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| No. 40 | 
Jul 18, 2008, 09:00 PM
 Re: CNS vs NP? Originally Posted by Joe NightingMale  This has proven a pretty good thread.
I've been trying to make the "CNS vs NP" decision myself for quite a while. And I've bounced back a forth a few times.
I might do like some of trauma's classmates and just work as a clinical specialist and skip the extra classes for the CNS or NP. I've been working as a PCT and I find that I really like talking to patients and doing the hands-on work. The NPs I see do rounds with the doctors, something that I have no interest in (no interest in primary care either). From this thread it seems that a CNS does more education and research than patient care, so that really won't work for me either.
People with a CNS education often take roles that have titles like ... Trach care coordinator ... wound and skin care nurse ... pain specialist ... etc. They are the "go to people" that serve as resources for patients with particular problems. Such people often have considerable direct patient care as part of their role. There aren't specific MSN's for all these types of roles. The positions are filled with people with generic MSN's or CNS's with clinical experience with that certain patient population.
Have you gone to a nursing library and browsed through back issues of the CNS journal? That would give you a lot of info about a lot of things that CNS's do.
But keep in mind that a lot of people educated in CNS programs have jobs that aren't called "CNS."
Good luck with your search.
 | | Advertisement Sponsored Links | | | | No. 41 |
Jul 18, 2008, 10:33 PM
Re: CNS vs NP? Originally Posted by llg
Have you gone to a nursing library and browsed through back issues of the CNS journal? That would give you a lot of info about a lot of things that CNS's do.
I'll have to look into that.
Though since I'm already going to have a generic MSN, I wonder if my goals really require further education. Which doesn't really enthuse me right now.  | | No. 42 |
Jul 19, 2008, 09:33 AM
Re: CNS vs NP? Originally Posted by Joe NightingMale I'll have to look into that.
Though since I'm already going to have a generic MSN, I wonder if my goals really require further education. Which doesn't really enthuse me right now.
Good point. Why don't you check out the job market for some of those "other roles" that I mentioned above when you graduate? You might find yourself a good fit.
If you decide to the official "CNS" added on, you can always do that later.
I never did. I have an MSN in perinatal nursing (with no special CNS certification) and I have always been able to find jobs. I know lots of people with jobs that sound like they might interest you with MSN's, but not official CNS credentials.
| | No. 43 |
Aug 28, 2008, 09:48 PM
Re: CNS vs NP?
I thought that they got rid of CNS program (at least in IL).. and now they have the new CNL (Certified Nursing Leadership) program. I believe that they did this to try to clarify the difference between CNS and NP. I am personally a CNS but work more like an NP. I can prescribe medications, bill... do what NP do. I know it's confusing..I find myself expaining my title to the doctors. Some doctors I know have a CNS who function as an NP and other doctors would not even consider you to function that way and look at you as an educator or researcher. When I did my clinicals...I followed and learned from both CNS and NP. I just happened to be in the CNS program and can only take the CNS test, not the NP. But I asure you, I'm confident in NP work...I had great training. Not only was I with the nurses but I was with their doctors for my clinical rotation. I just don't know what will happen with the rules of CNS...I hope I don't have to go back to school to be an official NP...I hope to be "grandfathered in." I'm not sure I can go back to school in this point of my life..and I hate and be sad to lose my job just because I don't have the official NP title. I am an APN who is as equally smart and capable of doing my job!
| | No. 44 |
Aug 28, 2008, 10:03 PM
Re: CNS vs NP? Originally Posted by hello101 I thought that they got rid of CNS program (at least in IL).. and now they have the new CNL (Certified Nursing Leadership) program. I believe that they did this to try to clarify the difference between CNS and NP. I am personally a CNS but work more like an NP. I can prescribe medications, bill... do what NP do. I know it's confusing..I find myself expaining my title to the doctors. Some doctors I know have a CNS who function as an NP and other doctors would not even consider you to function that way and look at you as an educator or researcher. When I did my clinicals...I followed and learned from both CNS and NP. I just happened to be in the CNS program and can only take the CNS test, not the NP. But I asure you, I'm confident in NP work...I had great training. Not only was I with the nurses but I was with their doctors for my clinical rotation. I just don't know what will happen with the rules of CNS...I hope I don't have to go back to school to be an official NP...I hope to be "grandfathered in." I'm not sure I can go back to school in this point of my life..and I hate and be sad to lose my job just because I don't have the official NP title. I am an APN who is as equally smart and capable of doing my job!
Do you have a NPI number? Can you bill for your services? Can CNS's open their own clinics? I've never understood the difference between the two, especially since both can prescribe drugs. I just don't get it.
| | No. 45 |
Aug 29, 2008, 08:23 AM
Re: CNS vs NP?
I can answer to the CNS versus CNL in IL: I live in central IL. The CNL is NOT an APN role. Per IDPH, the CNL is an MSN generalist and can not prescribe, diagnose, etc.
The CNS role is still alive and well in central IL at least. However, as ANPGNPFNP points out, there is still much role confusion. To further complicate things, in IL there is no difference in the nurse practice act between NP and CNS. I'm an adult health CNS who has an NPI, DEA, and bills for my services. However, I have friends who are also adult health CNS's who do not practice as APNs but rather have the more traditional CNS role: educator, researcher, change agent.
I really wish (now!) that I had done the FNP program because my scope of practice would be broader. However, in order to see kids I would now have to do either a PNP or CNS in pediatrics. And...since I'm still paying off student loans, that's not going to happen soon.
| | No. 46 |
Aug 29, 2008, 09:55 AM
Re: CNS vs NP?
Yes, me as the CNS I have my own NPI number, I bill...I have an NP role, I do what they can do. Yes, CNL is NOT an APN, as "TRAUMARUS" has stated. I'm in the Chicago areas and I see that they are fading out CNS title, so that either you go for an NP or CNL. Like I said, I think they want to clarify the RN who can prescribe and the RN who cannot type of thing... I know my friends who do not have a CNS title but has her MSN. She work and have a CNS role..she gets paid the same as a CNS would. She or the Hosp cannot legally give her the title CNS but they call them Clinical Nurse Consultant.
To answer the question of "can a CNS opening up their own clinic? "I don't know. I don't think so, especially in IL.
| | No. 47 |
Aug 30, 2008, 04:22 PM
Re: CNS vs NP?
Agree with Hello101 - since APNs in IL don't have independent practice, doubt we could open our own clinics. However, we do have the Take Care Clinics in the Walgreens in our area where APNs are unsupervised (they have phone consultation if necessary).
Thanks for the info about CNLs in the Chicago area. Seems like things start in Chicago in IL and then filter south...lol.
| | No. 48 |
Dec 11, 2008, 09:33 PM
Re: CNS vs NP?
When do a CNS specialize in their fields, eg. wound, pain, etc? Is it while they are in the CNS program, or do they have to earn extra certificates for that?
Also, can CNS specialize in inserting PICC/Central/Swan Ganz?
| | No. 49 |
Dec 11, 2008, 09:55 PM
Re: CNS vs NP?
CNS roles and education are alive and well here in Virginia. I am seeing that the aspirations for Magnet are bring back a demand for CNS roles. Our Acute/Specialty Care CNS program has more students than does our Acute Care NP track (identical courses, but separate clinical components and pharm sections).
For Yoginurs2b: I'd encourage you to ask the schools of nursing you are considering what specialties present CNS students currently doing. In the program here at UVa, we have students now in acute cardiac, cardiac/thoracic surgery, neurology, neurosurgery, trauma/ED, burn/wound, MICU, SICU, OR, infection control, renal, oncology, infectious disease, diabetes, digestive health, and urology. One reason we can offer so many specialties is that the SON adjoins a 600-bed Level I trauma center/ teaching hospital. The one area we do not do now is acute pediatrics to prepare individuals for PNP-AC certification.
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