Location & Practice Overview

This Clinic Research Nurse position is based in Nashville, Tennessee, a major healthcare and clinical research market with an established oncology trial presence. The role sits within Sarah Cannon Research Institute’s community-based research environment, where nurses combine patient-facing care with protocol execution, study documentation, and ongoing subject monitoring.

Practice Type Community-based oncology clinical research
Care Setting On-site outpatient research clinic
Geographic Context Nashville healthcare and research market
Organizational Context Sarah Cannon Research Institute, a McKesson subsidiary

Responsibilities

  • Monitor enrolled study subjects throughout screening, treatment, and follow-up while maintaining close attention to protocol-specific requirements and patient safety.
  • Perform nursing assessments and provide protocol-directed patient care during scheduled research visits, escalating findings that require physician or study-team review.
  • Complete source documentation and study records accurately at clinic visits, supporting data integrity and timely communication with the research team.
  • Confirm required medication approvals before treatment starts or study regimens change, including protocol-defined crossover situations.
  • Calculate and document body surface area, creatinine clearance, urine protein-to-creatinine ratios, and other study-specific clinical conversions when required.
  • Coordinate protocol-timed appointments, imaging, procedures, and study transitions while documenting when a participant completes or leaves a trial.

The position connects bedside nursing skills with disciplined clinical-trial execution, requiring accurate assessment, documentation, scheduling, and communication at each stage of a participant’s study journey.

Qualifications & Requirements

The role is suited to an RN who can translate clinical nursing knowledge into a regulated research environment. Oncology and research experience are preferred, while familiarity with GCP, FDA requirements, and research documentation supports day-to-day performance.

Education
Associate degree in nursing required; bachelor’s degree preferred
License
Current Tennessee RN license required
Clinical Skills
Patient assessment, venipuncture, ECG collection, specimen handling, and clinical documentation
Research Knowledge
Clinical research processes, GCP, FDA requirements, medical terminology, and protocol documentation
Preferred Background
Oncology experience, research experience, BLS certification, and ACRP or CCRP certification

Compensation & Benefits

The listed compensation range is $75,000–$95,000 annually. McKesson describes compensation as being influenced by experience, skills, performance, equity, market evaluations, and geographic factors. The broader Total Rewards program is designed around health, financial security, time away from work, and professional development.

  • Compensation: $75,000–$95,000 per year
  • Medical, dental, vision, health spending, and flexible spending options
  • 401(k) retirement plan and Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  • Paid time off, flexible schedules, and wellness programs
  • Education reimbursement, mental health programs, and professional development support

Schedule & Work Environment

Employment Status Full-time
Work Setting On-site outpatient clinical research environment
Daily Workflow Research visits, nursing assessments, documentation, specimen and ECG activities, and subject follow-up
Scheduling Notes Participant visits, scans, and procedures are organized around study-specific protocol windows

Patient Population & Clinical Setting

Nurses support adults participating in oncology clinical trials, with patient encounters shaped by the requirements of each study rather than a conventional primary-care workflow. Visits may involve assessments, protocol-directed procedures, data collection, treatment monitoring, and preparation for subsequent study milestones.

Patient Type Adults enrolled or being evaluated for oncology clinical trials
Clinical Context Screening, active study participation, treatment monitoring, and follow-up
Care Pathway Protocol-defined assessments, procedures, treatment visits, and study transitions
Oncology Scope Community-based cancer research involving investigational and established treatment approaches

Clinical Focus & Key Services

The nursing component extends beyond routine outpatient care into study-specific clinical procedures and data capture. Depending on protocol requirements, the nurse may perform assessments, collect blood or other specimens, obtain ECGs, manage venous access, and document findings with the precision expected in regulated clinical research.

Patient Assessment Conduct protocol-directed nursing assessments and identify findings requiring clinical escalation
Clinical Procedures Support venipuncture, ECG collection, specimen handling, and venous-access activities as required by study protocols
Research Data Capture source information accurately and maintain documentation supporting data integrity and participant safety
Protocol Execution Coordinate study-specific treatment, testing, medication approvals, and follow-up requirements

Role Highlights

Unlike a conventional oncology floor or general outpatient RN position, this role places the nurse directly at the intersection of patient care and clinical-trial operations. The work is structured around protocol windows, research data quality, and continuity of each participant’s study experience.

  • Combines direct oncology patient care with regulated clinical research responsibilities in a community-based setting.
  • Provides hands-on involvement in assessments, specimen collection, ECGs, venous-access activities, and study documentation when required by protocol.
  • Requires close coordination of visits, imaging, procedures, medication approvals, and study milestones rather than a standard episodic clinic schedule.
  • Offers exposure to a broad oncology research network supporting clinical trials across more than 200 locations in the United States.

About Sarah Cannon Research Institute (McKesson)

Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) is a community-based oncology research organization focused on clinical trials and drug development. SCRI states that it has conducted more than 850 first-in-human clinical trials since its inception and has contributed to pivotal research associated with many cancer therapies approved by the FDA. Following a 2022 joint venture with former US Oncology Research, the network expanded clinical trial access across the country. SCRI’s research network includes more than 1,300 physicians enrolling patients at more than 200 locations in over 20 states, and SCRI operates as a subsidiary of McKesson.

Organization Type Community-based oncology research organization
Parent Company McKesson
Network Scale More than 1,300 physicians at 200+ locations across 20+ states
Research History More than 850 first-in-human clinical trials conducted
Key Milestone 2022 joint venture with former US Oncology Research

Frequently Asked Questions

What nursing background is most relevant to this Clinic Research Nurse position?
An active Tennessee RN license is required, while oncology and clinical research experience are preferred. Experience with patient assessments, venipuncture, ECGs, specimen handling, and research documentation can be particularly relevant to the clinical workflow.
What makes research nursing different from a standard oncology RN role?
The nurse must coordinate patient care around study-specific protocol requirements, research documentation, testing windows, medication approvals, and data integrity. Each participant’s care pathway is shaped by the protocol for the individual trial.
Is a bachelor’s degree required for this Nashville research nurse role?
The stated educational requirement is an associate degree in nursing, with a bachelor’s degree preferred. Candidates should also meet the applicable RN licensing requirements for Tennessee.
Will the nurse perform clinical procedures during research visits?
Research nursing roles in this setting can include assessments, venipuncture, ECG collection, specimen handling, and venous-access activities when required by a study protocol. The exact procedures performed depend on the assigned trials and site workflow.
How much oncology experience is preferred?
At least one year of oncology experience is listed as preferred, along with at least one year in a research setting. These are preferences rather than the stated minimum education and RN licensing requirements.
What research certifications may help in this role?
ACRP or CCRP research certification is listed as preferred. Familiarity with Good Clinical Practice, FDA requirements, clinical research processes, and accurate study documentation is also relevant to the position.

Clinic Research Nurse in Nashville, TN

This full-time Clinic Research Nurse opportunity in Nashville, Tennessee, places an experienced or research-focused RN in a community oncology clinical-trial environment operated by Sarah Cannon Research Institute, a McKesson subsidiary. The position combines direct patient interaction with protocol-driven research work, including nursing assessments, study visit documentation, specimen collection, ECG activities, venous-access support, medication approval checks, and clinical calculations required by individual protocols. Participants may be evaluated during screening, followed through active treatment, and monitored through later study visits, making accuracy and continuity important throughout the trial lifecycle. Candidates need a Tennessee RN license and an associate nursing degree, while a bachelor’s degree, BLS certification, oncology experience, research experience, and ACRP or CCRP certification are preferred. The Nashville research market includes established oncology and clinical-trial employers, making this role particularly relevant to nurses seeking a transition from conventional patient care into regulated clinical research. Compensation is listed at $75,000–$95,000 annually, with McKesson benefits that include medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, wellness, education reimbursement, and mental health programs.

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