maintaining employment as research nurse

[BSNinOK]

I am pursuing a clinical research nurse position and wondered what experience others have had it keeping employed as a research nurse once a particular study is completed and the grant is finished. I will be at a university and figure there are usually enough studies going on that there will always be something available. Does this seem to be the case for most people?

[outcomesfirst, BSN, RN]

No. Network, network,network. You need to plan your next move while actively working on grant. Unless you are an employee of the university, or if you have made an arrangement with the site management organization for your grant, you will be out of work. It takes time to build a reputation in research - unless you are a part on an ongoing program or organization, once your grant is done - it's done.

[anc33]

Universities are usually pretty stable, especially if you are at a major academic research center. I am at UF, where are of our jobs say that we are "time-limited, grant-dependent" but most of my colleagues have been here 7 or 8 years or longer with no worries of ever losing their position. The studies are always coming into a Uni, no need to start panicking.

[gt4everpn, BSN, RN]

your a research nurse! i want to be a research nurse, but i have a ways to go, i'm a lpn. i know this doesn't answer your post but can you tell me alittle about what you do, daily!

[BSNinOK]

I, too, would be hired by the University and imagine it is a similar setup to UF. I currently work in an office and my doctor will be retiring long before I will be ready and so no position (other than hospital) is a long-term guarantee, I suppose. Research seems to have more interesting and varied opportunities and that is why I am thinking of returning to it. I have been out of the hospital for over 10 years and have NO desire to return. Thanks for all the input.

[Wren]

I've worked at a couple of academic research jobs at a medical school and had numerous opportunities when the grant funded positions ended. I'd still be there now but I was able to significantly increase my pay by going outside of the University.

I do agree though with OutComesFirst that you need to network extensively. Be a member of SOCRA and ACRP and actually attend local meetings if you have them in your area. Get certified when you are eligible. Participate in other researching networking opportunities when you find them because that is how you often find the best jobs.

[BSNinOK]

Dear Wren,

Thanks for the additional advice. I have been wondering about whether certification would be a good idea and have had conflicting advice on that. The programs I have looked at seem quite interesting but expensive. I thought it might be helpful to "reintroduce" me to the research setting since I have been out for awhile. I like the idea of staying at the university setting as much as possible as my husband is a professor there and our daughter attends school near there and it would be convenient. But I understand the value of networking for other possibilities.

With regard to certification, did you obtain it after you were a research nurse for awhile? I am waiting a few months before actually applying--a new research division is being set formed and there will be more opportunities. While certification in the beginning might not increase pay, it might make the transition when starting out easier. I know there are some certifications you can only obtain after being in research awhile but there are a few courses that are designed for a new reserach nurse. Any thoughts?

[Wren]

BSNinOK,

I am vaguely familiar with the pricey courses that you are talking about but I don't really know if attending one would be an asset or not. I've always thought they were most useful for the folks who are trying to break into research nursing, but not necessarily for nurses already working there. But that is my untested and unvalidated assumption...I may be way off base! :) I was really referring to the certifications that you get from ACRP or SoCra and you are correct that you have to have documented research experience before you test for certification there. Good luck with whatever you choose.