are CRA courses worth it?

[undecided]

Let me preface by saying I am not a nurse so I hope you do not mind me posting here but I have no other forums to turn to.

I have a background in Nuclear Medicine. I want to break into clinical research but everyone wants someone with experience. The hospitals want only nurses and the pharmaceutical companies want at least one year experience.

I have found two courses that I am considering. Both are very expensive. One is 12 weeks long and run through Rutgers University school of nursing ( you do not have to be a nurse to take the course). The other is run by an independent school - Medical Research Management. It consists off 80 hours of online courses and then two weeks of full time ( 9-5) classes. The latter claims a placement rate of 85% in NJ ( were I live) and has job placement assistance. The university classes are half the cost but do not offer job placement assistance just advice.

In your opinion, would these courses help me get a foot in the door? I really do not know what else to do . It seems like a catch -22 situation.

Thanks

Monica

Both seems to cover

[outcomesfirst, BSN, RN]

Yes - it is a way in. Find out if you do an internship or residency with any organization and then network! It really is the only way in, especially if you are not an RN.

[NurseAmy]

Courses did not help the people I knew that took them get a job. Do you have a bachelor's degree? If so, apply to Pharmanet, they have an office in Princeton NJ and are always looking for entry level monitors. One you get that first research/CRO job you are in the door! You might want to start in a project assistant role, then work your way up to a monitor. The down side is that entry level CRO jobs really don't pay that well.

Feel free to PM me if you want to. I am working as a CRA right now, and I hate it.

[Fonenurse]

I want to break into clinical research but everyone wants someone with experience. The hospitals want only nurses and the pharmaceutical companies want at least one year experience. Monica

When you say you 'want to break into research' what exactly do you mean? Have you thought about what sort of work you want to do? Do you want to work directly with patients, or do you want to monitor the governance of someone else's research, or do you want to train to be a researcher in your own right?

Every single option outlined above will have different requirements from getting a postgraduate degree in research / or your topic area through to a short course for a matter of weeks enabling you to monitor other people doing the research...

Hope this is clear - could you not research in the Nuclear Medicine field?