Evidence Based Nursing Role to Improve Coordination of Inpatient Clinical Trials

Since 2021, our adult Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapies (SCTCT) inpatient unit saw the number of cellular therapy clinical trials requiring inpatient admission increase by 400%. Nurses concurrently noticed a gap in coordination between the inpatient unit and Clinical Research Services (CRS). Oncology clinical trials are complex and inherently increase workloads, which can be supported through clear communication between clinical nurses and research staff. Nurses with a combination of clinical and research knowledge are well positioned to determine aspects of care coordination of oncology patients on clinical trials. The purpose of this nurse-led project was to develop a nursing position to improve the coordination between the SCTCT inpatient unit and CRS. A formative evaluation found 30% of nurses (n = 31) on inpatient oncology units felt confident caring for patients on clinical trials. However, just 4% felt they received thorough communication from clinical research staff about study specific tasks. The Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice guided the process. Evidence supported a new position, called Inpatient Oncology Research Liaison (IORL) to fill the gap. Qualifications, a job description, and functional responsibilities were developed. Funding for the position was approved and the position was filled in May 2024. The IORL role is .9 FTE (full time equivalence) consisting of .5 FTE as a staff nurse on the adult SCTCT inpatient unit and .4 FTE in the CRS office in the IORL role. Implementation of the IORL role included creating standardized workflows and order sets. In early 2024, opportunity presented for mentored support to guide evaluation of the position through a well-established Evidence-Based Practice Internship. A survey was developed to assess staff nurse knowledge, attitudes and behaviors related to clinical trials to inform further development of the IORL role. Process and outcome data resulting in data driven changes to the role will be reported. The implementation of the IORL role combines clinical and research expertise for continued integration between SCTCT inpatient staff and CRS to inform clinical trial-related workflows. Further research is needed to understand the impact of this role on patient outcomes