Nurse Research Scientist

Company: Duke Health
Location: Durham
Posted on: October 29, 2025

Job Description:

Job Description At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together. The Nurse Research Scientist at Duke University Health System (DUHS) and Duke University School of Nursing (DUSON) leads and evaluates nursing research and evidence-based practice (EBP) initiatives to improve patient care and outcomes. This dual-role position bridges clinical and academic domains. Responsibilities include coordinating EBP programs and fellowships, mentoring staff and students, facilitating IRB processes, and promoting research dissemination. The role also supports strategic planning, interdepartmental collaboration, scholarly publications, and grant development. Plans, implements, and evaluates nursing research and evidence-based practice activities, to promote the delivery of quality patient care and improved patient outcomes. The role facilitates nursing services strategic research priorities. Duties and Responsibilities Promotes, supports, and facilitates individuals engaging in research activities to advance research in practice: evidence-based practice, the conduct of research, research utilization, and dissemination of research results. Serves as co-chair for the Nursing Clinical Research Council, coordinates, guides, leads and provides support for council activities and serves as the liaison to the nursing shared governance structure. Conducts an annual clinical research needs assessment and uses results to construct a strategic plan to develop clinical research for nursing. Collaborates and develops innovative programs to educate, mentor, and enhance the knowledge of nursing staff. Serves in a leadership role to coordinate the annual research symposium. Seeks research funding through grant applications, assists departments and individual health care professionals to apply and obtain such funding for research projects and activities. Fosters the development of an environment conducive to the conduct of inquiry; research and practice. Promotes collaborative multidisciplinary research. Serves as liaison between DUHS Nursing and the Office of Research Affairs of the Duke University School of Nursing, DTNI and other academic programs on research related activities including linking student projects of all levels of instruction to hospital research needs/ activities. Develops and maintains a database of Duke Nursing clinical research projects. Facilitates and directs the development of interdepartmental and interdisciplinary research activities, including generating research interest groups. Conducts independent research in areas of interest. Serves on departmental and external committees. Supports institutions efforts to improve quality care, linking research to improved patient outcomes. Conducts research connected to the National Patient Safety Standards. Participates in department-based activities and initiatives to improve and ensure a safe environment. Participates in performance improvement activities; quality improvement and patient safety activities; assists in maintaining compliance with JCAHO accreditation and other internal and external regulatory standards including the code of conduct. Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein. Required Qualifications at this Level Education Ph.D. in Nursing highly preferred/required for this role. Experience Requires five years as a clinical nurse in a leadership role. Two years experience facilitating research activities preferred. Health system experience highly preferred Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification Current or compact RN licensure in the state of North Carolina or participating compact state required. BLS required (may renew during orientation). 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 onthe 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 provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

Keywords: Duke Health, Durham , Nurse Research Scientist, Healthcare , Durham, North Carolina