[emmycRN]

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.

[rn/writer]

Can you contact the school and ask if they could put you in touch with some of the grads of their program? Also, find out if they have any placement help and talk with those folks.

I really hope this works out for you.

[traumaRUs]

Please don't be discouraged. I too live in a state (IL) where CNS and NP are pretty interchangeable. I currently work in a large nephrology practice and in my practice there are 4 PAs, 3 NPs (FNPs) and me. We all do the exact same job. Also, I'm an adult health CNS (formerly called med-surg). My nursing background is ER and ICU - I only worked med-surg as an RN for a very short period of time.

Please PM me if I can help...may I ask what state you are in?