[Wackyswirly]

Do any of you work outside of the hospital setting, or know a CNS who does? I know it's done, but not the norm. I would ultimately like to work outside the hospital, so I'm interested in hearing about others' experiences.

[Debrajo MSN]

I work for the hospital but as a CNS in endocrinology. My main job is patient education and patient management of diabetic patients, particularly those on insulin. I am a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) as well as Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADN).

[Surrey Sally]

Hi,
Im a CNS in epilepsy in Uk (Surrey).
I work for a charitable trust overseeing 64 residents (under a GP specialist), in additon to educating the local community , two fast track clinics for two local hosptials. two different consultants then I free lance across the Uk on my day off. Teaching emergency protocols, carer advise and epilepsy info etc etc.
This job is self developed , and I feel its the only way you can do it, I had pharmaceutical support ££ to start, which is now being picked by the hospital budgets. Great but hard work.
Im hoping to move to New Zealand in 05, but I dont really know where to start.
Sally

[DavidFR]

Originally Posted by Wackyswirly

Do any of you work outside of the hospital setting, or know a CNS who does? I know it's done, but not the norm. I would ultimately like to work outside the hospital, so I'm interested in hearing about others' experiences.

When I lived in the UK I was a clinical nurse specialist in viral hepatitis. I did hold outpatients clinics in hospital, and did the odd ward visit, but the rest of my work was outreach with local drug users projects, GP's and practice nurses, community groups, charities etc. I would occasionally need to do home visiits too. It was a fantastic job and an incredibly interesting, rapidly changing field. I would advise anybody interested to get some Infectious Diseases or hepatology experience first. The British Liver trust has an associated Hepatitis Nurse Specialists' interest group.