need advise on becoming a CNS

[ERNurseScott]

Hello! I have had a dream of earning my MSN/Ed so that I can start educating and teaching my fellow nurses. I also have a goal of earning my CNS in critical care and trauma as that is what I have worked and love for 10 years. I need some advise however...can a CNS be earned after I have finished my MSN/Ed? Is it a post-graduate program? Do you have to be a practitioner (NP) to be a CNS? Ideally, I would like to get my MSN/Ed then my CSN. I would love to start teaching and doing national educational conferences ASAP but if it's quicker and/or easier to earn my CNS with my MSN then complete an education program, I wouldn't want to duplicate any studies! I don't want to spin my wheels or waste any money as I will be paying for all of this. Any advise, information, personal experiences are greatly appreciated!!!

-Scott, RN, CCRN-CMC, CEN, CHFN

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

If you want to have unrestricted CNS credentials that can transfer with you everywhere you go in the US, your best bet is to complete a Master's degree program that is specifically focused on training you to be certified as a CNS by ANCC.

ER and Trauma is quite a specialized field. You may find a specific program that will train in Trauma and Critical Care such as this one:

http://nursing.ucsf.edu/programs/specialties/critical-care-tr-0.

But for the most part, CNS programs are broad: Adult, Peds, and Psych are the most common.