Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center: Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of diverse individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health recognizes that diversity is essential for excellence and innovation. We are committed to an inclusive environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your diversity of culture, thinking, learning, and leading is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt’s mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.
Organization:
DE/RH Admin Core
Job Summary:
The Rare Skeletal Dysplasia Research Group is seeking a highly experienced and motivated RN Research Specialist 3 to lead clinical research initiatives focused on rare skeletal dysplasias. This position involves coordinating multiple complex clinical trials, managing multidisciplinary collaborations, and contributing to groundbreaking research that advances the understanding and treatment of rare bone disorders. The ideal candidate will have extensive clinical research experience, exceptional organizational and leadership skills, and a strong commitment to patient and family-centered care in rare disease research. A foundational understanding of bioinformatics and genetics to support cutting-edge studies would be preferred.
Department Summary:
The Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism has a rich tradition of clinical, investigative and training excellence. With over 70 faculty and staff members, the division participates in a wide range of clinical programs and clinical and basic science research. Training the next generation of physicians and scientists is one of our main missions and involves programs in Endocrinology and Obesity Medicine, as well as funded T32 and T35 training programs.
Qualifications:
• Active RN license with a minimum of 3-5 years of clinical research
experience, preferably in rare diseases, skeletal dysplasias, or related fields.
• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing required; Master’s degree in a health-related
field preferred.
• Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC) or Clinical Research
Professional (CCRP) preferred.
• Comprehensive knowledge of GCP, IRB processes, and regulatory
requirements for clinical trials.
• Demonstrated experience in managing complex clinical trials and working
with multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills with the ability
to engage diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency in electronic medical record systems, research software, and
Microsoft Office Suite.
• Familiarity with bioinformatics tools, genetic databases (e.g., dbSNP,
ClinVar), and data visualization software.
• Strong knowledge of genetic concepts, including genomic sequencing and
variant interpretation.
• Proficiency in data management and clinical research software (e.g.,
REDCap, EDC systems).
.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Clinical Trial Coordination:
Oversee the execution of clinical trials, including protocol implementation, participant recruitment, informed consent, and data collection as well as oversight of research coordinators.
Ensure adherence to Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements, and all regulatory standards.
Monitor and report adverse events and deviations to ensure participant safety and compliance. Preferred qualifications include nursing experience in neuromuscular disorders or rare disease.
Patient and Family Engagement:
Act as the primary clinical liaison for participants and their families, providing education, guidance, and support throughout their research participation.
Advocate for patients with rare skeletal dysplasias by maintaining the highest ethical standards of care.
Leadership and Collaboration:
Lead a multidisciplinary team, including investigators, coordinators, and industry partners, to ensure successful study outcomes.
Mentor junior research staff and provide training on protocols, procedures, and rare disease care.
Coordinate with advocacy groups and patient communities to enhance recruitment and engagement efforts.
Regulatory and Data Oversight:
Manage complex documentation processes, including study budgets, regulatory submissions, and contract negotiations.
Collaborate with data management teams to ensure accurate and secure handling of research data.
Prepare and present reports for sponsors, regulatory agencies, and stakeholders.
Quality Improvement and Innovation:
Develop and implement process improvements to optimize research efficiency and participant satisfaction.
Contribute to the development of innovative care models for transitioning pediatric to adult care in rare skeletal dysplasias.
Perform data abstraction, management, and interpretation using bioinformatics tools and platforms.
May serve as a co-investigator or contributor to grant writing.
TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES
• Evidence-Based Practice (Intermediate): Demonstrates ability to integrate evidence from multiple sources and determine if a practice change should occur. Shares knowledge with peers and other clinical team members independently.
• Care Planning (Intermediate): Demonstrates ability to anticipate and plan for complex resource needs, identify discrete tasks, set priorities, schedule activities, meet deadlines, and organize work. Collaborates with members of the health care team to identify desired outcomes. Anticipates problems and obstacles before they arise. Able to adapt changes to patient care and area needs with minimal loss of disruption and loss of productivity. Develops creative ideas and takes innovative action to achieve planned goals and objectives. Possesses sufficient knowledge, training, and experience to role model and coach less experienced peers.
• Nursing Patient Assessment & Evaluation (Intermediate): Demonstrates mastery of patient assessments and evaluations in practical applications of a difficult nature. Conducts primary care patient interviews and physical examinations. Conducts inquiry with a thorough series of questions when patients state an ailment or complaint in order to accurately identify and elaborate on the problem. Possesses sufficient knowledge, training, and experience to role model and coach less experienced peers.
• Nursing Patient Education (Intermediate): Demonstrates mastery of patient education in practical applications of a difficult nature. Possesses sufficient knowledge, training, and experience to be capable of providing patient health education services without requiring instruction from others. Able to train and educate by setting the example, giving technical instruction, providing leadership, and generally raising the level of performance of others while on the job.
• Regulatory Compliance (Intermediate): Demonstrates knowledge of the appropriate rules and regulations and apply them in difficult, stressful and complex situations. Able to interpret and explain rules and regulations that are ambiguous or unclear. Directs others in interpreting rules and regulations on the job and trains others in them.
• Scientific Knowledge (Intermediate): Knowledge of different scientific studies including but not limited Biomedical, Applied, and Physical.
Our Nursing Philosophy:
We believe highly skilled and specialized nursing care is essential to Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s mission of quality in patient care, education and research. We believe nursing is an applied art and science focused on helping people, families and communities reach excellent health and well-being.
As a Vanderbilt University Medical Center employee, you make a difference to our patients and their families by bringing compassion and care to those in need of hope and healing. Please see our current employee benefits offered:
- Affordable High Quality Health Plan Options
- Dental and /or vision plan
- 403 (b) retirement plan
- Paid Time off (flex PTO)
- Tuition Reimbursement and adoption assistance (maximums applied)
- Short-Long term disability
- Subsidized backup childcare
- And many more...Ask us about our current inpatient nursing supplemental Pay Program!
Achieve the Remarkable:
Learn more about VUMC Nursing:
Core Accountabilities:
Organizational Impact: Independently delivers on objectives with understanding of how they impact the results of own area/team and other related teams. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Utilizes multiple sources of data to analyze and resolve complex problems; may take a new perspective on existing solution. Breadth of Knowledge: Has advanced knowledge within a professional area and basic knowledge across related areas. Team Interaction: Acts as a "go-to" resource for colleagues with less experience; may lead small project teams.
Core Capabilities :
Supporting Colleagues: - Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy, and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance e and gain knowledge in new areas. - Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships. - Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one’s own communication style to suit different situations and audiences. Delivering Excellent Services: - Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them. - Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; Identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions. - Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees’ effectiveness. Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly. - Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring. Managing Resources Effectively: - Demonstrates Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure. - Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area. - Makes Data Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities. Fostering Innovation: - Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches. - Applies Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges. - Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements.
Position Qualifications:
Responsibilities:
Certifications:
LIC-Registered Nurse - Licensure-Others
Work Experience:
Relevant Work Experience
Experience Level:
3 years
Education:
Graduate of an approved discipline specific program
Vanderbilt Health recognizes that diversity is essential for excellence and innovation. We are committed to an inclusive environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and to the principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action. EOE/AA/Women/Minority/Vets/Disabled
