Research Nurse

NHS; Leicester; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust is seeking a Research Nurse to provide expert nursing care in support of clinical trials. The role involves patient recruitment, data collection, and maintaining compliance with research protocols, alongside opportunities for professional development and shifts across various hospital sites.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse on appropriate part of the register with current NMC Registration.
• Experience in clinical specialty and clinical research.
• Evidence of specialist training.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate specific trials and ensure high standards of patient care.
• Develop and maintain relationships with multi-professional teams within the specialty.
• Participate in local and national networking groups.

Skills

Clinical skills

Venepuncture

IV administration

Spirometry

Bronchial provocation testing

Education

NMC Registration

Specialist nursing training

Tools

ECG

Job description

Go back University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Research Nurse

The closing date is 04 July 2025

The main responsibilities will include providing senior skilled nursing care to ensure safe and efficient running of research studies within the designated facility. Ensuring research has full approval to proceed; screening, recruiting participants, collecting and entering data. The appointee will also identify barriers to recruitment and overcome these. The role requires the development and maintenance of clinical skills and competencies including venepuncture, cannulation, IV, oral drug administration, Spirometry, small airways testing, bronchial provocation testing, analysis of blood samples, vital signs measurements, Basic Life Support and advanced skills as required for specific studies.

The post-holder will be allocated to a specific research clinical area. Travelling across UHL 3 sites (Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester General Hospital and Glenfield Hospital) will be required and they may be required to work in other research services. Opportunities to develop expertise in other research specialities will be available. This post may involve shift patterns, including internal rotation onto night duty to ensure 24 hour cover (including bank holidays).

Main duties of the job

To develop and maintain constructive working relationship with muti-professional teams within the speciality. Have responsibility for ensuring good communication between all service providers within the speciality. Actively participate in local and national networking groups to develop an expert level of knowledge in the speciality and cascade learning back to the team. Manage a personal caseload of clinical trials and patients independently with minimal supervision/mentoring from Principle Investigators/senior research nurses/team leaders.

Provide highly specialist nursing management for an individual client caseload delivering care in a variety of settings; outpatient clinics, on hospital wards and over the telephone. Support the Lead Investigator in delivering the funded study protocol and supporting the service associated budget. To ensure all work is undertaken in line with the research protocol, ICH-GCP and Research Governance guidelines. To act as one of the primary points of contact for clinical trials patients. To educate other staff as to the responsibilities of the role and function of the research nurse and disseminate information on specific studies.

About us

Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).

We have four primary goals:

• high-quality care for all,
• being a great place to work,
• partnerships for impact, and
• research and education excellence

And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.

Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:

• we are compassionate,
• we are proud,
• we are inclusive, and
• we are one team

This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.

About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:

http://www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/aboutus/work-for-us/current-vacancies/

Job responsibilities

As a Research Nurse within respiratory the Research Nurse will manage and co-ordinate specific trials and take responsibility for the trial. They will use their skills and knowledge to achieve this to the highest standard and complete the following for their research studies. The post holder will provide the highest standards of patient care in line with research protocols ensuring research safeguards the well-being of the patients and is conducted within ICH Good Clinical Practice guidelines.

They will work alongside the Principle Investigators and the research team delivering high quality research using clinical expertise, professional advice, educate the multi-professional team, patients and carers. A personal caseload of clinical trials and patients will be managed independently with minimal supervision.

• Organisation of any necessary tests and investigations as detailed within the protocol
• Sample preparation (e.g. blood, urine, tissue and faecal samples): retrieval, centrifuging, pipetting, slide making and preparation for storage, liaising with the hospital and external laboratories when appropriate
• Undertake high risk clinical duties (advanced therapies)
• Maintaining logs of stored samples and freezer temperatures
• Maintaining adequate stock levels of sample kits
• Organising the logistical aspects of diagnostic specimens, packaging, and shipment, including handling of dry ice
• Organising and completing follow up assessments including toxicity, Quality of Life assessments and telephone assessments
• Resolving data queries raised by sponsoring organisations
• Archiving all study related material including patients notes after study closure
• Reporting and submitting of Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) from this site within stipulated time frames to sponsor organisations and the Research and Innovation Office
• Tracking Serious Unexpected Event reporting
• Maintaining and updating study specific site files
• Notify General Practitioners of their patients involvement in a clinical trial
• Observe patients and monitor treatment/toxicity side effects; escalating findings accordingly
• To maintain Professional Accountability for nursing research practice at all times.Identifies, screens and recruits patients for the clinical trial using agreed protocols in accordance with ICH-GCP and Research Governance
• Provides education and support for patients in research trials. Work with the lead clinician to evaluate clinical trial proposals, identifying potential patient populations and evaluating cost implications of the trial
• Participate in set-up/initiation/monitoring visits, site audits and study close-down meetings carried out by sponsoring organisations and regulatory authorities
• Responsible for resolving data queries raised by sponsoring organisations
• Demonstrates commitment to the role of patient advocate for patients considering or participating in clinical trials
• To provide mentorship and supervision for other research professionals and staff within and outside the department
• Act as a resource for ward based nurses wishing to undertake research once competencies have been achieved
• Responsible for assisting with the completion of study costing templates along with assisting with invoicing and the recovery of income for commercial research as per financial contract agreement

As a new post holder, training will be provided for the key aspects of this role, and a period of induction identified, however, the post holder will be expected to take advantage of opportunities to upgrade their skills and to attend meetings and workshops to enhance their knowledge.

Person Specification

Training and Qualifications

• Registered Nurse on appropriate part of the register with current NMC Registration
• Experience in clinical specialty
• Evidence of specialist training

Experience

• Clinical research experience
• Knowledge of good clinical practice and GDPR
• Knowledge of the clinical trial lifecycle

Skills

• Clinical skills including ECG and Venepuncture
• Experience in undertaking spirometry assessments including small airway testing
• Ability to educate and support colleagues, patients and carers
• Engagement in compassionate and inclusive leadership
• Trained in administration of intravenous therapies
• Competent to perform venous cannulation
• Competent in bronchial provocation testing

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Address

GGH Respiratory Biomedical Research Centre

GGH Respiratory Biomedical Research Centre