Nurse Scientist, Nursing Innovation (40 hours, Days)

Position: Nurse Scientist

Department: Nursing Innovation

Schedule: 40 hours, Days

POSITION SUMMARY:

BMC seeks a dynamic and visionary Nurse Scientist to join our nursing leadership team and advance nursing research, evidence-based practice, and innovation. The Nurse Scientist will lead initiatives to integrate research into clinical practice, mentor nurses in scholarly inquiry, and contribute to the generation of new knowledge that improves patient outcomes and enhances care delivery. This role will collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, support Magnet® designation efforts, and build nursing research capacity across the organization. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in nursing science, a strong record of academic or clinical research, and a passion for fostering a culture of inquiry and professional development within a complex healthcare setting.

The Nurse Scientist serves as the strategic lead for developing, implementing, and sustaining a robust, integrated nursing research infrastructure across hospital and ambulatory settings. This role is pivotal in transforming the organization’s research culture by designing systems, workflows, and partnerships that support nurse-led inquiry from idea generation to dissemination.

This senior leadership position serves as a thought partner embedded within nursing leadership, the Nurse Scientist builds sustainable frameworks for research mentorship, project tracking, education, and institutional policy development. This includes establishing automated systems to triage research and QI projects, collaborating with the IRB to streamline exempt review processes, and ensuring alignment with broader organizational research governance.

The Nurse Scientist fosters a culture of inquiry by coaching nurses at all levels to engage in and lead research that addresses real-world clinical problems. Through individualized mentorship, creation of accessible training materials, and strategic visibility efforts (e.g., internal research forums, centralized websites, abstract timelines), the Nurse Scientist elevates the presence and impact of nursing research locally and nationally.

Some key responsibilities for this position are:

• Building and continuously refining research infrastructure and resource navigation systems.
• Supporting the development and implementation of nurse-led research projects aligned with institutional priorities.
• Creating and leading systems for mentorship, training, and role modeling in research engagement.
• Advising nursing leadership on research strategy and representing nursing on research policy committees.
• Advancing the organization's academic and Magnet-related goals through dissemination, partnership building, and thought leadership.
• Advising nursing leadership on research strategy and representing nursing on research policy committees.
• Advancing the organization's academic and Magnet-related goals through dissemination, partnership building, and thought leadership.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

• Develop and lead the nursing research infrastructure across hospital and ambulatory settings, ensuring alignment with organizational strategic priorities, nursing goals, and Magnet standards.

• Design, conduct, and oversee original nursing research that addresses clinically relevant problems and enhances patient and nurse outcomes.

• Serve as Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-Investigator on nursing research studies; pursue and secure internal and external funding opportunities when applicable.

• Provide individualized mentorship and consultation to nurses—including bedside RNs, advanced practice nurses, and nurses pursuing advanced degrees—on research methods, IRB navigation, grant writing, project design, data analysis, and dissemination strategies.

• Participate as a voting IRB member to review all studies led by RN PIs or involving nursing practice; advise researchers on regulatory requirements and study design for compliance and feasibility.

• Streamline and support IRB submissions and regulatory workflows in partnership with the IRB, with a focus on creating automated systems for exempt studies and appropriate project triage between research and QI.

• Establish and maintain institutional systems to support dissemination of nursing scholarship, including internal research forums, manuscript development resources, and abstract preparation pipelines.

• Lead and contribute to interprofessional and nursing-specific committees focused on research strategy, academic-practice collaboration, and policy development.

• Develop and implement strategic plans to build nursing research capacity, visibility, and integration across departments and care settings.

• Foster interdisciplinary partnerships within the health system and with academic and community research partners to enhance collaboration and shared learning.

• Evaluate outcomes and impact of nursing research initiatives on clinical practice, professional development, and system-level improvements.

• Ensure all responsibilities are executed in alignment with the Boston Medical Center Health System’s performance standards, mission, values, and behavioral expectations.

(The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job. The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required)

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing or related field required

• Graduate of an accredited nursing program

• Postdoctoral fellowship or equivalent research training preferred

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED:

• Current Massachusetts licensure as a Registered Nurse

• NIH Human Subjects Protection certification (or ability to obtain upon hire)

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum five (5) years of recent nursing experience required

• Demonstrated success in designing, conducting, and disseminating research with a strong portfolio of peer-reviewed publications

• Experience securing and managing internal and/or external research funding

• Proven ability to lead research and evidence-based practice efforts in a Magnet-recognized or academic setting

• Experience mentoring nursing staff and interdisciplinary team members in research, IRB navigation, and scholarly dissemination

• Experience collaborating with clinical and academic stakeholders to influence research policy and infrastructure

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Expertise in a wide range of research methodologies, study design, and ethical principles in human subjects research

• Proficient in data analysis, scholarly writing, and use of statistical and research-related software (e.g., SAS, NVivo, REDCap, EndNote)

• Track record of forming productive research collaborations and partnerships, both internally and externally

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey research concepts clearly to diverse audiences

• Deep understanding of regulatory, institutional, and accreditation standards affecting nursing research (e.g., IRB, HIPAA, Magnet, ANCC)

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