Nurses' unique roles in randomized clinical trials

Nurses are in an ideal position to promote patients' awareness of the role played by clinical trials in the advancement of health science and the subsequent improvement of patient care. The history of clinical trials and the four phases of clinical trials are described. Nurses' professional roles in clinical trial participation, such as helping the patient to identify open clinical trials and acting as clinical interpreter and patient advocate during the patient's participation in a trial, are detailed. Professional considerations that must be addressed by the nurse are reviewed and include ensuring that the trial has received approval from an Institutional Review Board for the participation of human subjects; that the responsibilities of participation are congruent with the nurse's personal values and workplace obligations; and that once engaged, the nurse can make the commitment to sustain participation in the trial. Most important, the nurse must keep the patient's needs and values uppermost in mind during the evaluation of potential clinical trials. Nurses have a critical role to play in the promotion of clinical trials, the recruitment of patients for clinical trial participation, the education of the patient and family, and the clinical care and support of patients throughout their participation in clinical trials.