Clinical Nurse Specialist
If you have the desire for advanced nursing training with flexibility in your future career path, then a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) might be the role for you!
With an abundance of nursing specialties, it can be challenging to decide what type of advanced nursing is a good fit for you. This is especially true when you are early in your nursing career.
You might ask, “What is a clinical nurse specialist (CNS)?” A Clinical Nurse Specialist is defined as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), who has completed a master’s or Doctorate program in nursing. CNS education includes advanced training in physiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment similar to other advanced practice registered nurses.
Clinical Nurse Specialists may also be referred to as certified nurse specialists. While this is not the official CNS title, clinical nurse specialists in a majority of states must pass a national certification in the appropriate specialty to be recognized by the state board of nursing as an APRN.
Current certification examinations based on population include:
Adult/Gerontology
Pediatrics
Neonatal
Clinical Nurse Specialists’ roles fall within three spheres of influence:
Direct Patient Care – Clinical Nurse Specialists work in primary, acute, and specialty healthcare areas through assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of illness and injuries to patients across the lifespan.
CNSs can practice, diagnose, treat, prescribe, and bill the same as other APRNs as allowed by their state regulations.
Nurses & Nursing Practice – CNSs provide expertise and support to nurses caring for patients in a variety of settings. This is often through the development of education and training for nurses directly at the bedside (e.g., unit-based nurse educator) or in the academic setting (e.g., nursing school faculty).
Organizations & Systems – Clinical Nurse Specialists develop and utilize evidence-based practice to the highest level of nursing and patient care throughout organizations and healthcare systems. Roles in this sphere include hospital or organizational Chief Nursing Officer, Director of Nursing, or Director of Nursing Education.
With the evolution of healthcare and the multifaceted clinical nurse specialist roles as depicted above, it is not surprising that the Clinical Nurse Specialist Nurse is listed as #4 Among the 20-Fastest Growing Nursing Fields.
As a Clinical Nurse Specialist with over a decade of experience, I began my advanced practice career as a nurse educator for a specialty nursing unit and also provided patient care expertise throughout the hospital.
After four years, I transitioned to a direct patient care role where I provided clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of illness and injuries to a specialized patient population in the inpatient and outpatient setting.
In the future, I have the option to transition to a role in the Nursing and Nursing Practice sphere of influence as an academic nurse faculty or pursue a leadership role in the Organizational & System sphere of influence.
Healthcare is continually changing. Academic preparation as a Clinical Nurse Specialist allows one to pivot and adapt to meet the future needs of healthcare while having an abundance of career opportunities.
