CNS vs NP?

Specialties CNS

Published

Just wondering if anyone knows what the difference is between CNS vs NP. I'm looking more into the CNS program b/c I've heard there's more patient interaction than with a NP. I was told NP are for more diagnostic purposes. Is any of this true. I want to do something that allows me to stay with my patients. Anything helps.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
I have just finished my masters and am a CNS. The college I attended also had an NP program (which is what I thought I wanted when I started). The further I got in the program, the more I knew I wanted to be a CNS. I did clinicals with NPs and their role is very patient oriented from what I see. They both worked in hospitals and had their own patient loads like resident physicians. They were responsible for all the care the patient received while hospitalizd. For me, the CNS role was the right one because I wanted to be an educator and was a bit ambivalent about the responsibilities of the NP role. Here in NY the CNS cannot prescribe and their role is more education/research/change agent.I hope this was helpful.

I see you are a relatively new member here at allnurses. Welcome!

A lot of people don't consider a CNS role when they are doing their undergraduate work or shortly thereafter. It seems most students only "see" the NP roles, nursing school faculty roles, and management roles. They don't seem to realize that there are a lot of other good options out there -- and a CNS education is a great foundation for most roles.

I look forward to reading your future posts.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Child/Adolescent Mental Health.
I have just finished my masters and am a CNS. The college I attended also had an NP program (which is what I thought I wanted when I started). The further I got in the program, the more I knew I wanted to be a CNS. I did clinicals with NPs and their role is very patient oriented from what I see. They both worked in hospitals and had their own patient loads like resident physicians. They were responsible for all the care the patient received while hospitalizd. For me, the CNS role was the right one because I wanted to be an educator and was a bit ambivalent about the responsibilities of the NP role. Here in NY the CNS cannot prescribe and their role is more education/research/change agent.I hope this was helpful.

Thank you for your informative post. I am curious as to what other states do not grant prescriptive privilege to the CNS?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, onc, HIV.

At the university I'm attending here in south east MI, they offer the CNS and MSN education as dual degrees.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.

This has proven a pretty good thread.

I've been trying to make the "CNS vs NP" decision myself for quite a while. And I've bounced back a forth a few times.

I might do like some of trauma's classmates and just work as a clinical specialist and skip the extra classes for the CNS or NP. I've been working as a PCT and I find that I really like talking to patients and doing the hands-on work. The NPs I see do rounds with the doctors, something that I have no interest in (no interest in primary care either). From this thread it seems that a CNS does more education and research than patient care, so that really won't work for me either.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
This has proven a pretty good thread.

I've been trying to make the "CNS vs NP" decision myself for quite a while. And I've bounced back a forth a few times.

I might do like some of trauma's classmates and just work as a clinical specialist and skip the extra classes for the CNS or NP. I've been working as a PCT and I find that I really like talking to patients and doing the hands-on work. The NPs I see do rounds with the doctors, something that I have no interest in (no interest in primary care either). From this thread it seems that a CNS does more education and research than patient care, so that really won't work for me either.

People with a CNS education often take roles that have titles like ... Trach care coordinator ... wound and skin care nurse ... pain specialist ... etc. They are the "go to people" that serve as resources for patients with particular problems. Such people often have considerable direct patient care as part of their role. There aren't specific MSN's for all these types of roles. The positions are filled with people with generic MSN's or CNS's with clinical experience with that certain patient population.

Have you gone to a nursing library and browsed through back issues of the CNS journal? That would give you a lot of info about a lot of things that CNS's do.

But keep in mind that a lot of people educated in CNS programs have jobs that aren't called "CNS."

Good luck with your search.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.

Have you gone to a nursing library and browsed through back issues of the CNS journal? That would give you a lot of info about a lot of things that CNS's do.

I'll have to look into that.

Though since I'm already going to have a generic MSN, I wonder if my goals really require further education. Which doesn't really enthuse me right now. ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
I'll have to look into that.

Though since I'm already going to have a generic MSN, I wonder if my goals really require further education. Which doesn't really enthuse me right now. ;)

Good point. Why don't you check out the job market for some of those "other roles" that I mentioned above when you graduate? You might find yourself a good fit.

If you decide to the official "CNS" added on, you can always do that later.

I never did. I have an MSN in perinatal nursing (with no special CNS certification) and I have always been able to find jobs. I know lots of people with jobs that sound like they might interest you with MSN's, but not official CNS credentials.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I thought that they got rid of CNS program (at least in IL).. and now they have the new CNL (Certified Nursing Leadership) program. I believe that they did this to try to clarify the difference between CNS and NP. I am personally a CNS but work more like an NP. I can prescribe medications, bill... do what NP do. I know it's confusing..I find myself expaining my title to the doctors. Some doctors I know have a CNS who function as an NP and other doctors would not even consider you to function that way and look at you as an educator or researcher. When I did my clinicals...I followed and learned from both CNS and NP. I just happened to be in the CNS program and can only take the CNS test, not the NP. But I asure you, I'm confident in NP work...I had great training. Not only was I with the nurses but I was with their doctors for my clinical rotation. I just don't know what will happen with the rules of CNS...I hope I don't have to go back to school to be an official NP...I hope to be "grandfathered in." I'm not sure I can go back to school in this point of my life..and I hate and be sad to lose my job just because I don't have the official NP title. I am an APN who is as equally smart and capable of doing my job!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I thought that they got rid of CNS program (at least in IL).. and now they have the new CNL (Certified Nursing Leadership) program. I believe that they did this to try to clarify the difference between CNS and NP. I am personally a CNS but work more like an NP. I can prescribe medications, bill... do what NP do. I know it's confusing..I find myself expaining my title to the doctors. Some doctors I know have a CNS who function as an NP and other doctors would not even consider you to function that way and look at you as an educator or researcher. When I did my clinicals...I followed and learned from both CNS and NP. I just happened to be in the CNS program and can only take the CNS test, not the NP. But I asure you, I'm confident in NP work...I had great training. Not only was I with the nurses but I was with their doctors for my clinical rotation. I just don't know what will happen with the rules of CNS...I hope I don't have to go back to school to be an official NP...I hope to be "grandfathered in." I'm not sure I can go back to school in this point of my life..and I hate and be sad to lose my job just because I don't have the official NP title. I am an APN who is as equally smart and capable of doing my job!

Do you have a NPI number? Can you bill for your services? Can CNS's open their own clinics? I've never understood the difference between the two, especially since both can prescribe drugs. I just don't get it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I can answer to the CNS versus CNL in IL: I live in central IL. The CNL is NOT an APN role. Per IDPH, the CNL is an MSN generalist and can not prescribe, diagnose, etc.

The CNS role is still alive and well in central IL at least. However, as ANPGNPFNP points out, there is still much role confusion. To further complicate things, in IL there is no difference in the nurse practice act between NP and CNS. I'm an adult health CNS who has an NPI, DEA, and bills for my services. However, I have friends who are also adult health CNS's who do not practice as APNs but rather have the more traditional CNS role: educator, researcher, change agent.

I really wish (now!) that I had done the FNP program because my scope of practice would be broader. However, in order to see kids I would now have to do either a PNP or CNS in pediatrics. And...since I'm still paying off student loans, that's not going to happen soon.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes, me as the CNS I have my own NPI number, I bill...I have an NP role, I do what they can do. Yes, CNL is NOT an APN, as "TRAUMARUS" has stated. I'm in the Chicago areas and I see that they are fading out CNS title, so that either you go for an NP or CNL. Like I said, I think they want to clarify the RN who can prescribe and the RN who cannot type of thing... I know my friends who do not have a CNS title but has her MSN. She work and have a CNS role..she gets paid the same as a CNS would. She or the Hosp cannot legally give her the title CNS but they call them Clinical Nurse Consultant.

To answer the question of "can a CNS opening up their own clinic? "I don't know. I don't think so, especially in IL.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Agree with Hello101 - since APNs in IL don't have independent practice, doubt we could open our own clinics. However, we do have the Take Care Clinics in the Walgreens in our area where APNs are unsupervised (they have phone consultation if necessary).

Thanks for the info about CNLs in the Chicago area. Seems like things start in Chicago in IL and then filter south...lol.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment