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It doesn't matter what unit you come from, only that you can adapt to the research mindset. It is different from any other kind of nursing. A lot of nurses find it difficult to either make the transition or to maintain their interest. Speak to the research nurses in your hospital, likely in the oncology or CV departments I'd guess. Where in the country are you located? PM me if you want and I can try to give you more specific answers.

OP, you have plenty of experience to get a job as a research nurse. I worked as a research assistant for 2 years in the lab, ended up going to nursing school and worked on the floor for about 9 months before I got my current job as a research nurse. They took me over many other candidates because of my research lab experience, which it sounds like you have more than enough. I would echo the previous posters and get some floor time in for the experience, but it's up to you. Also, I'm getting paid significantly more as a research nurse, my pay is about 30% more than what I was getting on the floor, so it must vary depending on where you are.

If you enjoy research and you want to do it for a career, yes. If you are absolutely unable to get a job as an RN doing anything else, yes (saturated job market). Although, if you are unsure this is what you want to do or you have any thoughts of specializing in another field, maybe not. What kind of research? If it's phase I clinical trials on cancer patients using experimental drugs, you'll probably learn alot that can be used in other specialties. But if it's more monitoring healthy patients, you may not learn much and if you decide you don't like it, you may find it hard to get a different nursing job.

As you describe it, that sounds a lot like the research coordinators here. I like to think of them as a liaison between the sponsor, the investigators and the nursing staff and they physically manage the study itself (or multiple studies at the same time). They do a lot of teaching and the study success rides on their ability to combine what the investigators want to do with what is possible at the facility and explain it to everyone. It's a really cool type of nursing, definitely different from the traditional model. My site generally only has healthy participants, but it sounds like your site has studies on investigational drugs that may be used for severely ill patients, possibly to cure a cancer or prolong life. There are so many different models, each site does something different, even on multi site studies. My place hires ADNs and BSNs, I don't think they care what kind of program you did, as long as you're a good nurse and that you "get" research. That is difficult for a lot of nurses.

You're likely right about the nursing license. That may be something you have to get before your info can make it past the human resources screening. I'm also unsure of how to navigate international work permits because it sure seems like you have enough experience in the field. Another thing some of the PhDs here have told me in the past is that finding someone doing research that you are interested in and emailing them to let them know you are interested in working with them may help more than just applying to open positions.

Are you going to be looking for a nursing research job and teaching as a PhD or are you looking into working as a nurse on clinical research trials? Are you looking to work in New York City or somewhere else in New York? I'd guess NYC probably has the most clinical research trials, but that may not be what you're looking for.

I guess it depends on what the job responsibilities are. I'm guessing most places are different depending on how large they are and what type of research trials they do. At my location we mainly do phase 1 trials, which typically has healthy participants. It is quite a bit of a change from the floor. The following is specific to my place, but I assume most places are somewhat similar. At my location, we have clinical research coordinators who are RNs that (among many other things) write protocols, collaborate with the research sponsor and the medical/scientific staff and screen participants to join a study. They are essentially managing the research studies. It is a salaried, M-F 8 hour day job in the office with some time spent in the clinic. I'm considering doing it in the future. We also have clinical research nurses who follow whatever the protocol says to do. This is my current position. I'm essentially doing nursing tasks, but there's not an overwhelming number of participants with new admissions coming constantly like there was on the floor. If the protocol says to take vitals at 0900, 1300 and 1800, you take vitals at 0900, 1300 and 1800. If a blood draw is to be done 30 minutes post meal, you draw 30 minutes post meal, etc. You may dose participants with an experimental drug. You monitor for adverse events like headaches and rashes including serious adverse events like anaphylaxis or worse. We do procedures as well. Some participants have biopsies, so we prep the sterile field and assist the MD/NP. We read the protocols and have to be knowledgeable about what is allowed or not allowed. Participants may not be able to get out of bed for the duration of the study, or they may be required to exercise every day, etc. I may be assigned one participant for the day, maybe 2 if needed. I've never had more than that. The nice part is that the participants are typically healthy and don't take any medications. So unless required by protocol, no assessments, no massive 9am med pass, no emptying bed pans, no heart monitors, no worrying about respiratory depression from too much pain meds, no PEG tubes, trachs, wound vacs, isolation, etc, etc. I work M-F 8 hour days and get paid the same as I did working night shift on the floor (going from 36 to 40 hours makes up the difference) and we have off on all the major holidays. The atmosphere is much more laid back as well. We have casual fridays. The doctors, lab staff and research PhDs are all friendly and we seem to work more as a team compared to how the hospital operated. I feel like my input is not only listened to, but respected here. I don't feel micromanaged like I did on the floor. I won't get written up for clocking in >5 minutes before a shift or being I'm sure there's much more I'm missing, but that's the basics. If you can manage a team of patients on the floor, you can function as a clinical research nurse. However, you have to keep in mind the big picture: you are not fixing this patient during this admission. You aren't clearing up pneumonia or helping someone recover from an auto accident. You may be dosing with an experimental drug that is approved for sale 10 years from now, or helping to understand a metabolic pathway. You're contributing more to health care science for the future than you are to an individual at that admission (with the exception of research on life saving measures or something like a cancer drug). I wouldn't suggest trying research nursing as a new job option if you want to end up back on the floor in the future. That's not to say it can't be done, but you will likely not be using many of your nursing skills on a daily basis. Also, if you leave before your first year on the floor, you may not have that magical "one year of experience" another unit may require. If it's something you're interested in, go for it! You may find you love it and you never want to leave (like me).

I am wondering the same thing. I have 2 years of academic research with my BSN and ~6 mo experience as an RN. I'll be applying to CRC and CRA positions. Hopefully my research experience makes me stand out as a good candidate.

Have you considered moving to Alabama? You've already gotten offers, but chose not to take them. Move back to AL, get your experience, maybe consider enrolling in an online RN-BSN program and then you shouldn't have a problem getting a job in Atlanta in a year or so. Good luck.

You are correct. Sorry to offer a bleak outlook, but I haven't heard of anywhere in central Florida paying more than $24/hr to start as a new grad RN. I would believe it is that way in most of the SE US. There's a reason it is almost impossible to get a new nurse job in CA, they have the highest pay in the country and state mandated patient ratios. All of which leads to an influx of nursing programs churning out graduates. Good luck.

The first question you should ask yourself is "why do I want to become a nurse anesthetist?". What about the work excites you? Can you see yourself doing it as a career? Have you shadowed a CRNA? You may be able to do that if you ask around. In general, you could progress to a critical care area with about a year of experience based on your employers policies. This gives you a good grasp on time management and the basics of nursing. Or, it's possible you could be directly hired into a critical care position, it all depends on the hospital. Many people have been directly hired into critical care and have done well. The suggestions above are all good. Ideally, at least 2 years critical care experience for a good school. Plenty of others have done it with less, but the more experience you have, the better candidate you will be.

I'm about 4 months in to my first nursing job. It's been okay for me and I've had an excellent orientation. I work 3 days per week, but I've found I don't like too much time off. I'd like to work an additional PRN job (once a week/every other week), or perhaps volunteer, but I'm not really interested in doing an additional 12 hour shift on my unit. What would be an appropriate place to look? I want to broaden my current knowledge as I continue to learn in my current position and I'm interested in research. I've thought about the local public health departments, but they're all in a budget crunch (who isn't) and only have a single FT position listed on their websites. I can't think of anything else though. I'm sure someone out there is more creative when it comes to looking for this kind of thing.

I would think long and hard about a move to central Florida from NJ. I don't mean to crush your spirits, but with your experience and even with what you consider to be a lower than average NJ wage, you are going to be in for a disappointment salary wise. I don't think you'll have a problem finding a job with those credentials, but the hourly rate here is laughable compared to the west coast or northeast. The cost of living is a bit lower, but not enough to justify the pay rate. You might consider waiting for the VA hospital in Lake Nona to open as they will offer better wages/benefits than the area hospitals. I know a lot of nurses here are waiting for it to open to flee there for that reason, not to mention the security of a government job. For what it's worth, the Lake Nona medical city is a beautiful area that they've pretty much created out of a huge emtpy land space. I want to move there myself as the developments are currently being built. I know an RN from Canada working here as a travel nurse who was offered a position here, but she laughed when she saw the pay cut she'd take from transitioning from the agency to the hospital. PM if you want some idea as to wages.

It was difficult, but worth it to get through it in a year and any nursing program is going to be tough. Although if I had the opportunity, I'd have gone to a state university accelerated BSN program to save on the $$$. If you plan on graduating and moving back home for a job, really consider staying in the Orlando area for at least another year where you can make connections while in clinicals or the teachers can make them for you. I'm convinced that I got my job because one of the teachers made some recommendations for me. Send me a PM if you have any specific questions.

Do it now, but look specifically for graduate nurse listings.