Clinical Nurse Specialist

Published

Hi All

Am trying to get info from CNSs regarding the type of work they're involved with? The CNSs on my unit have office jobs, M-F, 8-5. Are there CNSs still working on the floor directly involved with patient care working the typical 12-1/2 hour shifts that staff nurses work? If you're a CNS, please tell me about your position, what your specialty is, what your days are typically like, etc. Would love to hear from you :lol2:

My MSN with UofP was a non-clinical MSN so I only had 90 hours total and that was in a management setting.

I am certified as both an adult health CNS and a pads CNS. I did both as a post-MSN certificates which included adv pharm, adv pathophys and adv assessment as well as clinicals - 586 hours for the adult CNS and 512 hours for the pads CNS.

I would not advise this way at all as I am now in a bad situation - I work as an adult health CNS full time and usually don't see pts under the age of 18. So, in order to keep my peds CNS current - I need to do 1000 hours of peds in a five year period. Not doable unless I take a second job. Not sure whether I will just retest or what yet.

I would advise that if you think you want to do more than one age - go the FNP route - much easier than the mess I've gotten myself into.

Hi Trauma: I spoke with an advisor from UofP and am looking at MSN, MSN educator, and MSN informatics. I'm not quite sure what route I want to go, all I know is that I really want to earn my master's, and do not have the time for clinicals. I love Hospice work, however, contracts for PAs and NPs were recently terminated. I do not want to keep running from house to house, I want to work a little easier when I get older. I'm also thinking of going back into the hospital, but again, that is hard work.

What was the cost of your UofP programs? I was quoted roughly $24,000.00 for MSN.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Yeah - that sounds about right. I did both my BSN and MSN via UofP and though I'm still paying student loans, I can't remember exactly what I paid for each degree.

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