Washington, D.C., Founded in 1824, the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences ( SMHS ) is the 11th oldest medical school in the country and the first in the nation’s capital. Since its establishment, the school has been at the forefront of medical education, and has grown to include highly-ranked programs in the health and biomedical sciences. With dozens of top-tier residency programs, SMHS is a competitive and esteemed destination for medical school graduates across the country. Find out more here: http://smhs.gwu.edu/
The Oncology Research Nurse plays a key role in presenting treatment alternatives and an assessment of treatment risks and benefits associated with each clinical trial within the GW Cancer Center. The oncology research nurse’s primary role is to ensure completeness, accuracy and compliance with each protocol and to assist principal investigators and sub investigators of clinical studies in coordinating and facilitating the activities of participants in clinical research protocols. They are also responsible for identifying clinically significant events through patient assessments and review of a variety of medical documents (e.g. medical records, laboratory reports). The research nurse is responsible for following institutional standards of research nursing practice within their scope of duties and responsibilities:
Knowledge and understanding of policies, procedures, and regulations governing human subject’s research and incorporation of them in the conduct of research and care of participants
Possesses a basic awareness of the Federal regulations governing the protection of human subjects, e.g., FDA , OHRP , GCP / ICH guidelines, and HIPAA regulations
Proficiently prepares and processes new IRB research proposals, amendments, continuing review applications and adverse events according to institutional and departmental policies and procedures and federal regulations.
Possesses a basic awareness of the GWCC policies and regulations governing the protection of human subjects.
Knowledge and understanding of the management and implementation of clinical trial operations.
Understanding and capability to perform the procedures required of each study protocol. (obtains training needed to safely and accurately perform or assess required procedures)
Prepares and stores critical documents required to be maintained and provided to the sponsor prior to, during, and after the conduct of a clinical trial.
Performs packaging and ships study medication and specimens (blood, urine, etc.) to the sponsor or laboratory in accordance with IATA and sponsor shipping guidelines.
Participates in periodic site visits from sponsor, regulatory authorities and others to review research, source documentation and research procedures.
Participates in the determination of eligibility and recruitment of candidates for study participation. Troubleshoots trial recruitment strategies to ensure trials are completed in a timely manner through implementing effective screening and recruitment strategies and completing required documentation.
Provides education and training to appropriate personnel and participants in research specific methodology and procedures.
Maintains open and positive communications with investigators, participants, co-workers, other departments and sponsors.
Processes complex clinical information to determine if documentation is accurate, complete, and to ensure procedures contain appropriate safeguards. Ability to multitask, managing multiple assignments while maintaining documentation and study visits and procedures in a timely manner.
Understands standard of care versus research and continually assesses need for additional protections for the protection of research participants and the accuracy and appropriateness of research data.
Utilizes nursing skills and processes to identify participants and study problems and utilizes problem solving skills to identify solutions, following through to implement solutions, and ensuring goals are met.
Proactively involved in quality improvement through ongoing assessment and through the identification of issues, and planning and evaluation of quality improvements.
Serves as an advocate for human subjects by establishing and maintaining communication with Investigators, research staff, Sponsors, participants, and representatives of professional organizations. Including participant advocates, and the public responsible for, or concerned about, protections for human participants of research.
Assesses and evaluates potential participants pertinent medical and historical information to ensure only appropriate subjects are enrolled in clinical trials.
Participates in the ongoing informed consent process, ensuring that human subjects, their families, and other health care providers clearly understand what is expected of and from them in the course of participating in a clinical trial.
Utilizes nursing skills to complete research protocols including patient recruitment, screening, scheduling and organizing of study visits, enrollment, assessments, interviews, laboratory and diagnostic studies, medication dispensing and other protocol specific investigational procedures
Independently uses and documents the nursing process to plan, deliver and evaluate goal focused, individualized, safe, age-specific care as it relates to uncomplicated research participants and with assistance for complicated research participants.
Performs procedures for research as they are described in the protocol, deviating from the protocol only when a subject’s safety is at risk and reports all deviations from the protocol to the Principal Investigator and/or senior personnel who will determine of a protocol amendment or other safety assessments are required.
Maintains accurate records to document recruitment efforts, telephone follow-up interviews and research data.
Utilizes knowledge of disease processes to observe for and report adverse events in a timely and accurate manner to the principal investigator and all regulatory authorities ( IRB , Sponsor, FDA , NIH , etc.) as required by protocol, policies and procedures and regulations.
Conducts literature searches and assesses new information as appropriate regarding new studies and at the time of continuing review to keep up-to-date in the research field of study in order to determine if significant historical or new findings exist that may impact the risk/benefit ratio of the research participant.
Actively identifies and participates in training, education, and development activities to improve own knowledge and performance to sustain and enhance professional development. Pursues avenues to ensure awareness of the latest information available to nurses conducting clinical research, for example.
Attends the Clinical Research Staff meetings and in-services advertised by the Institutional Review Board, Research Support Services, professional societies, etc.
Demonstrates initiative in self-directed learning, as evidenced by attendance of professional development opportunities. Actively seeks new learning opportunities.
Assumes responsibility for continuous learning, engaging in a minimum of 10 hours of educational activities annually or pursuing an advanced academic education or certifications.
Participates in and maintains professional certifications, licensure and credentialing as required of nurses employed at GWU . (i.e., CPR certification) Performs other related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.
Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing, 3 years of primary health care experience, and current DC licensure as a Registered Nurse. Finalists must pass credentials verification and National Practitioner Data Bank query.
Preferred Qualifications:
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Excellent interpersonal, organizational and problem-solving skills.
Adaptable to changes in work duties, responsibilities, and requirements, and able to follow timelines.
Experience in service-oriented environments, and capable of setting priorities in order to meet the needs of clients.
Ability to work and interact in a group setting.
Ability to multitask.
Capable to learn new technical skills related to the position in order to perform essential functions.
Demonstrate excellent communication skills and exceptional customer service skills.
Experienced in the use of Microsoft Office, OnCore and other relevant computer programs.