Clinical Research Nurse Navigator-Department of Neurosurgery-Neuro-Oncology

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

1d•$87,000 - $95,000

About The Position

This role serves as a Clinical Research Nurse Navigator within the Department of Neurosurgery, focusing on Neuro-Oncology. The primary responsibilities involve leading nursing efforts for screening and enrollment in complex pediatric and adult brain tumor clinical trials, including Phase I and first-in-human studies. The nurse will act as a patient advocate, conducting comprehensive assessments to identify factors affecting study participation and coordinating with various teams to facilitate patient care and trial enrollment. This includes educating patients and families, documenting interactions, managing recruitment efforts, and supporting quality improvement initiatives. Additionally, the role involves patient navigation, serving as a primary clinical contact, facilitating seamless transitions into the research program, and ensuring data accuracy and protocol compliance. Outreach initiatives to promote awareness of clinical trials and serve as a nursing resource are also key components, along with tracking and reporting on program effectiveness.

Requirements

Graduate of a nationally accredited nursing program
Three years of professional nursing experience
Licensed as a registered nurse in accordance with Chapter 464, Florida Statutes
At least 2 years of experience in clinical research, healthcare, or patient services setting
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a multidisciplinary team
Knowledge of HIPAA and research ethics regulations

Nice To Haves

Experience working with oncology or neurology patient populations
Experience with clinical trial recruitment or patient navigation
Experience in event planning and logistics
Bilingual or multilingual abilities, especially in Spanish or languages spoken commonly by international patients
Familiarity with Epic, REDCap, OnCore, or other electronic health record (EHR) clinical trial management systems (CTMS)

Responsibilities

Lead nursing efforts for screening and eligibility for a complex portfolio of pediatric and adult brain tumor trials including in Phase I, first-in-human, clinical trials.
Serve as a clinical research nurse and patient advocate for pediatric and adult brain tumor patients participating in first-in human clinical trials.
Review medical histories and assist investigators in determining participant eligibility for clinical research studies.
Conduct comprehensive nursing assessments to identify clinical, psychosocial, financial, and logistical factors that may affect study participation, treatment adherence, or access to care.
Coordinate with the Neurosurgery Referrals Team to facilitate timely clinic visits, diagnostic evaluations, and acquisition of outside medical records necessary for research eligibility review and clinical decision-making.
Educate patients and families regarding disease processes, treatment plans, study requirements, investigational therapies, medications, symptom management, and supportive care resources.
Collaborate with physicians, advanced practice providers, clinical research coordinators, social workers, and multidisciplinary care teams to address barriers to participation and optimize patient outcomes.
Assist with care coordination and clinical trial participation for domestic and international patients.
Document patient interactions, assessments, interventions, and study-related activities in the electronic medical record and clinical trial management systems.
Coordinate and manage efforts in support of recruitment for pediatric and adult brain tumor clinical trials.
Develop and maintain SOPs, dashboards, etc., that outline scope, timelines, and metrics for participant recruitment and enrollment efforts.
Track recruitment performance metrics and provide reports and recommendations to leadership regarding enrollment trends and study feasibility.
Lead meetings with clinical research team to review progress, address issues, and ensure alignment.
Support quality improvement initiatives and workflow enhancements to improve patient access, retention, and clinical research operations.
Maintain study records, regulatory documentation, and research files in accordance with Institutional Review Board (IRB), Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements.
Serve as the primary clinical point of contact for patients, families, referring providers, and outside institutions regarding brain tumor clinical trial opportunities.
Facilitate seamless care from the time a potential patient is identified until they are enrolled in a trial including but not limited to travel and lodging assistance, obtaining medical records, and working with the Neurosurgery Referrals Team to ensure all necessary appointments are scheduled.
Develop and implement SOPs for navigating patient integration into the Wells BTC research program.
Collaborate with investigators, clinical research coordinators, and clinical teams to ensure seamless transition from screening through enrollment and study participation.
Collect, document, verify, and maintain clinical research data while ensuring accuracy, completeness, and protocol compliance.
Participate in study team meetings to review participant status, protocol implementation issues, and recruitment progress.
Lead outreach initiatives and community events to promote awareness of brain tumor clinical trials and research opportunities across diverse patient populations.
Serve as a clinical nursing resource for patients, families, healthcare providers, advocacy organizations, and community partners regarding brain tumor treatment, clinical research, and available resources.
Develop and deliver educational presentations related to clinical trial participation, research opportunities, disease-specific care, and emerging therapies.
Collaborate with UF Health foundation, marketing, and communications teams to create patient-centered educational materials and outreach campaigns.
Establish and maintain partnerships with referring providers, healthcare organizations, advocacy groups, and community stakeholders to expand access to clinical research opportunities.
Participate in and support community events, educational programs, survivorship initiatives, and advocacy activities.
Provide education regarding research participation, informed consent, patient rights, and available support services.
Track outreach activities, referral patterns, and engagement metrics to evaluate program effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement.
Prepare reports summarizing outreach outcomes, recruitment impact, and program growth initiatives.