Figure 1 Clinical Research Nursing Domain Dimensions
From CRN 2010 Domain of Practice Committee 2009 .
• Assessing patients
• Developing plans of care
• Implementing investigational treatments
• Monitoring for response to treatments
• Collecting research and clinical specimens
• Documenting research data ( vital signs , medication administration , nursing assessments )
• Providing education on medications , anticipated side effects , plan of care , and what it means to participate in a clinical trial
Care requirements for patients are driven by the scope of the protocol study . Thoroughly detailed documented nursing assessments are critical to accurately reporting potential adverse events to the research team .
2 . Human Subjects Protection .
Nursing activities under this domain include :
• Facilitating initial and ongoing informed consent / assent
• Partnering with interprofessional team members to address ethical concerns
• Minimizing safety risks
• Serving as a member of the Institutional Review Board , a group formally designated to provide ethical and regulatory oversight of research involving human subjects
3 . Care Coordination and Continuity .
Nursing activities under this domain include :
• Balancing the integrity of the research protocol while addressing the patient ’ s clinical needs
• Leading interprofessional team meetings and activities
• Communicating patient outcomes
• Managing referrals to appropriate interdisciplinary services outside of the immediate research team
• Providing guidance to community-based health care team members on supporting the patient before and after participation in a clinical trial
4 . Study Management .
This domain most wholly represents the specialty knowledge of clinical research nursing ( ANA and IACRN , 2016 ). Nursing activities under this domain include :
• Participating in study development and identifying clinical implications ( such as equipment required to implement the study and / or monitor the patient , what competencies staff must hold to safely provide care )
• Recruiting and screening of potential research par-
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