discouraged

Hello everyone, I am set to begin a CNS-med/surg program this fall. I was looking forward to all the different avenues that this degree will allow. However, someone at work who also has a masters degree (not CNS) advised me not to go the CNS route. In my state CNS are advanced practice nurses with RX priveledge but this nurse stated that nurses with CNS degree do not practice independently like NPs do. She also stated that other than teaching, the CNS is pretty much hospital based in their practice. Is this correct, will I be relegated to a hospital med/surg unit after graduation? Please help--I have researched this and come up with only vague explanations (from state board) of the differing roles.
I really hope this woman was misinformed because this program is most convenient for me as well as the only MS degree in nursing offered at the school I want to attend.