Research Nurse - Investigational Cancer Therapeutics

About the role

The Research Nurse position at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center supports the Investigational Cancer Therapeutics department, which focuses on advancing innovative cancer treatments through clinical research trials.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate activities related to initiation and conduct of clinical trials
• Work with staff in Patient Business Services to develop research charge tickets for protocols
• Interact with clinic staff to make sure research charge tickets are used appropriately and that billing to sponsored study accounts is accurate
• Timely notification of patient on study to patient access coordinator and PBS
• Screen patients for protocol eligibility through personal interviews and/or medical record review in inpatient and outpatient settings
• Instruct co-workers in allied fields in procedures for recording patient information
• Maintain data necessary for audits
• Understand and adhere to the policies and procedures related to conduct of clinical trials as delineated in the department training manual and presented at weekly training meetings
• Participate in protocol-specific clinical tasks as needed
• Provides nursing assessment and assists in management of toxicities and/or adverse events that patients may experience while on department clinical trials
• Identifies and provides patient and family educational needs regarding treatment management, evaluation and follow-up in clinical trials
• If necessary, administers investigational medications, following acceptable nursing procedures/guidelines
• Orders protocol-related test(s), procedures and consults
• Understand and adhere to the policies and procedures related to conduct of clinical trials as delineated in the department training manual and presented at weekly training meetings
• Aid the primary investigator in collection and evaluation of data
• Retrieves protocol-related data as documented in the medical record and accurately enters it into a computerized database or on a handwritten case report form
• Evaluates response to treatment, treatment toxicities and adverse drug reactions and reports appropriately to the principal investigator, the Institutional Review Board and the study sponsor
• Provides protocol summary reports as requested
• Understand and adhere to the policies and procedures related to conduct of clinical trials as delineated in the department training manual and presented at weekly training meetings
• Provide professional and ancillary staff education concerning protocols by written and/or computerized directions
• Provides accurate information as required to the multidisciplinary team, concerning research protocol eligibility and availability
• Acts as a liaison to coordinate studies with sponsor institutions and pharmaceutical companies
• Communicates efficiently and effectively with internal as well as external referring physicians regarding protocol eligibility and availability
• Keeps current concerning oncology, research and data management issues through reading and/or attending meetings/in-services
• Represents the department in order to attract new protocols from physicians, and pharmaceutical companies
• Understand and adhere to the policies and procedures related to conduct of clinical trials as delineated in the department training manual and presented at weekly training meetings
• Ancillary/Periodic Functions
• Coordinates and maintains accurate and current PDMS protocol databases as assigned
• Assists with protocol data entry into a computer system or on a handwritten case report form
• Assists with data analysis by producing computer data reports as requested
• Prepares protocol summary reports as needed, including those requiring simple statistics
• Utilizes computer statistical/data management packages as necessary
• Collections data from multiple sources including medical records, verbal communication and outside records
• Assists with retrieval of demographics, on-study and follow-up information as needed and record the data clearly and accurately
• Develops and maintains system for controlling paper flow for protocols and hospital policies, including records of surgery, pathology, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy
• Develops and maintains databases for collection of research data
• Attends protocol start-up meetings
• Identifies protocol design problems
• Collaborates with physicians and/or protocol sponsors regarding protocol design, development (including budget concerns) implementation, and evaluation

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited school of professional nursing
• One year Registered nurse experience
• Bachelor's Degree Nursing preferred
• Current State of Texas Professional Nursing license (RN)
• Upon Hire: BLS - Basic Life Support or CPR - Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation
• Upon Hire Preferred: ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification as required by patient care area
• Upon Hire Preferred: PALS - Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification as required by patient care area

Skills

• Strong clinical judgment
• The ability to manage complex protocols
• Effective communication skills
• Initiative
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment

Benefits

• Employer-paid medical coverage starting day one for employees working 30+ hours/week, plus optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance
• Accruals for PTO and Extended Illness Bank, plus paid holidays, wellness, childcare, and other leave options
• Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service and access to extensive wellness, fitness, and employee resource groups
• Defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System, voluntary retirement plans, and employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs

Pay

Minimum $77,500 - Midpoint $97,000 - Maximum $116,500

Schedule

The typical work schedule is Days, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.