Help! I need to interview a CNS

Trauma Columnist · Aug 31, 2010

here ya go:

1. background (number of years in advanced role, rational for becoming cns) i've been a nurse for a total of 18 years and and apn since 2006. my rationale for becoming a cns was kinda lame: the hospital-affiliated college of nursing offered the cns program and in il a cns = np as to scope of practice. the hospital paid for school and then you owed them 2 years of work. however, i did the cns as a post-msn certificate and when i got done, there were no jobs at the hospital for cns's. so, i stayed a staff nurse until i could find an outside job, then repaid the hospital to the tune of thousands of dollars. i did an adult health cns in 2006 and then recently (2010) went back and did a peds cns just so that i can see all ages. again, not the way i would have done it in hindsight: i did two complete programs and over 1100 hours of clinical total.

2. what is your work environment i work for a nephrology practice and do rounding on dialysis patients in multiple outpt dialysis units. i currently see about 260 pts/week.

3. organizational structure related to the advanced practice position i work for a private nephrology practice and we have a practice manager who has an mba, 15 mds, 5 midlevels (fnps, pas, me).

4. roles and responsibilitiesi function as an apn: assess, order tests, interpret the tests, treat the pt. my main job is to manage pts dialysis. however, renal pts have many comorbidities so i manage diabetes, htn, cad, gi issues, etc. i also take call and round on inpt renal pts: do the h&p, consult, soap note, etc.

5. perceptions of licensure, certification, and reimbursement issues in current role i practice in il and we recently received class ii prescriptive authority. thats the biggest change recently. as a cns, if you are looking at the apn role, its important to be fully aware of your state's scope of practice: is the cns considered an apn, do they have prescriptive authority? also, how is the cns used in the environment where you want to work.

6. any continuous professional development?yes, cme is necessary in order to renew your professional state licenses as well as your certifications. my practice gives us $1500/year and 5 days for paid cme which is pretty generous.

maomao · Aug 31, 2010

thank you so much for your help. it is very detailed information. i really appreciate your time on doing it. from your reply, it seems like in il a cns can function as a np.. because in most states cns doesn't have prescriptive authority. i am curious to know what areas you function differently from fnp you have in your service?

thanks

mao

here ya go:
1. background (number of years in advanced role, rational for becoming cns) i've been a nurse for a total of 18 years and and apn since 2006. my rationale for becoming a cns was kinda lame: the hospital-affiliated college of nursing offered the cns program and in il a cns = np as to scope of practice. the hospital paid for school and then you owed them 2 years of work. however, i did the cns as a post-msn certificate and when i got done, there were no jobs at the hospital for cns's. so, i stayed a staff nurse until i could find an outside job, then repaid the hospital to the tune of thousands of dollars. i did an adult health cns in 2006 and then recently (2010) went back and did a peds cns just so that i can see all ages. again, not the way i would have done it in hindsight: i did two complete programs and over 1100 hours of clinical total.
2. what is your work environment i work for a nephrology practice and do rounding on dialysis patients in multiple outpt dialysis units. i currently see about 260 pts/week.
3. organizational structure related to the advanced practice position i work for a private nephrology practice and we have a practice manager who has an mba, 15 mds, 5 midlevels (fnps, pas, me).
4. roles and responsibilitiesi function as an apn: assess, order tests, interpret the tests, treat the pt. my main job is to manage pts dialysis. however, renal pts have many comorbidities so i manage diabetes, htn, cad, gi issues, etc. i also take call and round on inpt renal pts: do the h&p, consult, soap note, etc.
5. perceptions of licensure, certification, and reimbursement issues in current role i practice in il and we recently received class ii prescriptive authority. thats the biggest change recently. as a cns, if you are looking at the apn role, its important to be fully aware of your state's scope of practice: is the cns considered an apn, do they have prescriptive authority? also, how is the cns used in the environment where you want to work.
6. any continuous professional development?[color=sandybrown]yes, cme is necessary in order to renew your professional state licenses as well as your certifications. my practice gives us $1500/year and 5 days for paid cme which is pretty generous.

Trauma Columnist · Aug 31, 2010

Absolutely no difference from FNP and PA.

maomao · Sep 1, 2010

Thank you so much for your help. Do you know anyone who is a NP and can help me to answer the same questions regarding NP roles? I posted a thread on NP section, but no one replies.

Absolutely no difference from FNP and PA.

maomao · Sep 1, 2010

can you tell me more about class ii prescriptive authority? i don't understand .

it. also, is there any reimbursement issue? it seems like you work very independently. does the doc need to cosign for the prescription?

absolutely no difference from fnp and pa.

Trauma Columnist · Sep 1, 2010

Class II prescriptive authority means that in IL (its very state specific) we can prescribe up to a one month supply of any five of the class II narcotics that your collaborating physician prescribes. So, for me it would be Fentanyl patches, MSIR, oxycontin, percocet, and whatever else my docs might prescribe.

I get reimbursed at 85% of the MD rate per Medicare/Medicaid guidelines.

No, I need no cosigning on signatures, hospital orders or anything I do.