[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]What Does a Nurse Researcher Do?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/nurse-researcher/how-to-become/”]Nurse researcher[/hen-ui-link] jobs involve designing and carrying out research studies, either through new data that they create or from existing research. The following is a list of nurse researcher responsibilities:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Where Do Nurse Researchers Work?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurse researchers work in academic medical centers, government agencies, and other healthcare providers.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Academic Medical Centers[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurse researchers in academic medical centers conduct research, publish results, and teach undergraduate or graduate students.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Government Agencies[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]In government agencies, these professionals perform research, share findings, and publish results internally or externally.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Publishers[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurse researchers working in publishing select articles for publication, review methodology and validity, and edit articles in collaboration with authors.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Why Should I Become a Nurse Researcher?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Research nurse jobs add to professional knowledge and help nurses to do their jobs with evidence-based research, improving healthcare outcomes. Nursing research doesn’t include the same physical demands as clinical nursing and offers more predictable schedules. However, nurse research jobs typically do not pay as much as clinical nursing roles.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How To Become a Nurse Researcher[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/nurse-researcher/how-to-become/”]Becoming a nurse researcher[/hen-ui-link] requires developing skills in research methodology, informatics, statistics, and nursing itself.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-article-card title=”How to Become a Nurse Researcher” href=”/careers/nurse-researcher/how-to-become/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How Much Do Nurse Researchers Make?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The annual median [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Nurse_Researcher/Salary” target=”_blank”]research nurse salary is $81,500[/hen-ui-link]. Generally, nurse researchers with doctoral degrees earn more than those with master’s-level education. Some research nurse professionals in academia qualify for tenure. In general, clinical research associates earn a [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Clinical_Research_Associate_(CRA)/Salary” target=”_blank”]median salary of $66,930[/hen-ui-link], while certified clinical research professionals earn [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Certification=Certified_Clinical_Research_Professional_(CCRP)/Salary” target=”_blank”]an average salary of $72,430[/hen-ui-link]. However, because of the RN credential, nurse researchers with these certifications generally earn above the average or median for those positions.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-grid columns=”1″ columns-md=”2″ gap=”md”][hen-ui-article-card title=”Find State-Specific Salary Data Here” href=”/registered-nursing/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card][hen-ui-article-card title=”Nurse Researcher Salary” href=”/careers/nurse-researcher/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card][/hen-ui-grid][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Frequently Asked Questions[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]How long does it take to become a nurse researcher?[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurse researcher careers require a significant time investment. It takes at least six years of education to earn an MSN and seven years for a doctorate. In addition, most MSN and doctoral programs require at least two years of experience as an RN.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Why is nursing research important?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nursing research finds the most effective approaches to nursing and improves the outcomes for nurses, patients, and healthcare organizations. It builds the body of knowledge for nurse education.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]What are some examples of responsibilities nurse researchers may have?[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Professional responsibilities include protecting human or animal subjects in their research, designing studies that produce valid results, accurately reporting results, and sharing findings through publishing.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]What opportunities for advancement are available to nurse researchers?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Research nurse jobs offer opportunities for advancement in the academic or research field, such as becoming primary investigator on studies of increasing scope and importance, advancement in administration, or receiving tenure as a professor or college instructor.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Resources for Nurse Researchers[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”check”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://iacrn.org/aboutus/” target=”_blank”] International Association of Clinical Research Nurses[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] IACRN improves nursing research, supports nurse researchers, and offers professional development. It also grants board certification to clinical research nurses by portfolio. Research nurses can be full members and RNs or equivalent who are not active researchers can become associate members.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.ninr.nih.gov/” target=”_blank”] National Institute of Nursing Research[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] This U.S. government agency, as part of the National Institutes of Health, conducts and supports research, offers training in research methodologies, and provides significant funding for nursing research.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://acrpnet.org/” target=”_blank”] The Association of Clinical Research Professionals[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] ACRP is one of the most prominent certifying organizations for clinical researchers. It also offers educational resources, networking opportunities, and a job board. It has approximately 13,000 nurse researchers and other clinical researcher members around the globe.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.socra.org/” target=”_blank”] Society of Clinical Research Associates[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] SOCRA provides educational and professional development opportunities, publishes a journal, offers certification for clinical research professionals, features a job board with nursing research job listings, and hosts networking events. Membership is open to all clinical researchers.[/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Related Pages[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”slider” ids=”34345,34149,34070,33977″][/hen-ui-article-row][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Reviewed by:[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Nicole Galan, RN, MSN” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/image/upload/c_fill,g_face,h_300,w_300,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto:eco/e_grayscale/v1599580499/experts/Nicole_Galan.jpg” img-alt=”Nicole Galan, RN, MSN” layout=”horizontal” background=”white” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]Nicole Galan is a registered nurse who earned a master’s degree in nursing education from Capella University and currently works as a full-time freelance writer. Throughout her nursing career, Galan worked in a general medical/surgical care unit and then in infertility care. She has also worked for over 13 years as a freelance writer specializing in consumer health sites and educational materials for nursing students.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]Galan is a paid member of our Healthcare Review Partner Network. [hen-ui-link href=”/healthcare-review-partners//”]Learn more about our review partners[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex]