Clinical Research Nurse - Human Nutrition Research Center Aging

Overview

The mission of the Jean Mayer USDA-Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts is to promote healthy aging through nutrition science to empower people seeking to enjoy long, active, and independent lives. The HNRCA is one of the largest research centers in the world studying nutrition and its relationship to healthy aging and physical activity. We are one of six centers supported by the USDA.

The HNRCA investigators conduct some of the world's most advanced studies on nutrition and aging, making significant contributions to U.S. and international nutritional and physical activity recommendations, public policy, and clinical healthcare.

Clinical Research Nurses at the HNRCA are part of The Metabolic Research Unit (MRU). The MRU is one of the six Scientific Core Units at the HNRCA directed toward facilitating and supporting the clinical aspects of data collection with human study participants for the HNRCA's research teams. Clinical Research Nurses and support staff implement research protocols and continually assess and monitor study participants.

In addition to nursing services, the MRU is comprised of participant recruitment and enrollment, nutrition services from our metabolic kitchen, and study coordination services.

This is a grant funded position and is not eligible for severance pay.

The Clinical Research Nurse is a registered professional nurse who manages the clinical course of research participants throughout a study. The primary function of the research nurse is to conduct human research protocols in a carefully monitored, controlled, yet dynamic environment to achieve quality outcomes for data and research participant safety to support the HNRCA research goals. The Clinical Research Nurse is responsible for knowledge of Code of Federal Regulations and Good Clinical Practice, policies and procedures of the Tufts Medical Center/Tufts University Health Sciences Institutional Review Board, and all other guidance documents for the conduct of human clinical trials and human research participant protection.

The Clinical Research Nurse utilizes the nursing process—assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation, and documentation—to attain research participant safety and data integrity.

• Responsible for assessing prospective research participants for study eligibility and conducting review of research participant health history for multiple studies.
• Admits research participants and obtains informed consents in accordance with procedures approved by the Tufts Medical Center/Tufts University Health Sciences Institutional Review Board.
• Responsible for reviewing HNRCA/Tufts and USDA building regulations and federal regulations governing conduct on federal property.
• Collaborates with multidisciplinary research team to coordinate study screening and enrollment; protocol treatment and follow-up care as needed.
• Assesses changes in health and eligibility status throughout conduct of studies.
• Recognizes, documents and reports medical issues, abnormal laboratory values, and adverse events to study MD/PI and tracks follow-up.
• Delivers professional nursing care.
• Conducts herself in a competent and compassionate manner.
• Initiates medical emergency system as needed.
• Responsible for accurate and complete documentation (written and electronic) in the research record for nursing‑related data for each protocol.
• Follows HNRCA best practices for data collection, data retention and data QC procedures.
• Implements, coordinates and monitors the safe and accurate collection of protocol‑specific clinical data on the MRU and occasionally offsite; documents and maintains all assigned study‑related procedures, processes and events.
• Utilizes and implements the use of computer technology to increase efficiency, improve data integrity and implement quality assurance measures during data collection and documentation.
• Develops, revises/updates data collection procedures and forms based on regulations and guidance documents; determines and secures equipment and supplies (to include pharmaceuticals).
• Implements regulatory requirements required by the Tufts Medical Center/Tufts University Health Sciences…