Each month Pulse will provide a glimpse at an indemand occupation in nursing. This month we talked with Laura Scheimann, BSN, of Northeast Georgia Medical Center. She has more than 20 years of experience in oncology and recently took a position as a clinical research associate at the hospital.

• About the job: Most people think that being in research means working in a laboratory with little day-to-day patient contact. However, with the large number of ongoing clinical trials to find cures for cancer, diabetes and heart disease, today's clinical research associates see patients and interface with physicians regularly in the effort to determine new treatment protocols that may lead to cures.

For Scheimann, it was a logical career move after years as a home-health nurse administering high-tech chemotherapy. She also worked in the hospital setting with inpatient chemotherapy.

"Being a clinical research associate requires a variety of skills and experience," Scheimann said. "For me, I've gone from putting a Band-Aid on the disease to taking an active role in finding a cure."

• Education: Minimum of a bachelor of science in nursing

• Background needed: Most clinical nurse research associates have worked in nursing for several years and are able to apply their clinical skills. They can also take the clinical research associate certification examination through the Society of Clinical Research Associates after working in the clinical research setting for two years.

"We must have a strong background in clinical experience, teaching and patient advocacy," Scheimann said.

• What they do: According to the Society of Clinical Research Associates' Web site (www.socra.org), a clinical research professional functions as an administrator, coordinator, consultant, educator or researcher in clinical trial management.

The job includes data collection, analysis or monitoring; case management of protocol participants; recruitment and enrollment of human subjects; protection of subjects and subjects' rights through IRB relations; development of informed consents; preparation of adverse event experience reports; construction or monitoring of case report forms; maintenance of drug accountability records; grant and budget development; report preparation; education of other health care professionals, patients or families regarding clinical trials; protocol development; program administration; and research program audits.

"Doctors are the principal investigators and we work closely with them as well as with patients," Scheimann said. "We still have lots of patient contact and it's really interesting work."

Scheimann said the outlook for clinical research associates is good, from both a salary standpoint and for job security.

"We're already 10 years ahead of schedule to find a cure for cancer; it's multifaceted work and very exciting," she said. "And there's a great need for more people in the field."