Becomina a CNS?

Hi - I can answer that hopefully or at least give one perspective. I completed my MSN (leadership and management) in 2005, then realized I wanted to be an APN so I went back for a post-MSN adult health CNS. I did this in two semesters since the requirement per ANCC is to have separate classes in: adv pathophy, adv assessment and adv pharm and then the appropriate number of clinical hours. It took two semesters but the hardest part was the clinical component. I worked at a hospital at the time and worked 3 12's so I used my PTO (all of it too - lol) and did it as quickly as I could.

In two weeks, I start the Peds CNS but this time I work a full time APN position already so I'm using PTO and planning to do at least 60 hours of clinical time for my 40 hours of PTO. I am also doing some after hours clinical time too.

Its definitely doable just very time consuming. Good luck. Look for the post- MSN certificate programs.

It depends on a few things:

1. Where you live -- what the state requriements are for the use of the CNS title, etc.

2. What exact type of work do you want to do? If you don't want to practice outside the basic scope of practice for registered nurses (i.e. don't want to do primary care, write perscriptions, etc.) ... you might well be able to find a job that does MOST of the other CNS role functions without having to get any additional education. That's how I've spent my whole career. I have done staff development, done patient education, research, managed specific programs, been in charge of policy development, monitored practice, etc. -- just about everything BUT medical diagnosis and treatment. And I have done it all WITHOUT any special licensure from the state that would be required for medical diagnosis and treatment functions.

Hospitals often have jobs (that may or may not be called "CNS jobs") that include those types of advanced practice functions that do not require special licensure as a CNS. However, if you really want that primary care role, nurse practitioner role, physician-extender role ... or whatever you want to call it ... then you will need to get more education to meet whatever requirements are set up by your particular state Board of Nursing (and they vary from state to state.)

I don't know the answer to this, but...is there a CNS in Education? If there is, that might be the way for you to go. Check out the ANCC website...

Good luck and let us know what happens.