Research Nurse/Research Practitioner

Job responsibilities

Clinical:

To be responsible for the conduct of clinical trials across multiple patient groups, ensuring trial protocols and best clinical & ethical practice are adhered to.

To undertake clinical trials in different disease areas as necessary, including cover for colleagues.

To plan and organise daily trial tasks including reviewing inclusion and exclusion criteria whilst screening and pre-screening patients according to individual study protocols; preparing for patient visits; performing trials visits & ensuring the smooth running of clinics using organisation skills and meeting deadlines.

To review and complete study specific medical history, con med forms and AE logs, including reporting SAEs, answering data queries and completing eCRFs in a timely manner ensuring accurate and complete recording of data in accordance with the study protocol.

To be the contact for trial patients during practice hours, contact patients in Follow-up and ensure patients know how to obtain advice outside work hours.

To communicate effectively with patients and carers, pharmaceutical company personnel and practice colleagues, including referral to other health professionals according to trial protocol.

To provide specialist clinical technical services according to the study protocol requirements that may include such skills as phlebotomy; centrifuging bloods & safe use of dry ice when packaging samples for Couriers; performing ECGs; taking other functional measurements & performing immediate life support.

To access study specific websites to randomise patients to studies, dispense and administer study drugs and record drug accountability according to local policies and study requirements.

To teach patients on study specific tasks, including self-administration of IMP and diary completion and provide advice and support for study patients and their carers.

To assist with Site File maintenance.

To regularly undertake risk assessments to ensure a safe environment is maintained.

To have flexibility in approach, considering clinical and patient needs for trials.

To ensure a seamless transition for patients between study and continuing care.

Professional Responsibilities:

To provide ongoing advice and information to patients with regard to their participation in clinical trials in order to facilitate effective informed consent.

To assist the clinicians in the assessment of patients for eligibility for trials and monitoring of their condition throughout their participation.

To be responsible for maintaining strong relationships and positive communication channels with other key personnel and commercial sponsors.

To work within the NMC Code of Conduct and scope of professional practice.

To comply with practice policies and protocols, including but not limited to Infection Control, Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults.

Any other tasks allocated by managers.

Confidentiality:

In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.

In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, Practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the Practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.

Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the Practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the Practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.

Health & Safety:

The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the Practice Health & Safety Policy

Equality and Diversity:

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues.

Personal/Professional Development:

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the Practice as part of this employment, such training.

Quality:

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the Practice.

Communication:

The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication with other team members, patients, and carers.

Contribution to the Implementation of Services:

The post-holder will:

Apply Practice policies, standards and guidance.

Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work.

Participate in audit where appropriate.

Attend research meetings.

Respond to Sponsors emails and assist CRAs during their site visits to ensure all queries are resolved in a timely manner.

Liaise with CROs and report to CRN.

Promote research activities with the practice.

Encourage advertising of active studies.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of dealing with the public/patients.

Desirable

• Experience of using clinical patient records software.
• Experience of clinical trials.
• Experience of EMIS clinical system.
• Experience of Microsoft Office software.

Qualities/Attributes

Essential

• Able to demonstrate enthusiasm to developing clinical trials.
• Accurate approach to record keeping.
• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality.
• Ability to use own judgement, resourcefulness and common sense.
• Ability to work without direct supervision and determine own workload priorities.
• Excellent organisation and time management skills.
• Ability to work as part of an integrated multi-skilled team and be supportive of colleagues.
• Pleasant and articulate.
• Able to work under pressure.
• Able to work in a changing environment.
• Able to use own initiative and problem solve.
• Willingness to learn and share knowledge with others.

Flexibility

Essential

• Flexibility of working hours and able to work at times required by workload.

Desirable

• Experience of Primary Care.

Health & Safety

Essential

• The post-holder will implement and lead/participate on a full range of promotion and management of their own and others health and safety and infection control as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy, the practice Health & Safety Manual, and the practice Infection Control policy and published procedures. This will include (but will not be limited to:
• 1.Using personal security systems within the workplace according to Practice guidelines
• 2.Awareness of national standards of infection control and cleanliness and regulatory/ contractual / professional requirements, and good practice guidelines
• 3.Responsible for the correct and safe management of the specimens process including collection, labelling, handling, use of correct and clean containers, storage and transport arrangements
• 4.Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks across clinical and patient process
• 5.Safe management of sharps procedures including training, use, storage and disposal
• 6.Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy, clean and sterile, and safe way, free from hazards. Initiation of remedial / corrective action where needed or escalation to responsible management
• 7.Actively identifying, reporting, and correction of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• Competent in basic duties required for the post.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to distil complex information into a simple language and convey information to others in laymans terms.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered General Nurse/ Accredited Physician Associate or similar.

Desirable

• Evidence of CPD to post graduate diploma level or equivalent knowledge or experience.
• ICHGCP Accreditation.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).