Leaving Pharmaceutical Research for Nursing

Hello everyone. Although I visit this site everyday, I am new to posting!! I guess I am finally posting on the site in hopes of receiving some encouraging and/or realistic opinions. I am currently a research scientist at a pharmaceutical company that is downsizing. In the midst of all the lay-off rumors, I started taking my pre-reqs for an accelerated BSN. My goal is to become a research nurse or to work on clinical trials at some point. I keep telling myself that my background in research along with the RN/BSN will open vast oppurtunities - more oppurtunities than I will ever see if I keep on keepin' on as a lab rat. Is this a huge leap of faith or a well thought out plan??? LOL!! Seriously, are there any research nurses out there that can shed some light on the chances of a lab geek making a smooth tranistion into clinical research nursing? I live in the Philadelphia area where there seems to be a good amount of research going on - I'm just wondering if being an RN will help me get closer to a career in clinical research. Thank you
Well, I have a strong background as a clinical research coordinator- which is traditionally done by nurses. You mentioned a strong lab background- while both are research, as a nurse in clinical research, you most probably will be recruiting subjects (which involves explaining to study patients exactly what will be done and getting their consent). The biggest part of your job will probably be doing study related procedures- EKG's, drawing blood, questionnaires, assessing for adverse events, follow up evals, whatever the study requires. You may also be involved in follow ups- if the patient does have an adverse event, contacting the PI; referring to other specialists for clinical care.The other area you might be involved with is dealing with your local IRB- to get protocols and amendments passed, reporting adverse events, etc.Simply, there are lots of areas in clinical research- but you still need to get through school! Do you have any experience with IRB's or anything like that?You might be able to get SOCRA or ACRP certification, that would help in the future.

Thanks for the reply thinkertdm. I don't have any direct experience with clinical trials as far as interactions with IRBs, PIs, patient recruitment, etc. However, I do have indirect experience/understanding of clinical trials - the lab I work in analyzes the samples collected during clinical trials - we measure drug metabolism. I've handled clinical samples, managed the data and reviewed study protocols to ensure sample handling procedures are correctly in place. I have a pretty good understanding of GCPs from my Masters in Clinical Research - a degree I persued because of my interest in working with the patient and as a patient advocate. Basically, I want to get to the other side of clinical research - working with the PIs on studies or monitoring the studies. I know a couple of CRAs and some have told me that I don't necessarily need to be an RN to do this job, however, may jobs prefer RNs. I am definitely looking forward to nursing school but I guess part of me is a little scared to make the change. I assume the salary for a RN CRC or CRA is pretty decent??? I'm just hoping that I will be able to get a job in order to pay for all of my new student loans Thanks again!!!

I am curious to see the responses to your inquiry as I am in a similar situation. I have a PhD in a medical science. My experience over the past 15 years includes basic lab research, clinical research and clinical laboratory diagnostics. When I was involved in clinical research I worked directly with patients at a major university hospital. This was the work that I enjoyed the most and one of the reasons I decided to go into nursing. I start a direct entry MSN program in a month. I am not sure if general bedside nursing will be the direction that I take my new career. Clinical research coordinator is definitely an option for me. I can say that most of the job openings that I see list RN as a requirement. Even where RN is not a requirement it is preferred. Since being laid off last fall I have applied for at least 15-20 CRC/CRA positions without even a single phone call back. I have every bit of the experience required to coordinate a large scale clinical research study except for the fact that I am not an RN. I am terrified to make the change back to student status and accumulate the student loans. But I believe some of the best moves to be made in life involve some degree of risk!

I thought I was the only one! I worked many years in big pharma as a process chemist and people always wonder how I ended up in nursing school. Good luck with your new career!As for opening up opportunities- I've been told that my background shows critical thinking skills and they like that. They also assume that I know EVERYTHING about drugs....but really I just know how to make them! Either way though, people seem to like the background.

It's tricky to find a CRC position without being a nurse. I guess I was lucky. I can't remember the requirements, but getting a CRC certification might help.I don't where you are, but you can check here:The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine: Welcomethat's the place that hired me.You can also check:TRUE Research Foundationhttp://www.genevacareers.org/searchjobs.php

I have been in clinical research for years, and many clinical research coordinators don't have nursing backgrounds. In fact, many don't have research experience. I have worked with some who are MA's or some who have no credentials in the health field. Believe it. Doctors/clinics try to save money and this is one way to do it. If you want to be a CRC why don't you take a course like at Gateway Community College or I think there is a 2 yr program in North Carolina.

Hi everyone,I just signed up to this blog and was very interested in reading that I am not the only one that is thinking about possibly leaving pharma for nursing school. I do have some reservations though because of what I have heard about this line of work.Can anyone shed some light on what it really is like in the field of nursing? My goal would be to complete an express BSN program, find a job (hopefully its not as difficult finding one as everyone says it is) and finally get a masters in NP. Is it worth making the switch? Is it really that awful to be a nurse?

Quote from Ms. SleepyheadI am curious to see the responses to your inquiry as I am in a similar situation. I have a PhD in a medical science. My experience over the past 15 years includes basic lab research, clinical research and clinical laboratory diagnostics. When I was involved in clinical research I worked directly with patients at a major university hospital. This was the work that I enjoyed the most and one of the reasons I decided to go into nursing. I start a direct entry MSN program in a month. I am not sure if general bedside nursing will be the direction that I take my new career. Clinical research coordinator is definitely an option for me. I can say that most of the job openings that I see list RN as a requirement. Even where RN is not a requirement it is preferred. Since being laid off last fall I have applied for at least 15-20 CRC/CRA positions without even a single phone call back. I have every bit of the experience required to coordinate a large scale clinical research study except for the fact that I am not an RN. I am terrified to make the change back to student status and accumulate the student loans. But I believe some of the best moves to be made in life involve some degree of risk!