can I be a cns at sjsu?

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I am starting the masters program in fall 2015 and not sure how to achieve my goals. I want to be a clinical nurse specialist in psychiatry. Or critical care/ed/icu.

How do I obtain that?

I currently will have financial aid available to me and I feel like I should get my masters now while I am still young and can afford it. Any insight would be great. I am going to san jose state university.

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Specializes in nursing education.

Based on a cursory look at the school's web site, the program at SJSU looks like their MSN might be a CNL program. It states "The curriculum develops specialists in advanced nursing practice, with functional skills in one of three areas: administration, education, and informatics." The CNS role encompasses three spheres- patient care, nurses and nursing practice, and organizational.

What certification exam(s) would you be qualified to sit for if you go through their program? If it is the CNE or CNL (or any informatics certification), then the school is not offering a masters'-level CNS program.

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

If you go psych you want a psych np. The psych CNS exams are being retired..

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

I agree that it's not clear what that SJSU Master's program could lead to. I would ask the school directly as the website isn't very specific about the program goals. In California, you have to attend a CNS program to earn a state CNS license. Your other option in the area is UCSF and they have specific CNS foci in Adult Critical Care/Trauma, Adult Oncology, and General Adult CNS. You will be hard-pressed to find Psych CNS programs now as there is currently no option for national certification in that role.

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