According to figures from the National Institutes of Health, in the mid-1970s only 50 percent of adult cancer patients and 62 percent of children survived for five years or longer. By 2007 the rate for adults had risen to 68 percent, and five-year survival rate for children with cancers had risen to 80 percent. Much of that improvement is because of ongoing cancer research, and much of that cancer research relies on the work of skilled oncology research nurses.
New pharmaceuticals, treatments and detection methods for cancers and other diseases are usually developed through a series of clinical trials. The principle investigator, or PI, is the researcher who designs and oversees the study, but most of the work will be carried out by research nurses. They observe and record the effects of the treatment under investigation, help design and enforce the study's test protocols, enter and analyze the resulting data and act as the patient's advocate throughout. In the case of oncology research, nurses must also have a strong theoretical and practical understanding of cancers and their treatment.
Oncology research nurses work with the study's PI to identify any potential weaknesses in methodology or structure, and establish appropriate testing protocols. They'll identify patients in their facility who might benefit from the trial and advise them scrupulously on the potential risks and benefits if they consent to participate as research subjects. During the study they'll review the condition of patients in both the study and control groups, monitoring their symptoms for signs of improvement or of adverse reactions. They'll accurately document each patient's response to treatment, providing data for later analysis by the PI and other scientists.
Senior, experienced nurses can exercise a great deal of responsibility, especially if they've earned a graduate degree in nursing or medical science. Some serve as clinical research coordinators, overseeing and administering the research process. Others, especially nurses with doctoral degrees, can rise to become principle investigators in their own right. They're responsible for creating the project and take the lead in interactions between the study's staff and patients, its sponsors and its monitors and auditors.
Training and Certification
Oncology research nurses are registered nurses, first and foremost. Some enter the field with an associate degree or diploma in nursing, but most research positions require or at least prefer a bachelor's degree. Nurses with an interest in cancer care are eligible for certification by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation after at least one year of experience as an RN, a minimum of 1,000 hours' adult oncology practice and at least 10 contact hours of college-level instruction or continuing education in oncology nursing. The Society of Clinical Research Associates and Association of Clinical Research Professionals administer clinical research certifications, requiring at least 3,000 hours of practical experience and varying levels of training.
- National Institutes of Health: NIH Fact Sheets -- Cancer
- Nursing Times: The Role of the Research Nurse
- Nursing Outlook: Clinical Research Nursing -- a Critical Resource in the National Research Enterprise
- Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation: Eligibility Criteria for Initial Certification
- Society of Clinical Research Associates: Certification for CCRP
- Academy of Clinical Research Professionals: CRA Certification Handbook
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