Clinical research nurse for pharm. Company?

Lizzy6 · Dec 21, 2006

Hi I just had an interview with a pharmaceutical company and this position according to the interviewer is a clinical nurse position. She told me that I have to work in their clinic and monitor volunteers. She said that most volunteers are healthy and they have to stay in the clinic for a period of time for the research. I am wondering if anyone has a similar job to this.
If you do, do you work at different shift? Do you have to carry a pager? Do you have to work overtime? Do you like your job? What is the challenging part of your job? Is your job an hourly paid job? What is the hourly rate? Any information will help.
Thank!

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!

sandee · Dec 21, 2006

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!

Thanks for your information. I am not sure if I will get the position. There are a lot of details I will have to ask them in my second interview. I am getting a bit nervous now. It will be great that I can get this position with the 9 to 5 , no weekend deals.

Thanks again!

outcomesfirst, BSN, RN · Dec 23, 2006

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!

sandee · Dec 27, 2006

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!

I understand what you mean by a clinical nurse position. Do you think that I still will have to work under different doctors like in a hospital settings?

Do you think a job like this can help me to get my foot in the "Research" field? If I take this job, I will have to sacrify a 9 to 5, Mon to Friday , no holiday, ambulatory outpatient job. Do you think it is worth it? I have no experience in research but I am really interested. Do you think I will be able to make it with little experience? Thanks for your information!

outcomesfirst, BSN, RN · Dec 27, 2006

I understand what you mean by a clinical nurse position. Do you think that I still will have to work under different doctors like in a hospital settings?
Do you think a job like this can help me to get my foot in the "Research" field? If I take this job, I will have to sacrify a 9 to 5, Mon to Friday , no holiday, ambulatory outpatient job. Do you think it is worth it? I have no experience in research but I am really interested. Do you think I will be able to make it with little experience? Thanks for your information!

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!