Research Registered Nurse, Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery

WHY UT SOUTHWESTERN?
With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued employees. Ranked as the number 1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth according to U.S. News & World Report, we invest in you with opportunities for career growth and development to align with your future goals. Our highly competitive benefits package offers healthcare, PTO and paid holidays, on-site childcare, wage, merit increases and so much more. We invite you to be a part of the UT Southwestern team where you’ll discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and a rewarding career!

JOB SUMMARY

The Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at UT Southwestern is seeking a full-time Research Registered Nurse to play a key role in developing and expanding our Thoracic Surgery Clinical Research Program. This nurse will be instrumental in building a Thoracic research team and will be cross trained in Cardiovascular surgery research to support broader departmental initiatives.

The ideal candidate is a proactive, detail-oriented nurse with strong clinical judgment and a passion for research. Experience in Thoracic Surgery, Oncology, or Clinical Trials is strongly preferred. The role involves close collaboration with thoracic surgeons, research coordinators, and interdisciplinary teams to initiate and maintain clinical trials, ensure patient safety, and manage regulatory compliance.

This is a unique opportunity for a nurse who is excited to lead and grow a research portfolio while contributing to innovation in thoracic surgical care.

BENEFITS
UT Southwestern is proud to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our benefits are designed to support your overall wellbeing, and include:

• PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
• 100% coverage for preventive healthcare-no copay
• Paid Time Off, available day one
• Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
• Paid Parental Leave Benefit
• Wellness programs
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer
• Learn more about these and other UTSW employee benefits!

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
Required

• Education
  Graduate of NLN (National League for Nursing) approved Nursing program, licensure as Registered Nurse by Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas

• Experience
  2 years of clinical nursing experience
  May substitute relevant clinical research experience for clinical nursing experience on one-on-one basis.

• Licenses and Certifications
  (BLS) BASIC LIFE SUPPORT – Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through a course accredited by the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC) Upon Hire

Preferred

Experience

• Prior oncology and/or thoracic surgery experience
• Experience in clinical research or research nursing
• Familiarity with clinical trial protocols, consenting processes, and regulatory guidelines

JOB DUTIES

Nursing & Patient Care:

• Perform comprehensive nursing assessments and deliver research-related care per protocol
• Monitor patient safety, collect accurate clinical data, and assess treatment responses
• Act as a clinical liaison between the patient, principal investigator, research team, and sponsors
• Educate patients and families about study protocols and provide ongoing support
• May administer investigational and standard-of-care treatments as per protocol 
• Assist in inventory and handling of investigational products and biospecimen collection

Study Coordination & Patient Management:

• Screen, recruit, and consent participants for clinical trials
• Ensure study compliance and protocol adherence throughout the patient experience
• Coordinate clinical appointments, procedures, follow-up visits, patient payments, and sponsor billing
• Maintain accurate documentation in patient and research records
• Track participant progress, adverse events, and therapeutic outcomes

Regulatory & Data Management:

• Assist with IRB submissions, study start-up, and maintenance of essential regulatory documents
• Collect, manage, and report clinical data in electronic data capture systems
• Collaborate with institutional departments, sponsors, and external partners
• May work closely with principal investigators and surgeons to develop study protocols and trial designs
• May train and mentor new research staff
• May support audit preparation

Additional:

• • Opportunity to travel for investigator meetings or scientific conferences
  • Other duties as assigned

SECURITY AND EEO STATEMENT
Security
This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.

EEO Statement
UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.