Do you know Minimum Standards for Clinical Trial Nurses? The role of the research nurse within specializations has been the subject of numerous studies in nations in the Northern Hemisphere. The qualifications needed to work as a CTN are not yet clearly understood. According to a number of research, CTNs receive uneven remuneration and their employment practices are inconsistent. In other words, some are employed using the wage rates for nurses, while others work in academia as administrative or research officers. Other UK studies have supported this. As part of a competency framework that has been developed for future Clinical Nurse Leaders, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in the UK has recommended appropriate clinical grades and remuneration for these nurses.

Competencies include the capacity to apply knowledge and skills in the context of clinical research and to demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of the evolution of clinical trials. A clinical trial nurse should adhere to and work within the constraints of research governance, clinical trial ethics, and pertinent legal requirements. Understanding the rules and procedures for getting reliable informed consent from trial participants is also crucial. However, rather than being based on the actual study, these RCN standards were established by experts. The knowledge, abilities, and responsibilities demanded of CTNs also vary and may include: expertise in information technology; project management; protocol management; the capacity to design, evaluate, and guide research processes; clinical subject assessment; patient advocacy; and instruction of patients and their families regarding clinical research procedures and drugs.

The status of the CTN is reportedly quite complicated due to a combination of contractual and accountability structures, according to various clinical research associates. Feelings of loneliness, a lack of professional assistance and acknowledgment, and a lack of specific educational options can all worsen this situation. Experienced CTNs frequently possess advanced clinical expertise and possess a thorough awareness of all facets of the research process, including methodological, ethical, and practical considerations. There are tertiary education programs for these nurses being run around the USA, UK, Canada, and Europe due to the intricacy of the clinical research nurse’s position becoming more and more sophisticated. Due to the demand for formal clinical research credentials, a new degree in clinical trials research was created in Australia in 2012 and is now available at the postgraduate level at the University of Sydney (Master of Clinical Trials Practice). There are also quick courses accessible.

For nurses who work in clinical trials, some Institutes and Clinical Trials Networks offer seminars and workshops, and some pharmaceutical companies and institutions offer informal professional development training that is delivered on the job for these nurses. Therefore, the future of the RCN profession appears to be very bright.

Please visit the Clinical Research Associate for more detailed information on how to begin a career in clinical research. A CTN, which is how many CRAs begin their careers, is an excellent method to gain relevant experience.