[JWRN]

I am a critical care CNS and have been for almost 5 years now. I am wondering what role do most of you CNS's out there work in. Is it mainly education for staff/competencies/new hires/internships, or do you more research based stuff, or more outcomes based stuff with a specific population of patients? Just wondering. I am lookingfor other roles to work in, as I am tired of staff education...and lots of other things, such as being uderpaid for the amount of education that I have or that CNS's have...Sad that managers whose role does not require a graduate degree make more than CNS's, they are in a higher salary band, and now there will be a new coordinator position that will be in the same salary band as us CNS's again no advanced education is required...Just wondering what other CNS's think or feel or what other CNS's are doing in their roles....Thanks in advance....

[traumaRUs]

In my area, there seems to be little differentiation between NPs and CNS's. I'm currently doing my 576 clinical hours and am following many different people (both CNSs and NPs). I think that I want to focus on something in the ER/trauma arena since that is what most of my experience is. Its been awhile since you wrote this - have you changed jobs? What other opportunities are you looking at?

[SharonH, RN]

Originally Posted by traumaRUs

In my area, there seems to be little differentiation between NPs and CNS's. I'm currently doing my 576 clinical hours and am following many different people (both CNSs and NPs). I think that I want to focus on something in the ER/trauma arena since that is what most of my experience is. Its been awhile since you wrote this - have you changed jobs? What other opportunities are you looking at?

Trauma, what exactly do you do in your clinicals? I have completed ~ 100 hours already and I took mostly an observer role, other than the assignments I had to complete for class(H&P's, medical write-ups and teaching plans). At my next clinical site, I look forward to taking on a more active role in my clinicals.

[traumaRUs]

I just completed 45 hours this past 4 days with a NP who works with a large group of surgeons. We made rounds on the hospitalized patients, pulled drains, examined patients, wrote orders, etc. We also did some time in the office: examining patients, doing wound checks, doing patient/family education and dictating our H&P's and progress notes. I loved it! I am hoping to get an APN position in our trauma program that our hospital has open. I am doing another 45 hours in a few weeks with one of our neuro CNS's. Again, he makes rounds, decides on plans of care, writes orders, etc. He does not have office duties though.

[JWRN]

traumaRUs...I have been busy moving into new house, new job...So I have not had time to post...I did resign my position as CNS for critical care, and have went into a staff position in the PACU (4 ten's a week) making more than I did as CNS, my base pay is only a couple of bucks less than my CNS base pay, plus I can get overtime, shift differential...I decided that 5 years as CNS was enough, I will look for a CNS role that incorporates more of what I learned in school, I mean I did learn how to do education for the staff and patients, but I also followed trauma case manager and followed trauma patients looking at outcomes...Anyhow, for now I am happy...Will keep you posted...