Title : How nurses can prepare for a career in the life science industry: The certified nurse medical affairs professional program
Abstract:
There have been a host of recent surveys with nurses trying to understand the factors leading to the high turnover of those that are working at the bedside. This turnover trend is concerning given that this level of job dissatisfaction is occurring among the segment that represents the largest percentage of health care workers. According to a McKinsey & Company 2022 study 32% of nurses surveyed plan to leave their current position. The top factors cited were insufficient staffing levels, seeking a higher paid position, and not feeling supported. 1 In addition family demands, emotional toll and lack of career opportunities were also factors. Currently over 60% of nurses are employed in a hospital setting, the balance in other sites of clinical care such as physician offices, home health, clinic, rehab, or school settings. 2 However, most nurses are not familiar with life science careers, and therefore have never considered this segment as a career option. The life science industry is a $43B industry that is growing annually and employs over 500,000 workers with a mission that is very aligned to the mission of nurses-to transform health and healthcare.
Life science organizations have several roles that require medical and clinical background and expertise. Roles such as pharmacovigilance, product safety, medical writing, clinical trial management, patient engagement, marketing, and sales. Nurses have several attributes that are valued in life science, specifically, they are critical thinkers, innovators, agile, good communicators and empathetic. Finally, nurses are taught to be an advocate for the patient, who is the ultimate recipient of life science innovations whether they are new pharmaceutical treatments, devices, diagnostics or technology.
Even though nurses possess a set of competencies that can be applied to the life science industry nurses are unfamiliar with how the pharmaceutical and device industry operates, as life science development, business model and operations is not part of the standard curriculum for nursing baccalaureate, masters, or doctoral programs. Given that many nurses are seeking career advancement and flexibility, many life science roles can be done either remotely or in a hybrid fashion offering nurses more options in their schedule. In addition, typically the life science industry has a strong compensation and benefit package and opportunities to advance.
The Certified Nurse Medical Professional is a first of its kind program that will educate nurses on the life science industry. Specifically, the program outlines how products are developed, regulations surrounding development, details on the various roles within life science and the competencies required, and how to transition from a traditional clinical setting to the life science industry. By completing this 12-hour program, nurses will be well positioned as they apply for the many roles within the life science industry.
The Certified Nurse Medical Professional program will be available through the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs, a leading organization for credentialed education. Not only is the program credentialed, but it also offers Nursing continuing education credit.
