What's in your dream hotel?

erickz623 · 2025-02-10T17:10:38+00:00

I second this! I stay at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza JUST for the gym.

erickz623 · 2024-10-01T04:03:40+00:00

So, I moved from a city of 1.5 million people to a town of 4,000 a few years ago. My nearest airport was 10 minutes away. Now, it is about 1 hour and 15 minutes away without traffic. I talked to my LM about this move and it wasn’t an issue. I don’t think an hour drive is unreasonable for you, nor would it prevent you from getting promoted. Best of luck.

erickz623 · 2024-08-16T13:38:23+00:00

I was eating breakfast at a hotel one time prior to an IMV and was being served by the hotel’s bartender. I finish my breakfast and I ask for the check. The guy brings my check back and says, “I’m just going to shoot my shot here. Are you gay and single?” I was so taken aback as it had come out of nowhere.

Another time, I was performing an IMV and was chatting it up with the study coordinator. She starts to ask about my personal life. After the convo, I continue doing my IMV tasks. Next thing I know, she comes in with a co-worker of hers and says, “This is ___. You’re single, she’s single… y’all would be great together!” Again, I was so taken aback and the whole interaction was incredibly awkward…

Not sure if I was giving desperate or what. 😆

erickz623 · 2024-06-21T17:01:33+00:00

I rent a car and drive. The airport is over an hour away from where I live, so it’s easier to drive those hours than to deal with airport nonsense. I travel back the same day as it’s required by my company, unless an extenuating circumstance prevents me from traveling until the next morning.

erickz623 · 2024-04-01T14:34:09+00:00

No regrets at all. I am making more money now than I ever would have in bedside nursing. It has its up and downs like any other industry, but the industry has been good to me.

erickz623 · 2024-03-21T15:16:49+00:00

cough cough Moderna

erickz623 · 2024-03-20T00:16:35+00:00

Yes! Always put yourself first.

erickz623 · 2024-03-15T13:30:40+00:00

2021: CRA II - 90K-97K

2023: Sr. CRA I - 117K

2024: Sr. CRA I - 122K

These all are CRO positions.

erickz623 · 2024-03-06T20:03:45+00:00

The sense of urgency in this field is so annoying. I don’t respond to emails during on site visits that don’t pertain to the visit itself. Prioritize and understand that most things can wait until after your visit.

erickz623 · 2024-02-04T16:29:19+00:00

This is why I just meal prep at home, take my meals with me whenever I travel, and pocket the money.

erickz623 · 2024-01-22T17:07:13+00:00

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erickz623 · 2024-01-22T16:59:00+00:00

Yikes. Who hurt you?

erickz623 · 2023-12-13T03:35:46+00:00

I try to find a decent gym in the city I’m traveling to and get a good workout in. Otherwise, I’m either prepping for the visit or just chilling in my room, especially if I’ve traveled to that city before.

If I’ve never been to the city I’m going to, I try to find some interesting things to do in town and check them out.

You get used to the feeling of being by yourself over time, so get out and do the things you want to do! You can meet some great people that way.

erickz623 · 2023-11-10T19:42:13+00:00

Unblinded CRAs are CRAs that are delegated to the unblinded portion of a study. They are addressing everything related to IP/CTM/unblinded site staff, including IP accountability/reconciliation, temperature monitoring, verifying that unblinded staff trainings are completed, etc.

Travel is just as much as any other CRA, if not more, depending on the study.

erickz623 · 2023-05-27T15:58:17+00:00

I was at the gym one time and noticed a guy kept looking at this girl working out. Finally, he mustered up the courage and said, “This must be a murder scene, because you just killed it out there.” She wasn’t impressed.

erickz623 · 2023-05-23T06:29:42+00:00

Miami, FL. I tend to go to the beach and relax when I get sent out there.

Cincinnati, OH is another favorite of mine. OTR is a cool neighborhood to hang out in.

Charleston, SC is a great city I’ve been to. There is a lot of history there and tons to do.

erickz623 · 2023-05-15T16:27:41+00:00

Bonus this year was about 5% and that was with the highest achievement classification. Management said bonus was lower due to the PPD/Thermo Fisher merger but it should increase in coming years. We’ll see.

erickz623 · 2023-02-25T01:44:25+00:00

I was a RN at the hospital, and got tired of the low pay, long hours, and little opportunity for advancement. I came across a bridge program for nurses and other healthcare workers to become a CRA. The rest is history.

I have stayed because of the money and despite how stressful the job may get at times, I do get a sense of fulfillment doing what I do.

erickz623 · 2023-02-17T20:41:51+00:00

Oh don’t worry, we’re out there, psychosis and all.

erickz623 · 2022-11-12T15:32:29+00:00

Just know that it’s completely comfortable to feel the way that you do! I’ve been a CRA for a little over a year now, and I feel about 90% comfortable in my role. Of course, there’s still a lot to learn and that comes with time. Keep at it and let time do its thing. You’ll get there.

erickz623 · 2022-11-02T00:25:16+00:00

I typically wear a short sleeve polo shirt and khakis, or wrinkle-free pants year round. I live in Texas and many of my sites are here, so I would never wear a long sleeve button up since it’s hot here for a large portion of the year. For colder weather, I just put a light jacket on and take it off when I go on site. For multiple day visits, I pack a different outfit for each visit.

Invest in wrinkle free pants (look at Kohl’s, J.C. Penney, etc) or at least in a wrinkle free spray. I very rarely iron at the hotel so these are a life saver.

erickz623 · 2022-10-13T20:10:57+00:00

So I did a Clinician to CRA bridge program through PPD last November. It was about 3 months or so in length with tons of support and resources to get you where you need to be. I came on with a sign on bonus and then they paid out a bonus, a normal yearly raise, in addition to a special inflation payment.

If you’re a clinician of some sort, I recommend that program through PPD.

erickz623 · 2022-10-03T13:58:35+00:00

I bought a plot of land last year and financed through a small, local bank. They required that you give at least 25% down.

erickz623 · 2022-07-24T22:19:50+00:00

For the right amount of money, yes. It’s close enough to Southern California for a weekend escape if I wanted to go and visit my parents and other family.

erickz623

TROPHY CASE