Different roles for CNS's??? Come on guys share what you do!

I'm so glad I found this post! I'm a 20 year old BSN Student. I'm very interested in grad school and the CNS profession, but it's hard to find information out there from from actual practicing CNSs.

Any ideas on where I can find information on the licensing of CNS and all APNs state by state. I live/go to school in St Louis, and would probably be interested in practicing in both Missouri and Illinois. I'm curious about how the details (prescriptive authority, collaberation, etc.) vary in each.

In Illinois the CNS is an APN. I took the AACN exam for Clinical Specialist in Adult Health. Then applied for an APN license with the state of Illinois. The application asks for minimal information (I already have an RN license in Illinois.). Once you have the APN license you can obtain the Controlled Substance license. An MD must sign a form indicating collaborative practice. I did not have to send in a copy of the collaborative agreement, but it must be on file in the MD's office. When I applied for my APN license I sent everything in at once: the application for APN license, the application for Controlled Substance license, and the MD form indicating collaborative agreement and which controlled substance classifications are included in the collaborative agreement. In Illinois the APN license is covered under the same practice for Clinical Specialist, Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife, and Certified Nurse Anesthetist. The application process was very simple. I filled out the forms, wrote 2 checks (one for the APN license and one for the controlled substance license), and had the MD fill out the appropriate form and sent everything together per FedEx ground delivery. I don't know whether there are programs that support prescriptive ability or not. My application was never questioned and the application gives no indication of any exceptions or special programs needed.

Here is a link to each state BON where you should be able to get the information you need about the APN:

http://www.board-of-nursing.com/


This link is specific for the APN in MO:

http://pr.mo.gov/nursing-advanced-practice.asp

And, this one for IL:

http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/...5sections.html


Good luck with your career choice. We hope you enjoy allnurses. Come back when you can.

Hi, I am somewhat new to this, and I was just wondering; can a cns prescribe medications?

Yes, they can, mistiffy.

Check out post #10 about the differences/similarities in the NP/CNS roles.

I just read the question about CNSs prescribing medication. I was under the impression, from my university, that a CNS could not prescribe where I'm from. Is this true?
I thought perhaps they meant it was a California thing...?
Is there any sort of link/site to find out if this is the case in Cali?

Thank you for the clarification!!

Hello,
I have a question about the rules in New York. On the Board website it only mentions NPs. I had originally planned (long term) to do a dual degree MSn-FNP/MPH (Columbia) but recently saw a MSn-Community nursing/MPH on another school's website (Hunter). Since that is still a couple years off (and the schools are closed for the weekend ) I thought I would ask here first.
Can I assume that the MSn - community nursing is a CNS degree? Is there a difference in NYC?
Thanks