7 Key Research Nurse Interview Questions to Ask

Research nurses, sometimes referred to as clinical researchers or research practitioners, plan and implement nursing-related studies and experiments. Most projects are designed to enhance patient safety, optimize staff satisfaction, or improve care quality. Recruiting these specialized clinicians can be tough, but asking well-written research nurse interview questions can help you find an employee with the necessary skills and expertise.

In this article, we’ll review seven great research nursing interview questions you can ask to identify strong candidates. We’ll also list tips to help you evaluate candidate answers, along with potential follow-up questions you can ask to gain additional insight or clarify a nurse’s response.

Before you develop your interview questions, you’ll want to ensure your organization’s research nurse job description offers a competitive salary and benefits package. Check out current research nurse jobs to identify what other competitive facilities in your area are offering their nurses.

Once your job posting has received enough interest, you can begin interviewing candidates. The following candidate evaluation form can help you assess and rank each nurse’s responses.

Research Nurse Interview Questions and Answers

A research nurse’s role and expected duties will differ depending on where they work. For example, some clinicians may implement projects aimed at improving nursing care quality. Other nurses might work to improve patient outcomes by conducting medication trials or cancer research. Nurse interview questions should be tailored to suit the unique role you’re hiring for. This can ensure that the employee you bring on is a good fit for your clinical team.

1. What interests you most about being a research nurse at our facility?

Starting out with an introductory question like this one can help you set a casual and conversational tone. Answers often reveal a candidate’s genuine interest in the position and can showcase how well a candidate has prepared for the interview.

Are they familiar with your organization’s mission, vision, and values? Do they have a general understanding of the patient population they’d serve? Nurse researchers who answer this question calmly and professionally are the ones you’ll want to hire.

After a candidate responds to this research nurse interview question, share a bit more about the logistics of the position. You can also discuss how long you’ve been with the organization and explain your role in the research department. This can give nurses a better understanding of who they’d be reporting to and what they’d be expected to do on a daily basis.

What to listen for:

• Displays a passion and excitement for clinical research
• Explains how their professional goals align with the goals of the organization

Potential follow-up questions:

• Why are you looking to leave your current job?
• What patient populations have you worked with?

2. How has your previous bedside experience prepared you for a career in nursing research?

All nursing jobs require excellent problem solving and critical-thinking skills. However, to be successful in nursing research, you’ll also need to have clinical curiosity, impeccable time management, and attention to detail.

While it’s not essential for research nurses to have served in a particular setting or specialty, a candidate with relevant patient care experience should have a firm understanding of the healthcare regulations and workflows that impact your clinical operations.

What to listen for:

• Demonstrates a genuine interest in improving patient outcomes and reducing nursing errors
• Discusses previous experience leading evidence-based practice projects and quality improvement initiatives

Potential follow-up questions:

• What do you find most challenging about being a research nurse?
• Do you possess any research nurse certifications?

3. How would you ensure that your clinical studies meet ethical standards?

Research nurse interview questions like this one can help you evaluate a candidate’s approach to planning, implementing, and evaluating clinical interventions. Candidates who are familiar with Institutional Review Board (IRB) rules for clinical studies are more likely to prioritize patient safety and privacy throughout the research process.

What to listen for:

• Understands the importance of maintaining patient confidentiality when conducting nursing research
• Is familiar with the steps required to obtain informed consent

Potential follow-up questions:

• Do you have any previous experience working with medical interpreters during participant recruitment?
• In your experience, how does HIPAA impact healthcare research?

4. Why is it important to document adverse reactions during a clinical trial?

Clinical trials don’t always go according to plan. In these circumstances, it’s important for research nurses to document the date and time of the adverse reaction, along with factors like the dose of the drug administered, the age of the patient, and their vital signs during the event. This can ensure that any necessary changes to the study can be made before the patient suffers additional harm.

What to listen for:

• Understands the importance of preserving patient safety
• Knows how to appropriately document the reaction in the patient’s EMR

Potential follow-up questions:

• How would you handle a situation where a patient or family member was unhappy with the results of the clinical trial?
• What do you find most challenging about being a research nurse?

5. When rolling out a new research project, how would you encourage clinician buy-in?

Some staff may be excited at the opportunity to participate in clinical research projects, while others might find the extra workload and new duties burdensome. When introducing a nursing team to a new research project or clinical trial, it’s important that the clinical researcher gets their team on board before rolling out an experiment or initiative.

Answers to clinical research nurse interview questions like this one can highlight a candidate’s leadership and communication skills. Are they aware of the challenges involved with implementing clinical research? Do they know how to engage their team in a meaningful way? Nurses who struggle to respond to this question may not have the level of experience you’re looking for.

What to listen for:

• Provides a comprehensive introduction to the clinical project, explaining the goals and scheduled timeline for experiment completion
• Allows nursing staff the opportunity to ask clarifying questions

Potential follow-up questions:

• How would you train bedside clinicians to administer a patient feedback survey?
• What would you do if you noticed a nurse conducting research that went against IRB policies?

6. How do you plan to stay organized while conducting clinical trials?

Some research projects might take place over the course of a week, while others could take place for months or years. No matter the circumstance, it’s important that the research nurse you hire is able to:

• Check in regularly with administrators, clinicians, and study participants.
• Ensure compliance with study protocols.
• Meticulously organize their study data.
• Stick to a pre-established timeline.
• Stay on budget.

What to listen for:

• Clearly explains their plan for maintaining accurate study records
• Understands the importance of utilizing clinical research software to document and interpret research findings

Potential follow-up questions:

• Have you ever presented research findings at a nursing conference?
• What clinical research software have you used in previous roles?

7. If given the job, what strengths will you bring to our clinical research team?

Finish with this question to allow the candidate one final opportunity to boast about their personal and professional strengths. Give them a chance to share why they think they’re the best candidate for the job.

Before wrapping up your research practitioner interview questions, allow the candidate to ask any clarifying questions of their own. Be sure to thank them for their time and provide details on when they should expect to hear back from the hiring manager.

What to listen for:

• Demonstrates confidence in their ability to contribute to your team in a positive way
• Understands the qualities you’re looking for and explains how they’re well suited for the role.

Potential follow-up questions:

• Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
• How do you plan to embody our organization’s values when working with study participants?

Find Qualified Researchers and Build Your Clinical Team

Once you’ve drafted a set of research nurse interview questions, you’ll be ready to start recruiting for your vacant position. Want to ensure your applicant pool is filled with qualified candidates? IntelyCare can help you match with over 1 million industry-leading professionals who are actively looking for a job.