Clinical research nurse for pharm. Company?

Hi Sandee. I imagine it depends on the company you work for. A friend of mine works for a pharmceutical company via JHH in Maryland. She is a clinical research nurse and takes data for various trials/testing. She left bed-side nursing and currently works M-F, 9-5pm, no weekends. I am sure there are other clinics that operate on differerent time frames and days of the week depending on what you are monitoring. My friend really likes her position. Best of luck!

Sounds like a clinical nurse position. You do work shifts, depending on the trial. Usually, this is a phase I situation - the first doses ever given to humans and they are trying to establish safety, dose ranges etc. While the patient care is lite (healthy volunteers) - think vital signs, meds, trays etc. data collection, H&P, adverse events- you will still have shifts, including weekends, depending on what is being studied and the protocol/drug involved. Be sure to ask questions about the exact role. Good luck!

If you want to try out research, it is a great way to start. Pharma is a difficult field to initially enter and this is a great way to get your foot in the door. It won't always be holidays/weekends and usually it will be just one doctor monitoring the protocol. If you have more than one protocol you may or may not have more than one doctor. Depends how the clinic is set up. Most phase I's I know of have a single doctor (no outside practice - he is staff) running the clinic. You probably won't always have a trial running, not sure what you might do in the down time - audit case reports/safety info maybe. Also these are solicited (people volunteering) trials - they probably won't run over many holidays - weekends probably. May last only 24 hours or up to 5+ days. You may work out shift rotation or there may be nurses who only want a certain shift. I encourage you to explore this. Talk with the recruiter and get job specifics - let them know you want to learn. Pharma is very big on education and "growing" their employees (more than say a hospital - my opinion). Pharma values your RN (and the diversity and education you bring) and wants you to move forward. Initially salary may be a little (a few bucks) depressed, but after a year of effort - the rewards start. Let me know what happens!