clinical RN wishing to change to research

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Hi all-

I am an associates prepared RN, with 4 years of clinical experience. Most of my clinical experience has been in the OR. I have been interested in research for a while now and am ready to make the switch.

Any tips on how to get a research job? Also, anyone currently working in research willing to read/review/critique my resume and cover letter?

THanks!

Sarah

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also, I have been working on my bachelors degree...almost halfway done...

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Do you live near a university or affiliated hospital?

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Specializes in Infectious Disease, Neuro, Research.

Hmmm...think a response was lost in the transition, but, in any event:

Your local yellow pages should have a listing or two, under "research". these will usually be a CRO-style office, where coordinators, regulatory, etc., are contracted with local physcians to perform studies. If there is a teaching hospital near, that would probably be more stable, though you might be "stuck" in one specialty, for awhile.

Also, if you go to http://www.socra.org/ and click on "chapters", on the left tool bar, you can find the closest one in your state. A good source for making connections, and they may be active in recruiting (varies by location & interests of the members & leadership).

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

I applied for my job even though it was BSN preferred. The only reason I got it was that I sold them mostly on my non-nursing skills that I could bring. I looked at some generic job descriptions to figure out what skills would be desired.....

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Specializes in Infectious Disease, Neuro, Research.
I applied for my job even though it was BSN preferred. The only reason I got it was that I sold them mostly on my non-nursing skills that I could bring. I looked at some generic job descriptions to figure out what skills would be desired.....

^^This. Hate to say it, but unless you're being hired to manage a study, or cull databases and write preliminary protocols, the BSN requirement is total BS.

If you can interact effectively with people (sell, motivate, assess) and if you have or can readily learn phlebotomy, running an EKG trace, and possibly an infusion pump, pretty much anyone can do the job.

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

I am in academic research vs. clinical trials so I do write preliminary protocols and all that goes with the IRB submission... our studies are small (relatively) so I do everything other than write the science behind the hypothesis and the biostats that are done by a PhD.

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Hi all, thanks for the input.

I had an interview (lasting 2 hours!) for a research RN position with the neuro dept. of a large local hospital, but haven't yet to hear anything, and it has been almost a month...Frustrating as I feel after having a phone interview then being invitied for a face to face, I should have received some sort of word from them...

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