Clinical Nurse Specialist

Specialties CNS

Published

Specializes in Medical Oncology.

Hi All

Am trying to get info from CNSs regarding the type of work they're involved with? The CNSs on my unit have office jobs, M-F, 8-5. Are there CNSs still working on the floor directly involved with patient care working the typical 12-1/2 hour shifts that staff nurses work? If you're a CNS, please tell me about your position, what your specialty is, what your days are typically like, etc. Would love to hear from you :lol2:

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Specializes in onc, M/S, hospice, nursing informatics.

I am a hospice clinical nurse specialist in the hospital M-F 8-5. I admit patients to hospice in the hospital, and do education visits for patients who want to go home or to a nursing home with hospice. We make rounds on each in-patient every day, do death pronouncements/visits, and follow each patient as needed to adjust meds.

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I am a hospice clinical nurse specialist in the hospital M-F 8-5. I admit patients to hospice in the hospital, and do education visits for patients who want to go home or to a nursing home with hospice. We make rounds on each in-patient every day, do death pronouncements/visits, and follow each patient as needed to adjust meds.

Hi mom4josh: I'm curious how and where you obtained your degree and/or education. How long have you been in your position? I work as a hospice nurse currently, and have a bsn, but would love to do what you are doing. I need more job fulfillment. What would you recommend for me? Thanks in advance!!:)

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I'm an adult health CNS as well as a peds CNS. I work in nephrology. I work anywhere from 0600 to 1900 depending on pt load. I round in four dialysis units anywhere from 9-60 miles from my home. I work M-F but also take call every 5th weekend.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Let me move this to the CNS forum.

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I'm an adult health CNS as well as a peds CNS. I work in nephrology. I work anywhere from 0600 to 1900 depending on pt load. I round in four dialysis units anywhere from 9-60 miles from my home. I work M-F but also take call every 5th weekend.

Hi trauma: Tell me about your education and also what you might suggest for my career path. I did my bsn online.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I was an LPN who did a bridge program to ADN, worked for a total of 10 years, went back to school (online, University of Phoenix) and did the BSN completion, then an MSN (University of Phoenix) concentration management and leadership.

Then, I did a post MSN certificate as an adult health CNS and completed that in 2006. A couple of years ago, I went back again and did a pads CNS. This way I can see all ages. I did these thru a brick/mortar/online program.

My nursing background is adult ICU 2 years), LTC 2 years (LPN), then 10 years in a level 1 trauma center ER.

I currently work in nephrology since 2006. I round on chronic hemodialysis its in four dialysis units that are from 9 to 62 miles from my home. I keep pretty busy - lol.

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I was an LPN who did a bridge program to ADN, worked for a total of 10 years, went back to school (online, University of Phoenix) and did the BSN completion, then an MSN (University of Phoenix) concentration management and leadership.

Then, I did a post MSN certificate as an adult health CNS and completed that in 2006. A couple of years ago, I went back again and did a pads CNS. This way I can see all ages. I did these thru a brick/mortar/online program.

My nursing background is adult ICU 2 years), LTC 2 years (LPN), then 10 years in a level 1 trauma center ER.

I currently work in nephrology since 2006. I round on chronic hemodialysis its in four dialysis units that are from 9 to 62 miles from my home. I keep pretty busy - lol.

Did you do clinicals with your MSN? UofP sounds good, expensive I've heard, but I might have issues with clinicals and I need to work full time.

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I am a (child) psych CNS, and psych CNSs have always been a little different from the rest of the CNS crowd in that our primary role has always been direct client care (psychotherapy). I've worked as an individual, group, and family therapist in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings, and have also done consultation-liaison work in large teaching hospitals (what I'm doing now). There have alwys been some educator/mentor/change agent elements to my jobs, but the primary focus has been direct, "hands-on" client care. I've worked 8- and 12-hour shifts at different jobs, mostly M-F, but sometimes have been responsible for helping cover evenings, weekends, and holidays.

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Those of you who are certified as CNSs in multiple areas...how is that done? I'm openly considering multiple options and I'm wondering if adult health and peds could be done in any decent way.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

My MSN with UofP was a non-clinical MSN so I only had 90 hours total and that was in a management setting.

I am certified as both an adult health CNS and a pads CNS. I did both as a post-MSN certificates which included adv pharm, adv pathophys and adv assessment as well as clinicals - 586 hours for the adult CNS and 512 hours for the pads CNS.

I would not advise this way at all as I am now in a bad situation - I work as an adult health CNS full time and usually don't see pts under the age of 18. So, in order to keep my peds CNS current - I need to do 1000 hours of peds in a five year period. Not doable unless I take a second job. Not sure whether I will just retest or what yet.

I would advise that if you think you want to do more than one age - go the FNP route - much easier than the mess I've gotten myself into.

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Specializes in onc, M/S, hospice, nursing informatics.
Hi mom4josh: I'm curious how and where you obtained your degree and/or education. How long have you been in your position? I work as a hospice nurse currently, and have a bsn, but would love to do what you are doing. I need more job fulfillment. What would you recommend for me? Thanks in advance!!:)

Hi! I have been an RN for almost 10 years, having received my ADN (three years) at Northwestern State University of Louisiana in 2001. I worked med/surg, then oncology for nine years, and have been in my current position since March of this year. After working oncology, I knew that I wanted to work in hospice but didn't want all the driving from house to house. This is as close to my dream job as I will ever get! The hours are great (M-F 8-5), it's close to home, and I get all my exercise in walking around the hospital all day! It's very fulfilling for the most part, as we become very close with some of the families whose loved-ones are on hospice here in the hospital. We also do consults and get people set up for home hospice. All in all a great job! Hope you find yours, too!

:clown:

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