About the role
Job Description
GENERAL SUMMARY:
The Registered Nurse - Clinical Oncology Research Coordinator serves as a critical liaison between patients, physician investigators, and the clinical research team to ensure successful execution of oncology research protocols while maintaining the highest standards of patient safety and regulatory compliance. This role combines clinical nursing expertise with research coordination responsibilities to advance cancer treatment innovation while providing compassionate patient care throughout the clinical trial journey.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Protocol Compliance & Patient Assessment: Perform comprehensive patient assessments independently and collaboratively with physician investigators to verify that all protocol objectives are met and maintained in full compliance with Institutional Review Board (IRB) guidelines and sponsor requirements. Document all assessments thoroughly and communicate findings to the research team to support informed decision-making and protocol adherence.
Patient Recruitment & Eligibility Determination: Identify, screen, and recruit eligible patients into oncology clinical trials through systematic review of medical records, clinical consultations, and patient outreach. Facilitate comprehensive clinical testing and laboratory work, review results in detail, and determine patient eligibility status based on established protocol criteria. Communicate eligibility decisions clearly to patients and their healthcare providers in a timely manner.
Multidisciplinary Care Coordination: Coordinate patient care seamlessly across multiple hospital departments and external healthcare disciplines to ensure that investigational treatment adheres to both strict protocol timelines and the critical clinical timeline specific to each patient's unique scenario and diagnosis. Serve as the primary point of contact for patients, managing scheduling, communication, and care logistics to minimize barriers to participation.
Patient & Family Education: Develop and deliver comprehensive, individualized education to patients and their families regarding cancer diagnosis, clinical trial design and objectives, investigational chemotherapy agents, potential benefits and risks, and expected side effects. Utilize multiple educational formats and resources to ensure understanding and support informed consent, and provide ongoing education throughout the trial to reinforce compliance and address emerging questions.
Investigational Chemotherapy Oversight & Safety Management: Assume primary nursing responsibility for the safe administration and monitoring of investigational chemotherapy treatments. Verify that all chemotherapy orders are written precisely according to dosing guidelines and protocols defined by the clinical trial. Conduct thorough safety parameter checks prior to treatment initiation, monitor patients during and after chemotherapy administration, and document all observations and patient responses according to protocol requirements.
Adverse Event Monitoring & Management: Triage and assess all patient clinical needs with particular attention to immediate and delayed reactions or adverse events from investigational agents. Implement appropriate clinical interventions, coordinate with the patient's primary care physician and external institutions as needed, and report all adverse events to the physician investigator and sponsor according to regulatory timelines and requirements. Maintain detailed documentation of all events for regulatory submissions.
Care Transitions & Referrals: Initiate direct hospital admissions when clinically indicated and facilitate appropriate referrals to Behavioral Health, Homecare, Hospice, and other support services based on individual patient needs. Ensure continuity of care and communication across all care settings to support patient wellbeing and trial participation.
Clinical Team Support: Provide comprehensive support to physician investigators, research nurses, and other clinicians as necessary to facilitate patient participation, enhance protocol compliance, and optimize research outcomes. Collaborate effectively with the broader oncology and research teams to address challenges and implement solutions.
Staff Education & Training: Develop and deliver educational in-services and training sessions to infusion nurses, inpatient nursing staff, and other hospital departments regarding investigational chemotherapy protocols, clinical trial requirements, patient safety considerations, and compliance measures. Serve as a clinical resource and expert on trial-specific information to ensure consistent, high-quality care across all settings.
Qualifications
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Current valid Michigan RN license required. OCN certification required within three (3) years of hire into the position. ACRP or SOCRA certification preferred. Two (2) years of progressive oncology research experience preferred. Ability to utilize computer software to access and input data.