Neonatal Research Nurse

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to recruit two enthusiastic and motivated Neonatal Research Nurses. The appointments will be working part-time at hours per week, ideally alongside a part-time clinical Neonatal Nurse role, although this is not a requirement. This role provides the perfect opportunity for a career change into research whilst also maintaining clinical contact.

The Neonatal Research Team provide the delivery and management of a portfolio of research studies across the Newborn Care Unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital. We are looking for two Band 5 nurses to join our research team working across the Newborn Care Unit, supporting our growing portfolio of studies.

The research nurse will be involved in all aspects of conducting studies, including study set up, patient identification, screening, recruitment and follow-up of research participants according to the trial protocols, ensuring all research activity is in accordance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Guidelines. The research nurse will become part of an existing team of research staff and will work closely with clinical staff to help embed research into the clinical setting.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for two committed and passionate nurses with an interest in neonatal care and in developing an evidence-base through research. The post holder will support a variety of neonatal studies, by identifying and recruiting neonates, performing clinical procedures, maintaining study documentation, and collecting data. You will ideally have experience of working within Neonatal Intensive Care or an Intensive Care environment. You will need excellent communication skills, proven accuracy and numeracy skills, IT skills and the ability to prioritise and manage a busy workload with minimal supervision. If you have a flexible and positive attitude this will provide an excellent opportunity to work within a friendly multi-disciplinary team delivering high quality research.

An understanding of the research process and previous experience of research would be advantageous, but is not essential as full support and training will be given to the right candidates. Please use your supporting statement to explain why you would like to take this opportunity to take up a research nurse position.

This position is available immediately based at the Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital. It is fixed term for a year initially with extension once funding is approved.

About us

The Newborn Care Unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital, is a centre of excellence in neonatal care. As the lead neonatal unit for the Thames Valley, we provide level 3 care for extremely preterm infants, critically unwell term infants & infants requiring a number of specialties, including surgery, neurology, cardiology and ophthalmology.

The Newborn Care Unit currently has 16 intensive care cots, 18 high dependency cots and 19 low dependency cots. We have a dedicated discharge team enabling us to discharge babies on a home tube feeding programme and an outreach team offering support to parents in the community.

The Newborn Care Unit actively participates in current research and is involved with a number of studies. We have a strong link with the University of Oxford. This position has arisen because the neonatal research team is undergoing expansion with a growing portfolio of studies, supported by a strong team of research nurses.

The Newborn Care Unit is the base for the neonatal transport team, SONeT; covering the Thames Valley area and offers a 24/7 transfer service for critically ill babies. We have an enthusiastic education team providing support to both nursing staff and students. We run regular in house study days and team days. We have a large multi- disciplinary team, including physiotherapists, occupational therapist, speech and language, as well as an infant feeding team.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Summary:

Employed as a staff nurse to facilitate the research pathway for participants in research studies. Will be directly involved in:

assessing, planning & implementing care for clinical trial participants during research visits.

collection and documentation of accurate data and record of care if appropriate.

provide support for a range of research studies and be expected to be flexible to work across a broad portfolio.

assist in the recruitment & retention of participants.

Fulfil the expectations and capabilities as delegated by the Sponsor, Chief Investigator or Principal Investigator as set out in GCP & Research Governance Framework.

Work collaboratively with OUH service delivery colleagues to ensure high quality participant care and experience and to help embed research into the clinical setting.

If working clinically in clinical role alongside the research role, this will involve working part-time within a shift pattern, including nights and weekends, and part of your time in a Monday to Friday pattern.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

Clinical Research

The post holder will practice with knowledge, skills and behaviours so that they work well within a team, to be adaptable and flexible as the work dictates.

Be responsible for assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care during participation in clinical research visits.

Practice in compliance with their code of professional conduct, being responsible and accountable for their decisions, actions, or omissions.

Accurately document & report information relating to patient care and research data collection.

Communicate complex and sensitive information relating to participants involvement and care, to carers and other staff, overcoming barriers to understanding and providing support during distressing or emotional events.

Able to competently perform a range of clinical procedures as required as part of the research protocol, ensuring accurate data capture

Be able to plan own workload.

Co-ordinate allocated research studies, as appropriate.

Participate in and ensure compliance with Informed Consent Procedures, acting within boundaries of own competency, research regulations and Trust policies/SOPs.

Use own professional judgment identifying when to escalate and seek senior support/guidance. Support the research team with all administrative tasks, including study set up including completion of feasibility requests, as required. Work within the limits of the approved protocol and any approved amendments.

Leadership and Management

The research nurse post holder will practice with knowledge, skills and behaviours which:

Initiates and develops effective relationships, fostering clarity of the research staff nurse role within teams, to encourage productive and efficient working practices.

Act as a role model for excellence in clinical research delivery & demonstrate the values of the OUHFT.

Provide line management where appropriate to junior colleagues.

Support learners on placement within the team.

Contribute to the research team and service development as required.

Promote research to potential participants and colleagues within the Trust and other partners.

Remain adaptable to change, continually developing own practice.

Participate in clinical & research governance reporting and participate, as required, in the investigation of clinical & research incidents.

Recognise the critical importance of wellbeing in self and others, seeking to identify and manage stressors or pressures to promote health and wellbeing.

Act as a sub-investigator on non-interventional studies, as appropriate, in-line with personal development programme.

Education

The research nurse post holder will practice with knowledge, skills and behaviours which:

Assess and address own CPD learning needs as research delivery nurse, and within clinical speciality, working to a personal development plan that reflects the needs of the individual and clinical research service.

Critically reflects to maximise clinical & research delivery skills and knowledge development.

Engage with performance reviews and appraisal processes, as required.

Engage with training and education opportunities across both research delivery and clinical speciality. This may include conferences, study days, and investigators meetings.

Improving Quality and Developing Practice

The Research Nurse post holder will practice with knowledge, skills and behaviours to:

Report all Adverse Events and Serious Adverse Events in line with ICH-GCP, ISO 14155 and OUH NHS Trust Adverse Events Reporting policy.

Promote the value of clinical research to potential participants, the public and NHS colleagues.

Participate in dissemination of research results, as appropriate.

Promote and take part in PPI engagement in research design and dissemination, as required

Seek to publish new findings and best practice in Trust communications, meetings, conferences, and journal articles where appropriate.

Understand the professional and current issues related to clinical research and area of practice

Participate in audits and inspections to inform own and others practice, helping to formulate and implement strategies to act on key learnings and making improvements

Actively seeks feedback from research participants, families, and colleagues to inform owndevelopment and/or service developments in practice

Job Description Adaptations

This job description is neither definitive nor exhaustive and is not intended to be fully comprehensive. It may be reviewed in the light of changing circumstances following consultation with the ACP post holder. This job description is to be read in conjunction with all current Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust policies, procedures & guidelines.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Registered Nurse (Part 1. 8. 12 or 15 of the Nursing and Midwifery Council Register depending on area of practice) or National Certification in area of Practice UK recognised first level degree (HEI Level 6), in Nursing or specialist nursing field

Desirable

Recognised research training Good Clinical Practice, HTA or Informed Consent training Knowledge of NHS research governance and policy Experience and expertise within speciality of the recruiting area for the research nurse role Evidence of ongoing CPD, including multi-source feedback within own professional portfolio Post graduate qualification related to specialty or clinical research

Clinical Practice

Essential

Competency in clinical skills relevant to clinical research area - may include but not limited to vital sign recording, drug administration, . Competent to work under own initiative within boundaries of the role. Able to document observations, results, decisions and actions etc. effectively in patient's notes and communicate these effectively to appropriate members of the research team. Able to proactively contribute to the education of learners, non-registered and less experienced staff. Commitment to evidencing own professional development, capabilities, and competency development. Evidence of effective team working and team leadership (when required) as part of research delivery team

Desirable

Ability to work with a high level of attention to detail Experience of sample processing in a laboratory setting

Values and Behaviours

Essential

Align to the Trust values, conducts themselves in a professional manner at all times. Willingness to engage in clinical supervision to develop knowledge, skills and behaviours. Positive attitude to all tasks and stakeholders, both internal and external Willingness and enthusiasm towards working as part of a team in delivering research, as required. Shows pride in the quality of care they provide for clinical research participants, learning from setbacks and successes

Leadership and Management

Essential

Organised and able to prioritise own workload Ability to maintain and contribute to development of standard operating procedures and research processes Role model promoting clinical research delivery nursing Establish and maintain positive working relationships with service support departments, clinical research associates, sponsor representative, R&D staff as appropriate Able to supervise non-registered and less experienced staff to ensure effective research and care delivery.

Personal Qualities and Skills

Essential

Motivated and able to articulate reasons for desire to work in specific practice area. Ability to recognise own limitations, working within scope of practice, acting on feedback linked to practice change when required. Excellent communication skills, all channels. Flexibility in working hours as needed for the post. Clean driving license/access to car if needed for post. Computer literate with experience of working with Microsoft Office packages Advanced keyboard skills, to ensure fluent documentation

Desirable

Ability to appraise documents, using analytical and problem-solving skills

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