UC San Diego Health is a Magnet designated organization, which is a prestigious recognition that applies to only 10% of all U.S. hospitals. Magnet is the "gold standard" for nursing excellence and is based on strengths in five key areas, which include transformational leadership, structural empowerment, exemplary professional practice, new knowledge, innovation and improvements and empirical outcomes. UC San Diego Health has held its Magnet status since 2011.

The Department of Pediatrics is one of the largest departments within the School of Medicine with approximately 250 Faculty, 127 postdoctoral fellows (both MDs and PhDs) along with over 320 support staff (not including hospital staff). In addition, the Department has 68 clinical residents distributed across the Divisions. The missions of research, education and patient care are intertwined, and are integral to the goals of the department.

The Department manages a university-affiliated children's health system with the physicians and leadership of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), Rady Children's Hospital, and Rady Children's Specialists of San Diego, a Medical Practice Foundation, unifying pediatric patient care, research, education and community service programs.

Under the general supervision by the Principal Investigator, the Research Nurse will be responsible for running Rare Disease clinical research protocols run out of the division of Genetics, and may assist with protocols in other divisions as well depending on need. Studies include Natural History studies for Angelman syndrome and MECP2 Duplication syndrome, clinical trials of drugs and devices to treat symptoms of Angelman syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome and MECP2 duplication syndrome, and sponsored protocols for other rare diseases as arise.

Responsibilities include overseeing recruitment of subjects into protocols, screening potential study participants, and obtaining informed consent. The Research Nurse will conduct medical record review, maintain telephone contact with participants, conduct study visits, participate in blood draws, perform study procedures such as ECGs, and complete case report forms. This role interacts with the research team at Rady Children Hospital, the UCSD Human Subjects Protection Program, study sponsors and their clinical research organizations, and other research-related entities as needed. Performs other duties as assigned.

• Possession of the legal requirements to practice as a Registered Nurse as determined by the California Board of Registered Nursing and Six (6) months of clinical experience and One (1) or more years of experience in Pediatric Clinical Research.

• BLS/CPR certification at time of hire with commitment to get BART within 6 months of hire date.

• Experience and ability to accurately collect, record, transcribe and synthesize clinical data.

• Demonstrated experience providing a wide variety of patient care activities including patient assessment, triage, obtaining a detailed medical history and vital signs, explaining medical conditions and procedures, reviewing medications and providing health education to clients and coordinating care with clinical medical staff.

• Knowledge regarding the standard pre-test or pre-procedure instructions which patients should receive.

• Knowledge of the name, abbreviation, and purpose of various diagnostic tests/procedures, including proper scheduling and completion of necessary requisitions and consents.

• Demonstrated experience interacting positively, constructively, and effectively with staff, physicians, patients and the general public.

• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to effectively and efficiently coordinate clinical and data activities for the enrollment and retention of patients on clinical trials.

• Experience maintaining patient confidentiality and communicating (verbally and written) with patients, staff and physicians with professionalism, sensitivity and discretion.

• Proficient at word processing, spreadsheet, and E-mail with experience producing reports, profiles, correspondence, graphs, and spreadsheets to generate and track required data.

• Experience working independently and prioritizing tasks to meet deadlines.

• Experience performing effectively under conditions of high workload and frequent interruptions.

• Demonstrated experience with clinical research activities and guidelines related to consent, ethical conduct and protection of human subjects.

• Ability to draw blood, start IV lines, and administer medications via all routes.

• Skill and experience reading and interpreting clinical research protocols and research policies and procedures.

• Demonstrated experience in operation and coordination of clinical trials or studies.

• Experience with informed consent and assent procedures.

• Experience in providing care to a broad range patients.

• Knowledge of and ability to communicate and ensure compliance of current UCSD Medical Center, Rady Children's Hospital, and Research policies and procedures.

• One (1) or more years of experience in Pediatric Rare Disease Clinical Research within the last three (3) years.

• One (1) or more years of experience in Pediatric Endocrine Clinical Research within the last three (3) years.

• One (1) or more years of experience in clinical research trials that includes patient visits, regulatory and IRB submissions.

• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training, plus three (3) years of Pediatric experience.

• One (1) or more years of experience with EMR and Excel spreadsheets.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.

• Current State of California Registered Nurse (RN) license.

• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule including early mornings to meet patients who must arrive at 5:30 am for dosing in the OR at 7:30am, and occasional long days when pharmacokinetic samples must be collected at 8- or 12-hour post-dose timepoints.

• Must be comfortable working with those having developmental disabilities.

• Must be willing to travel occasionally to attend national meetings.