Clinical Research

[ccevallos]

Hi everyone! I'm a neurosurgical nurse who is looking to move into clinical research. I've started putting out my resumes out there as well as have some insiders who are keeping an eye out for me as well. I'm about to begin my bachelor in nursing and my question is this, in clinical research, which degree is more in favor, a BSN or Bachelor in Health Administration. Any insight you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

BSN would be preferred.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

BSN, definitely. Are you familiar with the Clinical Research Nurse model that has been developed by NIH? That may be a good place to start. As yet, ANCC does not have a Research certification, but SOCRA does have one but you'd also have to complete a 12 credit certification course & have about a year of clinical research experience in order to be eligible to take their certification exam.

In my part of the country, "research nurse" jobs generally require a BSN & relevant clinical experience - they provide training on job duties specific to the study protocols. For example, ortho research studies would be looking for nurses with ortho experience, but not necessarily any research experience.

There is one big drawback for any research job. When the study (and funding) is over, so is the job.

[llg, PhD, RN]

In my region, the situation is pretty much as HouTx described it. The people who get the clinical research jobs are staff nurses who have worked in the specific specialty that is the focus of the research and who have at least a BSN. They provide the initial training -- and the ones who are going to make long term careers out of it generally take the course and get certified: many get MSN's so that they can take on more responsibility.