NURSING AND PATIENT CARE

The GCRC clinical staff is specially training in clinical research due to the unique processes and procedures that are necessary in conducting a protocol. The utmost commitment is made to patient safety and the quality of nursing care. The nursing staff consists of a nurse manager, Madelene Ottosen, RN; assistant nurse manager, Glenna Scott, RN and six to eight full and part time nurses depending on the schedule of protocols and patients. The GCRC clinic is open usual business hours, but nursing assistance can also be provided for protocols requiring after-hours or off-site patient care. The nurse manager reviews all protocols prior to their implementation to ensure that the nursing component is within the scope of the GCRC in terms of patient care.

The GCRC clinical unit is composed of four private inpatient rooms and six outpatient rooms, as well as a patient waiting area and nursing station. Patient care at the GCRC can be as minor as taking vital signs and patient history to as complex as assisting with invasive procedures and administration of chemotherapies. The GCRC facilities are located within Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center which provides medical coverage and emergency care to the unit if necessary. All the nurses are BCLS certified and many are ACLS certified. The GCRC nursing staff assists investigators with room and patient preparation, equipment set up, inserting IV lines and catheters, obtaining and processing blood and urine samples. Instructions for processing, storing and shipping laboratory samples for each protocol are developed and carried out by the clinical staff of the GCRC.

All of the clinical staff receives training in patient safety, Good Clinical Practices, patient privacy and confidentiality and all records are HIPAA compliant. Patient care orders are carefully reviewed by the nursing staff prior to subject enrollment. Nurses and health care assistants working at the GCRC have expertise in the meticulous data collection measures and sample collection and storage processes required in clinical research. Investigators can be assured their patients and protocols are given the utmost attention by a highly qualified staff.

The nurse manager works closely with the Research Subject Advocate to ensure the ethical and careful treatment of patients. A signed Informed Consent form which has been approved by the Institutional Review Board/Committee for Protection of Human Subjects must be on file before a patient can be seen at the GCRC. The RSA meets with the clinical staff on a weekly basis to discuss safety or ethical issues.

The GCRC nurses have been instrumental in developing and actively involved in the expansion of the Association of Clinical Research Nurses which encompasses all of the institutions within the Texas Medical Center. This organization is dedicated to continuing education and training of research nurses and increased awareness and interest in clinical research.

Madelene Ottosen, RN, MSN 713-704-4147 Madelene.J.Ottosen@uth.tmc.edu
Glenna Scott, RN 713-704-4137 Glenna.Scott@uth.tmc.edu

Madelene Ottosen, RN, MSN, has been the nurse manager for the GCRC for over 10 years. She works closely with investigators and the Memorial Hermann Hospital Office of Research to ensure adherence to protocol and patient safety. Each protocol is review by Ms. Ottosen prior to submission to the Scientific Advisory Committee. Once approved, she then works closely with the investigator and the nursing staff to develop patient care orders including scheduling and billing procedures. In addition to being involved with the Association of Clinical Research Nurses, Ms. Ottosen also serves on the MHH Nursing Clinical Practice Committee. Her responsibilities also include providing training for nurses, students, fellows and faculty on various aspects of clinical research, regulatory compliance and clinical practices.