THE ROLE OF CLINICAL RESEARCH NURSES IN PATIENT CARE AND STUDY MANAGEMENT: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

*Yogini Sanjay Shrimangale, Shaikh Shabanabi Rasul, Kosana Jahnavi, Shaik Aashrufunnissa and Akkangire Sneha Surendra

ABSTRACT

Clinical research nurses (CRNs) play a vital role at the intersection of patient care and clinical study management, ensuring the safety and well-being of participants while facilitating the successful conduct of research trials. This comprehensive review explores the multifaceted responsibilities of CRNs, including patient advocacy, informed consent management, clinical assessment, protocol adherence, and data collection. The evolving scope of CRN practice, which integrates direct patient care with specialized research activities, underscores their critical contribution to high-quality clinical trials and patient outcomes. Furthermore, this review highlights the challenges faced by CRNs, such as balancing clinical duties with regulatory compliance and managing the ethical complexities of research. As clinical trials become more complex and patient-centered, the role of CRNs will continue to expand, requiring ongoing professional development and support to meet the demands of modern healthcare research. This review underscores the need for greater recognition of CRNs and suggests strategies for optimizing their role in clinical trials to improve both research efficiency and patient care.

Keywords: Clinical research nurse, patient care, study management, clinical trials, research protocols, informed consent, patient advocacy, regulatory compliance, data collection, trial management.