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Duke
Durham, North Carolina

Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator - Duke Cancer Institute

Registered NurseFull-Time

Listed compensation

$66k-$107k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

School of Medicine

Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools.

Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe.

Composed of more than 2,600 faculty physicians and researchers, nearly 2,000 students, and more than 6,200 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, and Duke University Health System comprise Duke Health, a world-class academic medical center.

The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Health Integrated Practice, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home Care and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

Be You.

The Duke Cancer Institute’s Phase 1 and Immunotherapy Program (PHIIT) is seeking a highly skilled Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator to join our dynamic Oncology Clinical Research Unit (CRU). In this critical role, you will lead and coordinate complex oncology clinical trials, including first-in-human studies and investigational therapies that are advancing the future of cancer care.

You will work at the forefront of innovation—partnering closely with physicians, researchers, and multidisciplinary teams to bring cutting-edge treatments to patients. From study start-up through closeout, you will be a central driver of clinical trial execution, ensuring excellence in patient care, regulatory compliance, and data integrity.

In your day-to-day work, you will engage directly with patients—guiding them through the clinical trial process, administering specialized treatments such as chemotherapy, monitoring for adverse events, and providing education on investigational therapies. You will also collaborate with sponsors, manage study operations, and contribute to the development of new research initiatives.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a nurse who is passionate about oncology, research, and patient-centered care to make a meaningful impact in advancing life-saving therapies.

Minimum Requirements

  • Graduation from an accredited BSN program, Associate Degree in Nursing, or Nursing Diploma program
  • Current or compact RN licensure in the state of North Carolina
  • BLS certification required
  • Minimum 12 months of clinical nursing experience
  • If not BSN-prepared, must enroll in a BSN program within two years and complete within seven years
  • Maintain compliance with all hospital and unit-specific competencies and training requirements

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience in oncology, clinical research, or intensive care (ICU)
  • Experience with clinical trials, investigational products, or protocol-driven care
  • Familiarity with Electronic Data Capture (EDC) systems and research documentation
  • Strong ability to manage complex workflows and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams

Other Requirements

  • Ability to administer adult chemotherapy and ambulatory medications
  • Clinical competencies including dysrhythmia review, lab interpretation, and adverse event assessment
  • Participation in continuing education and maintenance of required certifications

Be Bold.

Position Description

Coordinate and manage oncology clinical trials by recruiting, screening, consenting, and enrolling participants while ensuring adherence to study protocols and regulatory requirements

Deliver direct patient care in a research setting, including medication administration, chemotherapy delivery, patient education, and monitoring for adverse events and treatment compliance

Oversee study operations and compliance, maintaining regulatory documentation, reporting adverse events, supporting audits, and ensuring alignment with institutional policies, SOPs, and federal guidelines

Collaborate with investigators, sponsors, and cross-functional teams to execute study activities, resolve issues, support monitoring visits, and contribute to study start-up and closeout processes

Support financial and data management efforts, including budget development, tracking study milestones, entering and validating clinical data, and ensuring data accuracy, security, and completeness

Choose Duke.

Join Duke Cancer Institute—one of the nation’s leading cancer centers—where innovation, discovery, and compassionate care come together to transform patient outcomes. As part of the Oncology Clinical Research Unit, you will contribute to groundbreaking Phase 1 and immunotherapy trials that are shaping the future of cancer treatment worldwide.

At Duke, you will find a collaborative and inclusive environment that values professional growth, continuous learning, and clinical excellence. You will have opportunities to participate in research publications, mentor colleagues, and advance your career within a nationally recognized academic health system.

Job Code: 00001203 CLINICAL RESEARCH NURSE COORDINATOR

Job Level: 54

Anticipated Pay Range: Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $66,265.00 to USD $107,096.00. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Your total compensation goes beyond the dollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at: hr.duke.edu

Equal Opportunity Employer

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy- related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes.

To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and reasonable accommodation(s) can be requested with Duke Access and Accommodations Services (email: DAAS@duke.edu; phone: 919-668-1267).

Key Responsibilities

The Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator manages oncology clinical trials by recruiting participants, ensuring protocol adherence, and overseeing study operations. They provide direct patient care, including chemotherapy administration and monitoring for adverse events, while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a BSN, Associate Degree in Nursing, or Nursing Diploma, along with current North Carolina RN licensure and BLS certification. A minimum of 12 months of clinical nursing experience is required, with preference given to those with oncology or clinical research backgrounds.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree

Key Skills

Oncology nursingClinical research coordinationClinical trial managementAdverse event monitoringMultidisciplinary collaborationPatient recruitment

Ambulatory Care Nursing — Registered Nurse Career Context

Of the 50 active Ambulatory Care Nursing listings this role was benchmarked against, 34% are remote, 50% have no call, 72% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for North Carolina is 94.3 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$87k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $92k in an average-cost state. 59.2% of North Carolina clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Ambulatory Care Nursing pay on WeekdayDoc is down 13.6% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Top Registered Nurse Jobs

25 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution25 jobs · 20 employers

10
<$95k
6
$95k-115k
5
$115k-135k
4
$135k-155k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks15 jobs

401k / retirement match
100% this job
Sign-on bonus
13%
Loan repayment
13%
CME allowance
7% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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$93k-$151k
#2

Asst. Director of Nursing - Ambulatory Care - Newkirk Avenue

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$136,708 - $150,000
#3

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#4

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+ 23 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 5.1this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Ambulatory Care Nursing (RN) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 378 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Durham

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$363k≈ 5.5× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,659/mo≈ 30% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
22 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
97.6
State income tax
Up to 4.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

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About Duke

IT Services and IT Consulting
Durham, NC
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

Comprehensive medical and dental care programs
Generous retirement benefits
Family-friendly and cultural programs