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What does a Research Nurse do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted Expert
Amy Bruce
What does a Research Nurse do

A research nurse specializes in conducting studies and scientific research for healthcare and medical development. They may work for medical facilities, private clinics, learning institutions, and government agencies. It is their duty to design research strategies and procedures, gather and analyze samples through various scientific methods, coordinate with other experts, and develop treatment and healthcare plans to optimize patient services and outcomes. Moreover, a research nurse typically works with a team of researchers, which requires an active communication line while adhering to the organization's policies and regulations.

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Research nurse responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real research nurse resumes:

  • Collect, manage and analyze preliminary data using SPSS statistical software.
  • Adhere to local and country specific GCP and ICH guidelines.
  • Ensure coordinator and investigator compliance with GCP and ICH guidelines.
  • Assure compliance with good clinical practice (GCP) guidelines and FDA regulations.
  • Ensure appropriate source documentation, drug accountability and study compliance according to GCP and CFR.
  • Oversee study protocol implementation to ensure compliance with FDA and other regulatory bodies' rules and regulations.
  • Display knowledge and compliance with FDA and ICH guidelines and regulations, as well as strict study protocols.
  • Coordinate regulatory aspects for IRB approval for INTERMACS/PediMACS.
  • Ensure HIPAA guidelines are followed regarding patient information.
  • Prepare investigator initiate study protocol for IRB review and approval.
  • Collaborate with oncology principal investigators to evaluate protocols for study participation.
  • Certify to administer study specific scales necessary to measure participate compliance, patient health, and study medicine efficacy.
  • Facilitate multidisciplinary procedures and treatments indicate per patients' protocol specific treatment plans, patient screening, and disease monitoring.
  • Initiate research protocols, implement new technology, monitor patients and coordinate medical care for soldiers who experience traumatic brain injuries.
  • Prep participants for MRI (urinalysis for recent drug use/pregnancy screen for females of child-bearing age).

Research nurse skills and personality traits

We calculated that 18% of Research Nurses are proficient in Patients, Informed Consent, and Data Collection. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Interpersonal skills, and Leadership skills.

We break down the percentage of Research Nurses that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Patients, 18%

    Initiated research protocols, implemented new technology, monitored patients and coordinated medical care for soldiers who experienced traumatic brain injuries.

  • Informed Consent, 11%

    Conducted patient screening and enrollment, obtained informed consents and maintained regulatory documents; oversaw accountability.

  • Data Collection, 5%

    Developed documentation tools including questionnaires, case report forms, and data collection sheets for investigator initiated clinical research.

  • IRB, 5%

    Prepared investigator initiated study protocol for IRB review and approval.

  • Oncology, 4%

    Attend weekly Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings with Principal and Sub-Investigators to assist in identifying potential research candidates for various Oncology studies.

  • Research Projects, 4%

    Coordinated research projects, supervised the clinical implementation of assigned protocol, maintained unit and study operations.

Common skills that a research nurse uses to do their job include "patients," "informed consent," and "data collection." You can find details on the most important research nurse responsibilities below.

Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a research nurse to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what research nurses do because "natural sciences managers must be able to communicate clearly with a variety of audiences, such as scientists, policymakers, and the public." Additionally, a research nurse resume shows how research nurses use communication skills: "maintained communication with pediatricians, including overall study progress and any issues related to their primary patients. "

Interpersonal skills. Another essential skill to perform research nurse duties is interpersonal skills. Research nurses responsibilities require that "natural sciences managers lead research teams and therefore need to work well with others in order to reach common goals." Research nurses also use interpersonal skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "worked with patients, collected/delivered patient specimens, built patient-provider interpersonal skills. "

Leadership skills. This is an important skill for research nurses to perform their duties. For an example of how research nurse responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "natural sciences managers must be able to organize, direct, and motivate others." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a research nurse: "serve assolutions-based leader to departmental leadership and other clinical research staff. ".

Problem-solving skills. A big part of what research nurses do relies on "problem-solving skills." You can see how essential it is to research nurse responsibilities because "natural sciences managers use scientific observation and analysis to find answers to complex technical questions." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical research nurse tasks: "developed in-house gui .net c# solutions for providing data entry and query forms. "

Time-management skills. Another crucial skill for a research nurse to carry out their responsibilities is "time-management skills." A big part of what research nurses relies on this skill, since "natural sciences managers must be able to perform multiple administrative, supervisory, and technical tasks while ensuring that projects remain on schedule." How this skill relates to research nurse duties can be seen in an example from a research nurse resume snippet: "scheduled and ensured on-time delivery of pre-clinical research studies in adherence to contractual deadlines. "

Most common research nurse skills

The three companies that hire the most research nurses are:

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Compare different research nurses

Research nurse vs. Clinical associate

A clinical associate is responsible for supporting the operations of a medical facility by performing administrative and clerical duties as needed to provide high-quality care services for the patients and assisting health care professionals in performing medical procedures. Clinical associates monitor the conditions of the patients, administer medication, collect laboratory samples, and conduct initial medical assessments such as checking temperature and vital signs. A clinical associate must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on addressing different patients' needs and reporting the patients' progress to the physicians.

The annual salary of clinical associates is $37,564 higher than the average salary of research nurses.Even though research nurses and clinical associates are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require patients, informed consent, and data collection in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, research nurse responsibilities require skills like "research projects," "gcp," "clinical care," and "human subjects." Meanwhile a typical clinical associate has skills in areas such as "rehabilitation," "cpr," "excellent interpersonal," and "phlebotomy." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

The education levels that clinical associates earn slightly differ from research nurses. In particular, clinical associates are 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a research nurse. Additionally, they're 5.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Research nurse vs. Clinical trial manager

A clinical trial manager is primarily responsible for organizing and supervising clinical trials, ensuring to meet all goals while maintaining smooth operations. They are also responsible for collaborating with managers to set targets, hiring staff and participants for studies, and arranging the event. This planning includes its location and schedule. A clinical trial manager must also maintain documentation of all processes, liaise with scientists and key personnel, acquire necessary legal paperwork and certifications, and gather data accurately. Furthermore, as a manager, it is essential to implement the company's policies and regulations at all times.

Clinical trial manager positions earn higher pay than research nurse roles. They earn a $40,181 higher salary than research nurses per year.A few skills overlap for research nurses and clinical trial managers. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "patients," "informed consent," and "data collection. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that research nurse responsibilities requires skills like "research projects," "clinical care," "vital signs," and "human subjects." But a clinical trial manager might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "clinical operations," "clinical research," "oversight," and "project management."

Clinical trial managers earn a higher average salary than research nurses. But clinical trial managers earn the highest pay in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $97,986. Additionally, research nurses earn the highest salaries in the pharmaceutical with average pay of $61,182 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Clinical trial managers tend to reach higher levels of education than research nurses. In fact, they're 9.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 5.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Research Nurses in the next 3-5 years?

Amy BruceAmy Bruce LinkedIn Profile

Chair, Program Director, University of Charleston

In the next 3-5 years, the future of nursing will need innovative ideas from graduate nurses who can bring the benefits of intertwining technology with effective patient care. In the new world of social distancing, we as nurses must find a way to bring back the human connection and caring component that continues to make nursing stand out as an honored profession. Among advances with telemedicine and telecare, interpersonal relationships and caring for our patients has never been more critical, not only with physical care but recognition of mental health disparities.

Research nurse vs. Study coordinator

Study coordinators oversee the entire process of clinical research from its inception to its completion. The coordinators make certain that human subjects are safe and well-protected. They identify the eligibility of the subject through clinical record screening and medical information extracting. It is their responsibility to maintain the regulatory documents based on the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They should develop skills and knowledge in clinical trials, study protocol, and patient care.

On average scale, study coordinators bring in lower salaries than research nurses. In fact, they earn a $6,028 lower salary per year.By looking over several research nurses and study coordinators resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "patients," "informed consent," and "data collection." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, research nurses are more likely to have skills like "research projects," "clinical care," "direct patient care," and "patient safety." But a study coordinator is more likely to have skills like "clinical trials," "patient care," "excellent interpersonal," and "clinical practice."

Study coordinators earn the highest salary when working in the health care industry, where they receive an average salary of $50,589. Comparatively, research nurses have the highest earning potential in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $61,182.study coordinators typically earn higher educational levels compared to research nurses. Specifically, they're 5.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 2.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Research nurse vs. Study director

Technically, a study director carries out scientific responsibilities for protocol design or study plan and approval. Study directors supervise the gathering, analysis, interpretation, documentation, and reporting of data results. They handle the matriculation of students with regard to data management system development. Working with the computer systems team is part of their duties so they will be able to establish a data management system in tracking the study participants. They also support the toxicology team or group on different project teams.

Study directors typically earn higher pay than research nurses. On average, study directors earn a $28,603 higher salary per year.According to resumes from research nurses and study directors, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "informed consent," "data collection," and "irb. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between research nurses and study directors, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a research nurse might have more use for skills like "patients," "oncology," "gcp," and "clinical care." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of study directors require skills like "toxicology," "study design," "project management," and "data analysis. "

Study directors enjoy the best pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $87,246. For comparison, research nurses earn the highest salary in the pharmaceutical industry.The average resume of study directors showed that they earn higher levels of education compared to research nurses. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 8.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 9.8%.

Types of research nurse

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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