The Clinical Research Nurse is a Registered Professional Nurse who is responsible for assisting in the assessment, management, and coordination of care for subjects enrolled onto IRB approved research studies/clinical trials, as specified by the research protocol, across the continuum of care. Provides safe, competent quality care based on nursing theory and research to a designated group of patients/family/community members who have agreed to participate in research studies/clinical trials.Provides care to patients with acute and complex conditions, and utilizes appropriate professional judgment and critical decision making in planning and providing care.

Responsibilities

Research

1. Participates in the planning of new protocol implementation on the patient care unit(s) or practice(s)

2. Administers research interventions; collects patient data according to protocol specifications

3. Evaluates the patient response to therapy; responds to variances in protocol implementation; reports variances to the research team

4. Reports adverse events and serious adverse events in accordance with the IRB standard of practice, sponsor guidelines, and federal regulations.

5. Integrates evidence-based practice into nursing practice; and evaluates patient outcomes.

Patient Care

1. Delivers patient care by incorporating the tenets of the professional practice model of Relationship Centered Care and through the application of the nursing process based upon theory, research, evidence-based practice, and approved organizational nursing standards, in relation to the requirements of the research protocol.

2. Assesses and evaluates patient care needs and applies critical thinking skills in patient care management.

3. Integrates relevant assessment and intervention skills in the delivery of nursing care.

4. Collaborates with the interdisciplinary healthcare team in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the plan of care, in conjunction with the requirements of the research protocol.

5. Prioritizes all aspects of patient care including assessing, teaching, coaching, ordering research protocol specified tests and delegating to others as appropriate.

6. Educates patients and caregivers while anticipating needs and readiness to learn, about their research specified plan of care, promotion of health, and prevention of disease.

7. Communicates effectively and professionally with patients, family and all members of the Interdisciplinary Patient Care Team.

8. Manages assignments within the Care Delivery Model of Modified Primary Nursing and demonstrates allocation of material resources effectively.

Patient Experience

1. Role models the tenets of Mount Sinai Relationship Centered Care (MSHRCC) Professional Practice Model.

2. Considers the patients values, preferences, cultural diversity, expressed needs and knowledge in all aspects of care.

3. Establishes and maintains a therapeutic relationship with the research patient and family.

4. Uses evidence-based practices to increase understanding of research patients' perceptions of care.

5. Initiates service recovery for research patients and family members who have concerns and escalates to Principal Investigator/Sub-Investigator, Clinical Nurse Manager/Assistant Nurse Manager/Nursing Shift Manager, Investigational Review Board or Patient Relations as needed.

6. Demonstrates caring, respect, compassion, empathy and active listening through dialogue, body language and actions.

7. Supports staff use of evidence-based practices to increase understanding of research patients perceptions of care.

Quality and Safety

1. Practices safe and efficient patient-centered care, identifying and escalating barriers and opportunities for improvement.

2. Demonstrates clinical skills and knowledge crucial to quality and safety in the patient population served.

3. Implements process improvement strategies based on institutional, evidence-based ensure and procedures.

4. Engages in formal and informal peer and institutional review processes.

5. Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to create and implement quality improvement projects, evidence-based practice activities and nursing research studies.

6. Contributes to quality and safety practices and required compliance measures.

7. Implements principles of high reliability to identify and avoid high risk behaviors to provide a safe environment for patients.

8. Escalates potential safety hazards or gaps from best practice following institutional chain of command protocol.

9. Utilizes institutional information technology by documenting nursing practice to support quality and performance improvement initiatives.

Operations

1. Establishes and implements short and long term study goals, objectives, and operating procedures to ensure a high level of fidelity in the conduction of research studies.

2. Provides consultation and education to members of the interdisciplinary study team and participant populations specific to the research study.

3. Demonstrates patient focused and cost effective approaches to patient care in terms of equipment, staff, supplies and all other resources

4. Documents in an accurate and thorough manner in compliance with hospital, regulatory and legal requirements and standards of care.

Professional Development

1. Contributes to the environment of care to support clinical colleagues, patients and their families and members of the healthcare team.

2. Advances clinical competence in nursing practice to progress from novice to expert.

3. Projects a professional image to colleagues and communicates with styles and methods that demonstrate caring, respect, compassion and empathy.

4. Incorporates ethical principles into decision making for patient and family.

5. Encourages and demonstrates a spirit of scholarship, inquiry, life-long learning and innovation for self and others.

6. Acquires knowledge and skills relative to the role, patient population, clinical specialty and local and/or global health community needs.

7. Participates in shared decision making through specialty practice councils, nursing department committees and unit initiatives.

8. Serves as a professional role model and preceptor for new staff and students.

9. Advances as a clinical leader as a patient throughput facilitator and resource person for the unit/clinical service area.

10. Articulates the values of research and evidence-based practice and its application to nursing practice and the environment of care.

11. Contributes to the profession of nursing through participation in professional organizations.

Qualifications

Education Requirements

Bachelor of Science in nursing preferred; nursing degree required. Associate degree in nursing is considered only with relevant experience if approved by Chief Nursing Officer or designee

Experience Requirements

Relevant clinical competence in area of nursing practice assigned; new graduates must possess current knowledge of the nursing process and its application

Licensing and Certification Requirements (if applicable)

License: RN Issuing Agency: Department of Health/Office of Professions

Name: Basic Life Saver (BLS) Issuing Agency: AHA

Certification: NRP (Labor and Delivery, NICU dept)

Certification: ACLS (in ED; PACU/ASU; ICUs; Telemetry Units; SDU; IR, Interventional Cardiology (CCL/EP/Echo); L&D; Endoscopy, and APN Adult Oncology

Certification: PALS (in ED; PACU; IR; Peds ICU, and APNs Pediatric Oncology depts.)

Collective bargaining unit: NYSNA-MSH