(RN) Research Nurse - Pediatrics - 136364

The Department of Pediatrics is one of the largest departments within the School of Medicine with approximately 250 Faculty, 127 postdoctoral fellows (both MDs and PhDs) along with over 320 support staff (not including hospital staff). In addition, the Department has 68 clinical residents distributed across the Divisions. The missions of research, education and patient care are intertwined, and are integral to the goals of the department.

The Department manages a university-affiliated children's health system with the physicians and leadership of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), Rady Children's Hospital, and Rady Children's Specialists of San Diego, a Medical Practice Foundation, unifying pediatric patient care, research, education and community service programs.

The Pediatric Immunization Advancement Laboratory focuses on maternal and infant vaccinations, optimizing vaccination strategies in the community setting, and improving vaccine immunity. Our global research evaluates infant immune development, responses to mucosal vaccination, and the influence of breast milk and gut microbes on immune responses. Research starts at the bed side, is taken to the bench, and then back to bed side and community. Our goal is to find strategies to improve vaccine effectiveness and protect vulnerable infants and children from infectious diseases worldwide.

Under general supervision, Research Nurse will be responsible for running COVID-19, Influenza, RSV and other vaccine research protocols. Responsibilities vary by study and may include screening potential study participants, providing informed consent, administering vaccine, following subjects in longitudinal study protocols for routine and illness visits, medical record review, having telephone contact with participants, blood draws, nasal or nasopharyngeal swabs, other specimen collection, physical exam, completing case report forms; research scheduling; interact with research team, the UCSD Human Subjects Protection Program, and study sponsors, and other research related entities as needed.

• Possession of the legal requirements to practice as a Registered Nurse as determined by the California Board of Registered Nursing and six months of clinical experience.

• BLS/CPR certification at time of hire.

• Experience and ability to accurately collect, record, transcribe and synthesize clinical data.

• Demonstrated experience providing a wide variety of patient care activities including patient assessment, triage, obtaining a detailed medical history and vital signs, explaining medical conditions and procedures, reviewing medications and providing health education to clients and coordinating care with clinical medical staff.

• Knowledge regarding the standard pre-test or pre-procedure instructions which patients should receive.

• Knowledge of the name, abbreviation, and purpose of various diagnostic tests/procedures, including proper scheduling and completion of necessary requisitions and consents.

• Demonstrated experience interacting positively, constructively, and effectively with staff, physicians, patients and the general public.

• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to effectively and efficiently coordinate clinical and data activities for the enrollment and retention of patients on clinical trials.

• Experience maintaining patient confidentiality and communicating (verbally and written) with patients, staff and physicians with professionalism, sensitivity and discretion.

• Proficient at word processing, spreadsheet, and E-mail with experience producing reports, profiles, correspondence, graphs, and spreadsheets to generate and track required data.

• Experience working independently and prioritizing tasks to meet strict guidelines and deadlines.

• Experience performing effectively under conditions of high workload and frequent interruptions.

• Ability to draw blood, start IV lines, and administer vaccines via all routes.

• Must have excellent phlebotomy, IV insertion skills with experience in pediatrics.

• Demonstrated experience with clinical research activities and guidelines related to consent, ethical conduct and protection of human subjects.

• Demonstrated experience in operation and coordination of clinical trials or studies.

• Experience reading and interpreting clinical research protocols and research policies and procedures.

• Experience in providing care to a broad range patients.

• Knowledge of and ability to communicate and ensure compliance of current UCSD Medical Center and Research policies and procedures. Knowledge of UCSD Medical Center, JCAHO, and Title XXII hospital licensing regulations.

• Intermediate skills in using quality assessment and quality improvement methods.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.

• Must have reliable transportation and willing to perform home visits.

• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule including occasional early mornings, evenings and weekends.

• Current State of California Registered Nurse (RN) license.

• Must have excellent phlebotomy, IV insertion skills with experience in pediatrics.