Clinical Research Nurse

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better health care, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. We pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, our goal is to take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

The Clinical Research Nurse reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

• The Clinical Research Nurse (CRN) is a registered professional nurse who demonstrates exemplary clinical research knowledge, has strong communication skills and is responsible for serving as a liaison between Northwestern University (NU) clinical research investigator teams (e.g., investigator-initiated trials, sponsor trials) and Northwestern Medical Group. Medical Group (NMG).  The CRN works collaboratively with the inter-professional team and peers to ensure appropriate implementation and conduct of clinical research studies in NMG throughout the lifecycle of a protocol. 

Responsibilities:

• Facilitates, maintains, and coordinates the logistical aspects of assigned study protocols with other research staff in accordance with Good Clinical Practice, standard operating procedures, applicable nursing practices and sponsor requirements.
• Provides direct nursing patient care including, but not limited to inpatient admission and discharge, where applicable, diagnosis, administration of medications, and performance of applicable clinical study-related tests as well as maintaining continual clinical assessment of study subjects under the direction of the principal investigator or supervising physician.
• Provides input into implementation of protocols including setting, systems issues, changes to assure that process will work in other areas if needed within NMH; Present information at weekly meetings in organized fashion; monitors budget for selected aspects of research studies.
• Attends investigator's meetings, coordinates, and attends pre-study site visits, study initiation visits, and all other study-related visits by Monitors or Sponsor representatives, when required.
• Arranges for procedures and necessary visits performed by external vendors that are necessary to the conduct of the study.
• Schedules and leads in-house protocol meetings to review study-related procedures, staffing and visit flow.
• Schedules and coordinates all medical needs and coverage for protocol related procedures.
• Maintains and documents all study-related communication including, but not limited to the principal investigator or supervising physician, study subjects,
• Sponsor or Sponsor representative(s) and IRB throughout the clinical trial.
• Responsible for giving subject instructions for study participation and serves as the primary contact for subjects by being available to handle study-specific questions, concerns, or events.
• Ensures all protocol procedures are completed per study requirements.
• Obtains and documents all adverse event/serious adverse event data on appropriate forms and reports adverse event data to the appropriate parties as outlined by the study protocol, regulations and applicable policies and procedures.
• Assures quality and completeness of source documents collected during the course of the study to assist with overall principal investigator review and approval.
• Ensures accurate, complete, and timely data entry into CRFs using 100% source documentation verification to assist with overall principal investigator review and approval.
• Schedules, leads, and assists with all study-related visits on site and is readily available during visits for applicable corrections, questions, or other study-related or site needs.
• Supervises document retention, security, and destruction, where applicable.
• Responsible for completing all necessary training for the position, including study protocol specific training and Health System policies and procedures.
• Trains other study specific research staff in collection and reporting of required data, where applicable.
• Maintains research files, designs forms as needed, reports findings as appropriate, assists in preparation or review of material for submission to an IRB including reviewing and editing protocols and consent documents, where applicable.
• Travels between hospital locations where research is conducted.
• Performs all other functions as related to this job and assigned.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Licensed as a Registered Nurse.  
• Two years’ experience in managing all aspects of clinical research trials with in-depth knowledge of protocol requirements and Good Clinical Practice.  
• Intermediate computer and internet knowledge.  
• Excellent customer service and patient care skills.  
• Meticulous organizational skills.  
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities. 

Preferred

• Bachelors or Masters of Science in Nursing
• Three to Five years’ experience in clinical research trials. 
• Certification by the Association of Clinical Research Professional or The Society of Clinical Research Associates.
• Involved in external professional organizations (e.g., Oncology Nursing Society, nursing committee co-operative groups) and obtains and maintains OCN certification within 6 months of eligibility if not already certified.

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. 

Background Check 

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check.  Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. 

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.  

Benefits 

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. 

Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information https://jobs.nm.org/benefits  

Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings.  

If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.