Clinical Nurse Specialist

Specialties CNS

Published

I am looking into graduate schools . . . can anyone give me some detail on what a clinical nurse specialist does? Thanks!!!

Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, educator.

I am currently finishing my BSN and getting ready (mentally) to begin my MSN. I know long term I want to work in geriatrics--currently I am in Med Surg. Do you think that CNS-Gerontology is the way to go, Community Health Nurse, or possibly another avenue? Your advice would be welcome, since I don't really know alot about these roles

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
I am currently finishing my BSN and getting ready (mentally) to begin my MSN. I know long term I want to work in geriatrics--currently I am in Med Surg. Do you think that CNS-Gerontology is the way to go, Community Health Nurse, or possibly another avenue? Your advice would be welcome, since I don't really know alot about these roles

That depends on what type of work you want to do. Do you want to work in a hospital? Do you want to do Community Health? What type of job do you want?

If you don't know what types of job you want, then you should take a little time and work in the field of geriatrics for a while. Work in the field and see if you like it as much as you think you will. Join the appropriate specialty nursing organizations. Read their journals. Go to a couple of conferences. Get to know people within the field and see what types of jobs they have. Pay attention to how you feel and how well you perform in different aspects of the nursing role.

Combine all that information to begin answering the questions I posed above. That should provide you the direction you need to make a wise choice about your future career choices. Don't rush it.

Good luck.

llg

All of this information is great. I am currently in an FNP program to graduate in 2011 and recently heard of a possible requirement in 2015 that NP's will have to have a doctorate to practice. Now Im wondering, if this really happens, could I switch from practicing as an NP to a CNS if I decide I don't want to go back to school at that time? Any info that anyone has would be greatly appreciated!:nuke:

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
All of this information is great. I am currently in an FNP program to graduate in 2011 and recently heard of a possible requirement in 2015 that NP's will have to have a doctorate to practice. Now Im wondering, if this really happens, could I switch from practicing as an NP to a CNS if I decide I don't want to go back to school at that time? Any info that anyone has would be greatly appreciated!:nuke:

I've known people who have done that -- and it is sometimes possible -- but there are problems with that plan that you need to consider.

You wouldn't have the right education for a CNS role and may find that aspects of the role are frustrating. You may struggle with those aspects of the role (staff development, project management, etc.) for which you have no or little advanced education.

You may not be eligible to be certified as a CNS or eligible for CNS licensure in some states. Those requirements vary from state to state and it seems as if they are changing all the time. Personally, I have never had special licensure or been certified as a CNS even though I have practiced in CNS roles for years. In some states and jobs, it is no problem. But in other places, it is.

The bottom line is that the knowledge and skills required of a good CNS are not the same as those required by an NP. Unless you get an education that prepares you for the functions of the job you want to do, you will be at a disadvantage.

All that said ... There is a shortage of people educated as CNS's in many places. Back in the 1990's a lot of nursing schools dropped their CNS programs in favor of NP programs. Now, many of those areas are experiencing a glut of NP's who have trouble finding good jobs .... and a shortage of nurses prepared to work as CNS's in hospital settings. In those places, a NP can sometimes get hired to do the work of a CNS.

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

llg is right. I'm an adult health CNS who is actually licensed as an APN (advanced practice nurse) in IL. It is in your best interests to check out your state board of nursing site and find out what you like in the CNS-specific role and then compare it to your practice act. Many states do not consider CNS's APNs. I am in an APN role and really enjoy that aspect of the job. I do not provide any staff education or project development. However, I do have education in that - though from my MSN program, not my post-MSN CNS. Many MSN programs offer electives in education, curriculum development and project management. Good luck in your decision.

Thanks a bunch for all the info. It really helped. :D

All of this information is great. I am currently in an FNP program to graduate in 2011 and recently heard of a possible requirement in 2015 that NP's will have to have a doctorate to practice. Now Im wondering, if this really happens, could I switch from practicing as an NP to a CNS if I decide I don't want to go back to school at that time? Any info that anyone has would be greatly appreciated!:nuke:

You might consider the CNL. If you already have your NP you probably have taken a lot of the basic MSN courses and there should be a post masters certificate available.

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/CNL/faq.htm

I would also agree with the poster above. The CNS certification varies widely among states. When I worked in the NICU we had a CNS that did staff development and education and NNPs that did advance practice nursing. The CNL sounds like a replacement for the CNS roles as it exists in some states (non APN role). The State BONs have made it pretty clear that they are merging both professions into the DNP.

Where I am here in GA, CNS is not recognized. However when I was in Colorado one of the "NPs" in cardiology that we referred to frequently was actually a CNS (only took me three years to realize that:o.

Right now there is no talk of requiring current NPs to do anything to continue working. Post grad certificates as Siri has demonstrated are wonderful ways to stretch your marketability.

David Carpenter, PA-C

Thanks Core0 for the info!

Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
All of this information is great. I am currently in an FNP program to graduate in 2011 and recently heard of a possible requirement in 2015 that NP's will have to have a doctorate to practice. Now Im wondering, if this really happens, could I switch from practicing as an NP to a CNS if I decide I don't want to go back to school at that time? Any info that anyone has would be greatly appreciated!:nuke:

Be aware that the DNP degree as a requirement for NP practice by 2015 is at the proposal stage at this point. Although it appears that this movement is headed towards becoming a mandatory requirement, master's prepared NP's will be grandfathered once the DNP requirement becomes a reality.

There are MSN nurses with NP preparation who work in the role of a CNS. However, these are only possible in states where there are no clear-cut requirement for a nurse to function as a CNS (such as the need to have formal training as a CNS as well as CNS certification). Be aware of your own state's regulations regarding this prior to setting your hopes on the idea that you can change between the two roles easily.

Actually, my state is a prime example of the scenario llg pointed out. The CNS role has no title protection in this state, hence, there are no specific state regulations as far as who can be called a CNS. However, most hospitals here recognize the benefit of having a master's prepared nurse who is able to function in the CNS role. Because of that, there are numerous job openings for CNS' in many of our hospitals. Unfortunately, the CNS programs have dwindled out because of the popularity of the NP role so that many hospitals are willing to hire any master's prepared nurse for their CNS vacancies even those who are trained as NP's.

Lastly, I would honestly be hesitant to recommend the CNL role to anyone. The role is quite new and I have yet to see a CNL job posting in any of the hospitals around here although there is one such program in one of our state universities. You should also remember that the CNL is not considered an advanced practice nurse role and that to me, transitioning from an NP to a CNL is somewhat of a step down professionally since the role is not considered advanced practice.

Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
The CNL sounds like a replacement for the CNS roles as it exists in some states (non APN role). The State BONs have made it pretty clear that they are merging both professions into the DNP.

The AACN, the group that came up with the CNL idea, is saying that the CNL role is NOT a replacement for the CNS role. However, it is not surprising for the nursing and healthcare community to be suspicious that the CNS is being phased out as many of the CNL functions appear to be traditional CNS roles. However, I have yet to see a BON in any state come up with regulations regarding the CNL. It seems like it's a role written on paper but the actual utilization is yet to be proven.

I also don't think that CNS and NP roles are being merged into the DNP. You have to remember that the DNP, like the MSN, is a degree and does not designate a role. You can have a DNP with a CNS focus or a DNP with an NP focus for that matter.

It is also noteworthy that the current trend in APN certifcation is to clearly delineate what the different APN roles are using letters that clearly define the different tracks of advanced practice. Hence, ANCC has now changed their credentials to CNS-BC and _NP-BC for their APN titles. The certification body for women's health NP's have done the same.

The anesthesia community is proposing a DNAP. This seems to be similar to the DNP but focused in nurse anesthesia practice. The CNM community is the least open to idea of the DNP degree.

That is very good to know. I'm glad to hear of the "grandfatherering-in" process.

I have recently started the BSN program online. Curious on if anyone on here is an Orthopedic Clinical Nurse Specialist. I work in the OR and my love is ortho. Started talking to some surgeons and the different job possibilities i could have as a CNS. Any advise on this?

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