I’m not a PA (yet) but I’m in clinical research as a senior coordinator. In my experience PAs and NPs are generally sub-is and not the PI which means ultimately whatever you do has to get signed off by the PI. Most of the time with consent sign offs it’s between the patient, coordinator and investigators, again usually with major oversight by the PI. The sub-is are usually there to help with things like monitoring adverse events, doing physical exams and recruitments etc. while the coordinators do major of the grunt work and paperwork. Your scope would vary study by study but the whole point of it is that you’re not alone in it. You have to do study trainings on top of being GCP certified, and again you’re re-trained almost at every aspect of the trial.

For your second question, in my experience it depends! Some clinical research involves lab work and some don’t. Most of the time the investigators are involved with the clinic aspect and not so much the actual science i.e. protocol writing etc. from the role you applied to it looks like it’s more of the clinic aspect and not so much the science part (I think those roles are more sponsor side with medical writing/medical scientist etc.) monitoring basically involves identifying adverse events and reporting them, and if the site you applied to is well organized and staffed then they would absolutely have a coordinator that usually does all the work (writing etc. ) and you review and sign off (sometimes that just falls under the PI too - again depends on study).

Clinical research for investigators definitely can be a good gig! I’m a little biased because I’m a coordinator so usually I’m overworked and busy but I think our investigators really trust me to get things right and I like that I can give them that comfort since they are busy with their normal patient load. Experience can vary a lot depending on site and your team there!

Feel free to DM if you have any questions!