Clinical Nurse Specialist - Page 2

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  1. Admin
    Sep 14, '11 by
    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.
  2. Sep 16, '11 by
    Quote from leshph
    Hi mom4josh: I'm curious how and where you obtained your degree and/or education. How long have you been in your position? I work as a hospice nurse currently, and have a bsn, but would love to do what you are doing. I need more job fulfillment. What would you recommend for me? Thanks in advance!!

    Hi! I have been an RN for almost 10 years, having received my ADN (three years) at Northwestern State University of Louisiana in 2001. I worked med/surg, then oncology for nine years, and have been in my current position since March of this year. After working oncology, I knew that I wanted to work in hospice but didn't want all the driving from house to house. This is as close to my dream job as I will ever get! The hours are great (M-F 8-5), it's close to home, and I get all my exercise in walking around the hospital all day! It's very fulfilling for the most part, as we become very close with some of the families whose loved-ones are on hospice here in the hospital. We also do consults and get people set up for home hospice. All in all a great job! Hope you find yours, too!

    traumaRUs likes this.
  3. Sep 18, '11 by
    Quote from traumaRUs
    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.
  4. Admin
    Sep 18, '11 by
    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.