Research Nurse

Position Summary

The Transplantation Immunosuppressive Pharmacology Research Program ( TIPRP ) at the University at Buffalo (UB) is a multidisciplinary research program in clinical pharmacology research in the areas of chronic kidney disease and renal transplantation. The TIPRP emphasizes pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacogenomics of immunosuppressive medicines for over 20 years. This program is a component of the Translational Pharmacology Research Core ( TPRC ) laboratory facility. The TIPRP is located in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences on South Campus at UB and the Nephrology Division at the Erie County Medical Center. This research program has contributed many publications that report on the influence of gender and race on immunosuppressive medicines after kidney transplant.

The Research Nurse position is seeking a Registered Nurse(RN) and includes the following responsibilities:

• Complete Patient Screening – Case Report Forms in renal transplant recipients with understanding of the disease processes and drug therapy in adequate detail and in a timely fashion to facilitate patient enrollment.

• Assist in patient recruitment and enrollment of renal transplant recipients from ages 22 to 85 in the UB-MD Transplant and Nephrology Clinics at Erie County Medical Center ( ECMC ) or by direct patient communication maintaining proper documentation.

• Ability to use nursing skills to effectively evaluate, and respond to enrolled patient’s clinical responses over the course of the 12-hour pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) study period and provide/obtain appropriate medical intervention and maintain documentation.

• Competence with placement of intravenous angiocatheters using safe and aseptic techniques in renal transplant patients to maintain adequate blood collection for 12 hour pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies.

• Ability to administer and complete the study consent process after completion of required training through Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative ( CITI Program) for Biomedical Research and HIPAA and other required training mandated by the Institutional Review Board at University at Buffalo.

• Ability to collect biologic specimen such as blood, urine and sputum) using safe and proper blood collection techniques for patient and nurse with careful maintenance of IV angiocatheter.

• Ability to collect and process biologic samples in a timely fashion according to specified protocol in order to be compliant with timed pharmacokinetic sample collections using proper aseptic technique and current biohazard standards for handling biologic samples.

• Ability to accurately collect and maintain nursing documentation over the course of a 12 hour pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study period which includes documentation of patients’ vital signs, patient responses, and administration of chronic medications in relation to study protocol.

• Ability to accurately collect and enter clinical data into web based data collection forms from patients’ clinical information from the study period.

• Provide monthly updated summaries regarding screening, patient enrollment relative to targets and patient outcomes over the 12-hour pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic study period.

• Documentation of adverse events that may occur during the study visits and provide summaries for documentation and submission to the UBIRB as these events occur.

• Provide general nursing skills as needed by the study patients over the enrollment and 12-hour study period.

• This research nurse must demonstrate HIPAA compliance by completion of the appropriate certificate of verification for the required tutorials by UB Human Subject Investigational Review Board(HS- IRB ).

• Provide very good communication skills with patients and research staff regarding day-to-day operations and challenges concerning study issues and patient care.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Current Licensure in New York State
• Current experience in general nursing service in acute medical care setting for at least 2 years.
• At least 2 years experience in clinical research settings.
• Strong project management skills and a proven ability to work under pressure to address time sensitive milestones.
• Very good oral and written communication skills. OK
• Highly organized and willing to work in a large team of individuals including staff, students, professors, scientists and other institutional leadership.
• Must have general proficiency in computer skills to enable use of the electronic medical record, acquire efficient access to electronic clinical data in patients and proficiency with MS Office Suite including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Must have demonstrated organizational skills as well as the ability to work collaboratively and independently.
• Professionalism and collegiality in a team environment, excellent judgment, discretion, and the ability to make decisions in a timely manner.
• Good problem-solving skills with proven ability to strategize, prioritize, and multitask to meet goals and deadlines.
• Working knowledge and direct experience in, sponsored research, regulations and policies relating to the protection of human subjects and proper biomedical research standards.
• Occasional Saturday or evening work required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current experience in general nursing service in acute medical care, dialysis or critical care settings for at least 5 years.
• At least 3 years experience in clinical research settings preferably in the area of clinical pharmacokinetics studies in patients with chronic diseases.
• Strong project management skills and a proven ability to work under pressure to address time sensitive milestones.
• Ability to appropriately deal with sensitive and confidential matters.
• Demonstrated ability to compose clear, concise, professional written communications.
• Demonstrated ability to compose clear, concise, professional verbal communications.
• Demonstrated professional demeanor in an academic health care setting.
• Demonstrated experience in managing tasks, priorities and deadlines. Excellent problem-solving skills with proven ability to strategize, prioritize, and multitask to meet goals and deadlines.
• Working knowledge and direct experience in, sponsored research, regulations and policies relating to the protection of human subjects and proper biomedical research standards.

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