How to Become a Research Nurse
Written by:
Wilson College
• Sep 23, 2025
As of June 2025, medical researchers have registered almost 550,000 clinical trials with ClinicalTrials.gov, a database that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) manages. Each one—whether it involves the development of a new surgical technique or a lifesaving pharmaceutical—has the potential to help millions of people. Research nurses are key to making that happen.
However, to enter this unique specialty, nurses must often go beyond minimum licensure requirements, gain experience, and pursue an advanced nursing education.
What Does a Research Nurse Do?
Research nurses, also known as clinical research nurses, provide care to patients participating in clinical research trials. They can work for research hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, universities, government agencies, and any other organization that conducts medical research.
Aside from providing direct patient care, research nurses may do the following:
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Interview, screen, and educate patients throughout their treatment
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Ensure that patients are following all guidelines set out in the trial
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Administer experimental medications and treatments
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Closely monitor and record patient progress
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Contribute to research papers, presentations, and peer-reviewed journals
Research nurses work closely with an interdisciplinary team of professionals that can include doctors, chemists, engineers, and medical specialists of all kinds. Many of these professionals specialize in a particular area, such as neurological, surgical, or oncology nursing.
Steps to Become a Research Nurse
Becoming a research nurse typically requires becoming a registered nurse (RN), gaining experience, and seeking advanced training. To qualify for these competitive positions, many professionals choose to also earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Future research nurses can start their careers by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Earning a BSN is also an important step to becoming an RN. One can become an RN with an associate degree or a nursing diploma, but bachelor’s degree programs set students up for master’s-level studies and typically offer a more advanced curriculum.
BSN programs include both classroom learning and hands-on opportunities in which students work in real-world medical settings and practice their skills. While exact curricula may vary, BSN programs typically offer classes on the following:
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Patient care
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Nurse leadership and management
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Pharmacology
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Healthcare informatics
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Research
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Types of nursing, such as mental health, community, and surgical nursing
It typically takes about four years to earn a BSN. Working RNs who don’t have a BSN can qualify for RN to BSN programs, which are specifically designed for experienced professionals and can be completed in a shorter amount of time.
Step 2: Become a Registered Nurse
Once students have earned a BSN, they can apply to become RNs through their local state boards of nursing. Each state can determine its own licensure requirements, but the process typically involves submitting to a background check and passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), a computer-based exam that tests applicants’ knowledge of nursing.
Step 3: Gain Entry-Level Experience
Research nursing positions often require some level of experience, typically at least two years. Therefore, before transitioning into research, new RNs often gain experience in more traditional settings, such as hospitals and doctors’ offices, where they can master fundamental skills, learn how to collaborate with diverse teams of medical professionals, and become acquainted with procedures in their intended specialty.
Step 4: Earn a Master of Science in Nursing
Not all research nursing positions require an MSN, but many do. Nurses with MSNs can also be more competitive candidates for positions in a wider range of organizations and specialties. An MSN is also often required for senior roles that involve leading nursing teams, planning care, and being a part of clinical decisions.
MSN programs typically take between 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 years to complete. In that time, students take classes on the following:
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Analyzing data and research methodologies
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Improving care with evidence-based solutions
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Conducting in-depth, comprehensive health assessments
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Managing healthcare programs
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Developing policy
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Studying pharmacology and pathophysiology
Many schools now offer online MSN programs. This means working nurses can continue their studies and prepare for high-level research roles without disrupting their current work routines.
Step 5: Consider Professional Certification
Earning a professional certification can be a great way to demonstrate expertise and prepare for high-level roles conducting complex research. While the requirements may vary by organization, to get certified, research nurses must typically have two years of experience and pass an exam.
Research Nurse Salary and Job Growth
Clinical research nurses make a median annual salary of about $79,500 as of June 2025, while the highest-paid professionals make about $113,000, according to the compensation website Payscale. Salary potential can vary widely based on specialty and organization.
By 2033, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects employment for medical scientists to increase by 11% — almost triple the 4% average growth rate projected for the workforce as a whole. In the same period, the BLS projects employment for RNs to increase by 6%. Above-average growth in both of these sectors indicates a healthy job market for RNs wishing to pivot into the country’s massive medical research market.
Learn the Skills to Start or Advance Your Career in Medical Research
Whether students wish to get involved with the clinical or leadership side of research nursing, earning a MSN from Wilson College Online can be an important step on that journey. This 36-credit program has no clinical hour requirements, meaning that working nurses can learn new, career-ready skills on their own schedules.
In the Education track, students take a deep dive into gathering, implementing, and teaching clinical data, a great option for RNs seeking roles at universities and research hospitals. Those interested in leading research initiatives can choose the Leadership and Management track and learn about clinical workflows, healthcare finance, and more.
To learn more about the core curriculum and degree tracks, request more information today.
Recommended Readings
How Long Does It Take to Become a Nurse Practitioner?
Can Nurses Increase Their Salary With an MSN?
MSN in Education: Curriculum and Career Opportunities
Sources:
American Nurses Association, How to Become a Research Nurse
Association of Clinical Research Professionals, ACRP-CP Certification
National Institutes of Health, Clinical Research Nurse Roles: Nursing at the NIH Clinical Center
National Institutes of Health, Trends and Charts on Registered Studies
Payscale, Average Clinical Research Nurse Salary
