Clinical Research Nurse Roles

On this page:

Medical Support Assistant:
The Medical Support Assistant (MSA) performs administrative duties to support the medical staff, nursing staff and patients, as well as other Clinical Center Departments and Institutes. They are responsible for coordinating and organizing patients' administrative and clerical information utilizing the hospital information systems. They facilitate patient visits, coordinate administrative work, and serve as the focal point for communications within the clinic/unit.

Program Support Assistant:
The Program Support Assistant (PSA) provides direct administrative, procedural, and informational resource assistance and support to program staff and/or managers by organizing, collecting, analyzing, and presenting information related to the current and future program/project workload. Assists with the coordination of program workflow and the coordination of various duties assigned to program staff.

Program Specialist:
The Program Specialist (PS) supports the administrative functions of the operations of the area assigned including financial management, procurement, quality assurance, management analysis and timekeeping. They participate with senior specialists in the coordination, preparation, and analysis of a wide variety of reports.

Staff Assistant:
The Staff Assistant directs and implements administrative functions for the assigned office. Keeps the supervisor fully informed of current conditions throughout the department and takes appropriate action to ensure that administrative activities are properly implemented to support its mission. Maintains liaison and coordination between the department and other offices in the Clinical Center and the NIH. Establishes and implements standards for the efficient operation of the office and coordinates with other staff within the office and department, ensuring that administrative and clerical functions result in smooth operations.

Health Technician, Phlebotomist:
The Health Technician Phlebotomist provides clinical care and supports biomedical research under the supervision of a licensed nurse. The incumbent supports a team that provides collection of blood and blood components from donors/patients by either collection of a unit of whole blood or blood components utilizing apheresis. The incumbent performs venipuncture on donors/patients within the Blood Services Section for allogeneic use or for in vitro studies carried out by the various Institutes at the NIH.

Health Technician, Surgical:
Provides technical support and patient care support for both major and minor surgical procedures. These duties include assistance with positioning the patient and surgical prep. Patient care also involves the transport of patients to and from the surgical suite, as well as assisting staff during surgical procedures as directed.

Medical Instrument Technician (Surgical):
The Medical Instrument Technician (Surgical) assists with surgeries under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. They help set up the operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeon's assistants, hold retractors, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.

Patient Care Technician:
The Patient Care Technician supports the activities of the professional nurse by independently providing patient care functions to assigned patients while maintaining a safe environment.

Behavioral Health Technician:
The Behavioral Health Technician supports the activities of the professional nurse by independently providing patient care functions to assigned behavioral health patients while maintaining a safe and therapeutic environment.

Healthcare Simulator Technician:
The Healthcare Simulator Technician assists the Simulation Program Coordinator/Nurse Coordinator by providing simulation operational expertise and clerical support for the NIH Clinical Center Simulation Program.

Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist (Interventional Radiology):
The Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist in Interventional Radiology (IR) is trained in radiographic imaging guided procedures and has the professional skills/expertise required to integrate interventional procedures/exams into overall clinical management. This position is a key part of the IR team performing procedures/exams on patients and actively participates in the design, implementation and evaluation of new imaging methods and techniques utilized in this area.

Lead Diagnostic Radiology Technician:
The Lead Diagnostic Radiology Technician functions as the team leader for the team of diagnostic radiology technicians performing interventional radiology services. As the team leader they utilize a variety of coordinating, coaching, facilitating, consensus-building, and planning techniques.

Program Manager for Sterile Processing Service:
The Program Manager for the Sterile Processing Service manages the Sterile Processing Service which is the central point that all contaminated supplies, equipment, and materials are sent after use. It includes sterile and non-sterile storage, and centralized decontamination, high-level disinfection, and sterilization. It supplies equipment to the operating rooms, laboratories, inpatient areas and specialty clinics, and dispatch areas for distribution to approximately 60 supply issue points throughout the NIH Clinical Center complex.

Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing):
The Lead Medical Supply Technician for Sterile Processing functions as the team leader for the team of medical supply technicians (sterile processing) on an assigned shift and personally performs the work of medical supply technicians (sterile processing). As the team leader, they utilize a variety of coordinating, coaching, facilitating, consensus-building, and planning techniques.

Medical Supply Technicians (Sterile Processing):
The Medical Supply Technician is responsible for the decontamination, packaging, sterilization, high level disinfection and distribution of medical/surgical instruments and equipment in the Clinical Center.

Clinical Research Nurse 1:
The Clinical Research Nurse (CRN) 1 has a nursing degree from a professional nursing program approved by the legally designated state accrediting agency. The CRN 1 is a newly graduated registered nurse with one year or less of clinical nursing experience. The incumbent functions under the direction of an experienced nurse to provide patient care, while using professional judgment and sound decision making.

Clinical Research Nurse 2:
The Clinical Research Nurse (CRN) 2 has a nursing degree or diploma from a professional nursing program approved by the legally designated state accrediting agency and has practiced nursing for at least one year. This nurse independently provides nursing care; identifies and communicates the impact of the research process on patient care; adjusts interventions based on findings; and reports issues/variances promptly to the research team. The CRN 2 administers research interventions; collects patient data according to protocol specifications; evaluates the patient response to therapy; and integrates evidence-based practice into nursing practice. The CRN 2 contributes to teams, workgroups and the nursing shared governance process. New skills and knowledge are acquired that are based on self-assessment, feedback from peers and supervisors, and changing clinical practice requirements.

Clinical Research Nurse 3:
The Clinical Research Nurse (CRN) 3 has a nursing degree or diploma from a professional nursing program approved by the legally designated state accrediting agency at the time the program was completed by the applicant. The CRN 3 has practiced nursing for at least two years. The role spans the professional nursing development from “fully competent” to “expert” nursing practice. The CRN 3 provides care to acute and complex patient populations and utilizes appropriate professional judgment and critical decision making in planning and providing care. They master all nursing skills and associated technology for a particular Program of Care and assists in assessing the competency of less experienced nurses. The CRN 3 participates in the planning of new protocol implementation on the patient care unit; administers research interventions; collects patient data according to protocol specifications; evaluates the patient’ response to therapy; responds to variances in protocol implementation; reports variances to the research team; integrates evidence-based practice into nursing practice; and evaluates patient outcomes. The CRN 3 assumes the charge nurse and preceptor roles as assigned. Formal and informal feedback is provided by the CRN 3 to peers and colleagues in support of individual growth and improvement of the work environment.

Clinical Research Nurse 4:
The Clinical Research Nurse (CRN) 4 has a nursing degree or diploma from a professional nursing program approved by the legally designated state accrediting agency at the time the program was completed by the applicant. The CRN 4 is a clinical expert and leader in all aspects of nursing practice. They demonstrate expertise in the nursing process; professional judgment and decision making; planning and providing nursing care; and knowledge of the biomedical research process. The CRN 4 utilizes basic leadership principles and has an ongoing process of questioning and evaluating nursing practice.

Supplemental Nurse/Float Pool/Per Diem:
Supplemental Staff are Temporary Intermittent RN positions within the Nursing Department that are assigned to either a Central Pool or are Unit Based. Central Pool Supplemental staff work out of the Office of Staffing and Workforce Planning, select their schedule based on the available needs of the house and are assigned as needed to different units. Unit Based Supplemental staff are assigned to a unit and select their schedule to meet the unit’s needs. If not needed on the unit for their scheduled shift, they can be floated like any other member of the unit nursing staff. Float to all units as assigned within their competency skill set as needed.

Clinical Manager/Team Lead:
The Clinical Manager (CM)/Team Lead is an experienced staff nurse who supports the Nurse Manager and other departmental leadership with operations and leadership of a patient care area(s). This position functions as a team leader and it utilizes a variety of coordinating, coaching, facilitating, consensus-building, and planning techniques to lead a team of Clinical Research Nurses and paraprofessionals. They provide patient care, as well as support protocol implementation, data collection and human subject protection.

Clinical Educator:
The Clinical Educator (CE) is an experienced staff nurse who provides direct patient care and collaborates with the Nurse Manager and other departmental leadership to oversee educational needs of unit staff. The CE develops/coordinates/evaluates orientation for new unit staff, trains/mentor’s unit preceptors, serves as a liaison/resource for departmental/Clinical Center/professional educational opportunities, identifies educational needs, coordinates unit in-services, and plans unit educational days. The CE designs, implements and evaluates learning experiences for all staff levels to acquire, maintain, or increase their knowledge and competence. The Clinical Educator teaches at the unit and departmental level.

Safety & Quality Nurse:
The Safety and Quality Nurse provides direct patient care and coordinates, oversees and evaluates the quality improvement and patient safety initiatives at the unit or program of care level. They collaborate with the nurse manager and department leaders on improvement activities related to promoting patient safety, clinical quality and reducing risk. They develop and maintains proficiency in effective use and interpretation of data to drive quality improvement activities on the unit or program of care level.

Program Director:
The Program Director serves as the supervisor of a group of expert advisors for a specific area of nursing expertise (education, recruitment & outreach, safety & quality, staffing & workforce planning). The incumbent coordinates, implements, and oversees all the operations of the program they oversee. They serve as the liaison to other Clinical Center departments and the ICs for issues related area of expertise and assigned responsibility and to provide communication and consultative services to all credentialed nurses at the Clinical Center.

Nurse Manager:
The Nurse Manager has 3 to 5 years of recent management experience; advanced preparation (Masters degree) is preferred. The Nurse Manager has experience in change management, creative leadership, and program development; an demonstrates strong communication and collaboration skills to foster an effective partnership with institute personnel. The Nurse Manager demonstrates a high level of knowledge in a particular specialty practice area and utilizes advanced leadership skills to meet organization goals.

Clinical Nurse Specialist:
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) has a Masters or Doctorate Degree in Nursing from a state-approved school of nursing accredited by either the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) with a major in the clinical nursing specialty to which the nurse is assigned. The CNS has a minimum of 5 years’ experience, is certified in a specialty area, and is accountable for a specific patient population within a specialized program of care.

Nurse Educators:
The Nurse Educator plans, directs, executes, and evaluates a broad program of nursing professional and educational activities directed toward professional development of nursing and support staff. Designs, implements and evaluates learning experiences for all staff levels to acquire, maintain, or increase their knowledge and competence. Collaborates in the design and implementation of learning needs assessment tools for unit and specific programs of care.

Nurse Consultant:
The Nurse Consultant serves as an expert advisor with responsibility for managing a broad array of administrative projects and providing clinical consultative support for a Clinical Center Nursing Department Service or program. The Nurse Consultant leads, or directs projects related to clinical research nursing, staffing, budgeting, policy, safety, and human resources.

Nurse Scientist:
The Nurse Scientist is a nurse with advanced preparation (PhD or doctorate in nursing or related field) in research principles and methodology, who also has expert content knowledge in a specific clinical area. The primary focus of the role is to (1) provide leadership in the development, coordination and management of clinical research studies; (2) provide mentorship for nurses in research; (3) lead evaluation activities that improve outcomes for patients participating in research studies at the Clinical Center; and (4) contribute to the overall health sciences literature. The incumbent is expected to develop a portfolio of independent research that provides the vehicle for achieving these primary objectives.

Clinical Research Nurse Roles

Stay up to date - by Email