Location & Practice Overview

This Research Nurse position is based in Nashville, Tennessee, within Sarah Cannon Research Institute’s community-based oncology research network. The role is centered on outpatient clinical trial operations, combining protocol-driven nursing care with detailed study monitoring, documentation, and coordination. Nashville is a major regional center for oncology care and clinical research, making the position part of an established research market rather than a general inpatient nursing environment.

City / State Nashville, TN
Practice Type Community-based oncology research network
Care Setting Onsite outpatient research clinic
Organizational Context Sarah Cannon Research Institute under McKesson

Responsibilities

  • Follow study subjects throughout their participation to maintain protocol compliance, patient safety, and close clinical monitoring.
  • Use each approved study protocol as the primary framework for screening, treatment activities, patient follow-up, and required clinical documentation.
  • Complete accurate patient documentation during screening and on-study visits while maintaining the level of detail required for clinical research records.
  • Verify that medications receive required registrar approval before treatment initiation or medication regimen changes occur.
  • Accurately calculate and document BSA, creatinine clearance, urine protein:creatinine ratio, and other protocol-specific conversions when required.
  • Coordinate follow-up appointments, scans, and related procedures according to study timelines and document appropriate notification when a patient comes off study.

The day-to-day work combines clinical nursing judgment with the precision required in oncology research. Success depends on following protocol requirements closely while keeping patient safety, documentation quality, and study timelines aligned.

Qualifications & Requirements

The position is designed for a licensed RN who can work comfortably with clinical research terminology, protocol requirements, regulatory expectations, and detailed patient documentation. Oncology and research experience are valuable preferred qualifications in the Nashville market.

Education
Associate degree required; bachelor’s degree preferred
Licensure
Active RN license
Knowledge Areas
Medical and research terminology; FDA Code of Federal Regulations; GCP; clinical research processes
Preferred Experience
At least one year of oncology experience and one year in a research setting
Preferred Certification
Research Certification (ACRP or CCRP)

Compensation & Benefits

The advertised compensation range is positioned within the current Nashville research nursing market, where comparable oncology and clinical research RN roles commonly fall across a broad range based on experience, specialty knowledge, and employer. Sarah Cannon Research Institute states that compensation is influenced by experience, skills, performance, equity, regular market evaluations, and geographic factors. Additional compensation and Total Rewards benefits may be available through McKesson.

  • Compensation: $80,000–$100,000 per year
  • Possible annual bonus or long-term incentive opportunities
  • Comprehensive benefits through McKesson Total Rewards

Schedule & Work Environment

Employment Type Full-time
Work Setting Onsite outpatient research clinic
Primary Environment Protocol-driven clinic visits, patient monitoring, documentation, and study coordination

Patient Population & Clinical Setting

The Research Nurse supports patients participating in oncology clinical trials in an outpatient community-based setting. Patients may be at different points in the research pathway, including initial screening, active study treatment, scheduled monitoring, and protocol-defined follow-up. The nursing role combines direct patient interaction with highly structured research documentation and compliance requirements.

Patient Type Study subjects enrolled in oncology clinical trials
Care Pathway Stage Screening, on-study treatment, monitoring, and follow-up
Clinical Context Community-based outpatient oncology research
Encounter Focus Protocol-directed assessments and research monitoring

Clinical Focus & Key Services

The clinical focus is oncology research conducted under defined study protocols. Unlike a general medical-surgical nursing position, this role places substantial emphasis on protocol fidelity, participant monitoring, research documentation, medication verification, and precise study-specific calculations. The nurse works within an outpatient environment where clinical care and research requirements must remain closely coordinated.

Primary Focus Oncology clinical trial compliance and participant monitoring
Key Service Area Screening, treatment coordination, documentation, and follow-up
Protocol Support Medication verification and protocol-required clinical calculations
Safety Emphasis Patient protection through timely protocol adherence and monitoring

Role Highlights

This position stands apart from conventional outpatient RN roles because clinical decisions and patient follow-up are closely connected to individual study protocols. The Nashville setting also places the nurse within a large community-based oncology research organization rather than a single traditional hospital unit.

  • Protocol-driven nursing work spanning screening, treatment activities, monitoring, and follow-up
  • Direct contribution to community-based oncology clinical research in Nashville
  • Combination of patient safety, detailed documentation, medication verification, and study-specific calculations
  • Opportunity to work within a research network conducting early-phase and other oncology clinical trials

About Sarah Cannon Research Institute (McKesson)

Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) is a subsidiary of McKesson and a major oncology research organization conducting community-based clinical trials. The organization focuses on advancing cancer therapies and expanding access to clinical research through community care settings. SCRI states that it has conducted more than 850 first-in-human clinical trials since inception and has contributed to pivotal research associated with many cancer therapies approved by the FDA. Its research network brings together more than 1,300 physicians enrolling patients at more than 200 locations across more than 20 states in the United States.

Organization Type Oncology research institute and McKesson subsidiary
Geographic Footprint More than 200 locations in 20+ U.S. states
Physician Network More than 1,300 physicians
Research Scale 850+ first-in-human clinical trials conducted
Key Milestone 2022 joint venture with former US Oncology Research

Frequently Asked Questions

What education and nursing license are required for this Research Nurse role?
An associate degree is required, while a bachelor’s degree is preferred. Candidates must hold an active RN license. The position also calls for knowledge of medical and research terminology, FDA regulations, Good Clinical Practice, and clinical research processes.
Is oncology experience required for the position?
At least one year of oncology experience is preferred. The current position also lists at least one year of experience in a research setting as preferred rather than a baseline requirement. Research certification such as ACRP or CCRP is also preferred.
What does the Research Nurse do during a clinical trial?
The nurse follows study subjects for protocol compliance and monitoring, uses the protocol to guide screening and treatment activities, completes required documentation, verifies medication approvals, performs protocol-specific calculations, and coordinates follow-up visits, scans, and related procedures.
Are BSA and creatinine clearance calculations part of the role?
Yes. Accurate calculation and documentation of body surface area, creatinine clearance, urine protein:creatinine ratio, and other conversions required by individual study protocols are specifically included among the position’s responsibilities.
Is this a hospital nursing position?
No. The position is based in an onsite outpatient clinical research environment in Nashville. The work is centered on oncology clinical trials, study participants, protocol compliance, research documentation, and scheduled follow-up rather than inpatient hospital-unit nursing.
What benefits are associated with the position?
McKesson describes a Total Rewards package that can include medical, dental and vision coverage, health and flexible spending accounts, 401(k), paid time off, wellness programs, education reimbursement, mental health programs, and other benefits. Specific eligibility and plan terms are determined by the employer.

Research Nurse in Nashville, TN

This full-time Research Nurse position with Sarah Cannon Research Institute, a McKesson subsidiary, is based in Nashville, Tennessee, and focuses on outpatient oncology clinical trials. The role follows study participants throughout screening, treatment, monitoring, and protocol-defined follow-up while maintaining strict attention to patient safety and research requirements. Core responsibilities include protocol compliance, detailed clinical documentation, medication approval verification, protocol-specific calculations such as BSA and creatinine clearance, and coordination of follow-up appointments, scans, and related procedures. Candidates need an associate degree and active RN license, with a bachelor’s degree preferred. Knowledge of medical and research terminology, FDA regulations, Good Clinical Practice, and clinical research processes is important. At least one year of oncology experience and one year of research experience are preferred, along with ACRP or CCRP certification. Compensation is listed at $80,000–$100,000 per year, with possible annual bonus or long-term incentive opportunities and access to McKesson Total Rewards benefits. The position is part of SCRI’s broad community-based oncology research network, which includes more than 1,300 physicians and more than 200 research locations across 20+ states.

Submit Application

Apply for This Position Submit your application through MedCareerHub USA