CNS and Clinical/Practicum

[mona b RN]

Hi,

I am interested in a CNS program and would like to hear from others regarding their experiences. Can anyone describe the details of their CNS clinical experiences, or practicum, as they are sometimes referred to? I am interested in adult health and wondering how students are meeting clinical requirements in their programs. For example, are you completing clinical in a family practice or a hospital environment? Do your clinical experiences involve direct patient care or are they more related to staff development?

Thanks

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

Hi Rolo. I already sent you 2 private messages, but now I remember, on reading your posting here, that private practices often have NPs on staff. They assess and treat patients in the office and also go see the patients from their practice when they are hospitalized. This is besides the NPs/CNSs that might be on actual hospital staff. CNSs at the med/surg hospital wherein I worked, saw patients on a consultation basis, and made recommendations to the doctors for care in whatever specialty the CNS had, and made nursing recommendations to the nursing staff. Most units/specialties did not have a NP on staff but alot of them had a CNS on staff. The CNSs in that hospital did not have prescriptive authority (or at least they didn't use it in the hospital). The NPs did. Getting prescriptive authority is a whole new topic, though, and it's rather complicated to do in Indiana.

I'm rambling....It's a big topic!

[ROLO]

Just got off work. Numb. But, a big thank you for feedback, TraumaRUs & Whispera!!