What abilities do you need to be a clinical research coordinator?

Skills and Abilities A clinical research coordinator needs to be able to handle multi-tasking and multiple projects. Ensure that you have skills to manage and organize your schedule and be able to discuss how you handle prioritizing tasks under pressure and deadlines. Being detail-oriented is important.

Skills In order to perform daily study tasks, a CRC must possess following skills:

1. Management: A CRC have to manage various daily tasks like time management, personnel/ study team management, finance management, resource/ material management, IP management.

2.  Communication: For timely completion of milestone, a CRC should be active and effective while communication with all the study personnel (Clinical Trial Monitor, Site Investigator, Nurse, Lab Personnel, IRB, Patients/ Study Subjects etc.)

3.    Coordination: A trial coordinator coordinates with all the concerned study personnel to adjust their actions based on the study requirements. So communication and coordination go hand-in-hand for a CRC.

4.      Writing: This skill is necessary for an effective and clear communication with study personnel.

5.   Decision Maker: Successful and quality execution of clinical study is based on compliance, time and cost. While undertaking various responsibilities, a CRC has to take and implement appropriate decision considering factors like benefit v/s loss, cost v/s time.

6.     Active Learner: For proper execution of trials in accordance with applicable guidelines and study protocol, it becomes very crucial for a Clinical Research Coordinator to listen and learn the applicable guidelines and study processes. A CRC must clear his/her doubts with the sponsor as and when required to avoid any deviations.

7.      Speaker: A CRC must be clear and effective while communication.

8.     Negotiation: This is required while highlighting the concerns related to study cost and finances allocated to the site.

9.      Monitor: A CRC is responsible for monitoring and assessing the performance of site team members to take the corrective actions required.

10.  Multi-task: Site Coordinator should be able to perform various tasks simultaneously and effectively.

11.  Patience: Many clinical study activities may take time to complete or get delayed due to expected reasons. A trial coordinator must have patience in such conditions.

12.  Hard Working: At many occasions, a CRC is required to stay late at study site to complete the work or may need to come to complete the tasks on weekends as well.

13. Motivator: CRC is already a challenging position with a low scope of creativity. A CRC has to follow the standard procedures and guidelines to complete day to day activities and a CRC might feel demotivated in such working conditions. So a CRC should be a self-motivator as well as he/she should also keep the study team motivated.

14.  Instructor: A CRC is also responsible to train the site members for their responsibilities. So he/she should be a good tutor to explain the team members “on how an activity should be performed”.

15.  Critical Thinker: A CRC should be able to apply logics and reasons to solve day-to-day problems.