Research Nurse/Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

Communication and Key Working Relationships

• Develop and maintain close working relationships with the clinical teams, recognising the value of skilled open communication in the development of new research activity.
• Provide information and support to patients and carers relating to the research protocol, procedures and treatment, follow-up and ensure that informed consent is obtained.
• Be the contact point/support for trial patients and attend to any concerns they may have.
• Liaise with study monitors or organisers as appropriate and assist them with trial monitoring functions.
• Provide information to Trust personnel on individual studies as appropriate e.g. deliver presentations at Departmental or ward meetings.
• Liaise with trial managers or co-ordinators at numerous other sites.
• Liaise with other research practitioners or nurses locally and nationally and attend meetings as required.
• Deal with or escalate telephone queries regarding the trials from patients/carers/relatives, being aware of the different types of information being given, e.g. sensitive/contentious, and also of any concerns the patients/carers/ relatives may have.
• Be in contact with local GPs and other practice staff. Liaise with nursing, medical and other staff across the hospital, the R&D Department and the Department of Clinical Research regarding research/clinical issues.
• Interact with local researchers and others in the clinical team as required.
• Actively seek patient/carer feedback
• Maintain effective relationships with members of the research team in order to ensure adequate cross-cover of trials in the case of annual leave or sickness.
• Respond to enquiries from other Health Care Professionals, patients and carers

Planning and Organisation

• To be accountable for the assessment, planning, organisation and ongoing care of research participants, whilst maximising protocol and GCP compliance.
• Undertake the safe analysis, processing and dispatching of pathological samples and completion of relevant documentation at varying time points for individual participants.Some duties may be necessary after normal working hours therefore some flexibility required in work schedule. It is imperative that the post holder understands the potential for weekend work although this is expected to be very occasional. This flexibility is essential in order to ensure the protocol is adhered to and the integrity of the trial is maintained. Time will be given in lieu of any weekend work.
• At all times to work with a high attention to detail and ensure study data are recorded clearly and accurately on paper and electronic data capture systems.
• To ensure that data queries are answered correctly within agreed timescales.
• To ensure study records and trial files are maintained and kept up-to-date.

Analytics

• Makes judgement when dealing with enquires, to resolve problems for patients and staff.
• Ability to work to a high level of accuracy in following protocols, data collection, supporting patients and recording of information.
• To be proactive in developing research recruitment strategies for studies. To support the embedding of research into normal clinical care, giving all Trust staff and patients the opportunity to be engaged with research.

Responsibility for Patient / Client Care, Treatment & Therapy

• Undertake care in a manner that is consistent with:
• Legislation, policies, procedure.
• Patient centred care
• Compliance with the local delivery of infection control practice
• An environment that is fit for purpose in delivering safe and effective patient care
• Individual privacy and dignity
• Conduct of care
• Scope of Professional Practice
• Multidisciplinary Team Working
• Provide specialist advice and review as necessary by undertaking clinics or during existing appointments, telephone calls and in other clinical settings.
• Select and recruit participants according to inclusion / exclusion criteria which are study/trial specific by reviewing information, attending clinics and other clinical areas and taking an active role within the multi-disciplinary team where appropriate.
• Safeguard the autonomy and integrity of participants by giving sufficient information to assist in the informed consent procedure
• Conduct assessments, trial procedures and documentation in strict compliance with the protocol and Trust policy and interpret these results to assess care needs.
• Refer patients to other health care professionals as appropriate.
• Maintain the necessary competency skills in order to comply with protocol requirements
• Respond to learning needs of other staff and co-ordinate the relevant training in relation to the study protocols.
• Provide support for clinical colleagues in their absence
• Take blood samples where indicated and ensure they are properly prepared, stored and despatched where appropriate. Training will be provided.
• Where appropriate to the protocol, within the scope of practice and competency, administer study medication or teach patients to do so and monitor for toxicity.

Policy, Service, Research & Development Responsibility

• This role is funded by the South West Peninsula Clinical Research Network and therefore the post holder will be functioning within the Research Network structure which is overseen nationally by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
• To be involved in the training of all staff involved in relevant research and to conform to protocol and practice guidelines.
• Expand own knowledge of practice through learning about current clinical and medical developments and research in relevant diseases, seeking to develop new skills.
• Following the initial induction and training, be able to demonstrate knowledge of research methodology, design and clinical audit and apply evidence-based research findings to professional practice in the speciality and recognise its contribution to Clinical Governance
• To practice with supervision and adhere to Clinical Governance initiatives, appropriate Code of professional conduct and hospital policies
• Adhere to the ICH guidelines for GCP, regulations and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for clinical research and related activities
• Promote, monitor and maintain best practice for health, safety and security including:
  • Adhere to agreed policies to maximise safety
  • Identify any risk in the work area that could affect the safety of patients
  • Attend essential training to ensure 100% compliance
  • Be aware of potential areas for discrimination in the workplace and take positive action
  • Ensure systems focus on equality and diversity
  • To identify strategies for recruiting participants into clinical research and providing long term follow up where required
  • Ensure honorary contracts are in place and maintained for working within organisations across the locality.
  • Maintain a safe and therapeutic environment for clinical trial patients and their carers.
  • Ensure that Health and Safety requirements are met in the Department
  • Demonstrate awareness of the Ethics and Research and Development Approvals processes through prompt reporting of Serious Adverse events, contributing to submission of Trust application, protocols, advertisements and amendments
• Liaise with your line manager, Lead Research Nurse, Research Manager and Assistant Managers to provide progress reports throughout the project in a timely manner.

Responsibility for Finance, Equipment & Other Resources

• Provide information to allow for the raising of invoices or re-imbursement of patient travel expenses relating to trials where appropriate
• To assist in the review of trial protocols and identification of resource implications for the site.
• To be responsible for equipment in daily use for own role.
• To be responsible for ensuring physical security of equipment and other resources in regular use e.g. locking offices on exit.

Responsibility for Supervision, Leadership & Management

• To use relevant knowledge to perform all research procedures according to protocols and extend this experience to support others in the research team and other health care professionals where appropriate
• Support new team members effectively during their induction period.
• Ensure the team is able to meet its development objectives
• Keep up to date with new HR and learning and development initiatives and take personal responsibility for ensuring training is up to date.

Information Resources & Administrative Duties

• Ensure the accuracy, completeness, legibility and timeliness of data in all study related reports
• Maintain an awareness of current advances in disease specific care, treatment and research practice.
• Ensure responsibility for completion and/or maintenance of standards of documentation.
• Keep clear, concise records in terms of patient documentation and data collection.
• Provide information and support to patients and carers involved in research / clinical trials
• Adhere to clinical trial protocols:
  • Eligibility for inclusion
  • Patient randomisation
  • Ensure anonymity of clinical trial patients
  • Data collection and management
  • Entering data into Case Report Forms and on to databases
  • Dissemination of data to Sponsors & Consultants
  • Archiving data in accordance with GCP
  • Patient monitoring
  • Quality of life assessments
  • Reporting serious adverse events

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING

Essential

• oRegistered Healthcare Professional
• oMust be able to communicate in English Language, both written and verbally appropriate to the post

KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• oThorough knowledge of caring for patients with a variety of acute Medical and surgical conditions
• oAble to critically appraise and use validated results to improve practice

Desirable

• oKnowledge of drug therapies used in General Medicine and Surgery

EXPERIENCE

Essential

• oDemonstrable, recent healthcare professional experience in acute General Medicine
• oRecent or current extensive experience of the care of patients in an acute setting.

Desirable

• oPrevious experience of data collection.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Essential

• oExcellent communication and assertion skills (verbal and written)
• oAbility to work in a multidisciplinary team

PLANNING & ORGANISING SKILLS

Essential

• oAbility to work to a high level of accuracy in following protocols, data collection, supporting patients and recording of information.
• oAbility to organise own time.

PHYSICAL SKILLS

Essential

• oAbility to carry out physical elements of the post, such as computer work, phlebotomy, transcribing data.
• oWillingness to use technology to improve standards of care and support to our patients.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

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

Employer details

Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Musgrove park Hospital

Taunton

TA1 5DA

Employer's website

https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)