So lately I've been curious about the role of the CNS. I don't plan on going back to school for 2-3 years at the least, however I'm interested in learning about other roles. I plan on reaching out to CNSs at my institution to hear more about what their roles are, but I also thought I'd start a thread here.
At first, CNS sounds perfect for me-I'm very interested in research/EBP, supporting clinical RNs with education and development, and being an "expert" in nursing care providing consultation.
In New York, CNS do not have prescribing authority, which is fine for me (although I have thought about NP and still open to that as an option, prescribing authority is not a deal-breaker for me). So, I'm wondering, for those CNSs without prescribing authority, what is your role like, especially if it involves patient care responsibilities.
CNS is attractive to me because with the degree and certification, you qualify for many roles, including Nurse Educator, management, quality, etc. On the other hand, I'm wondering if other degrees offer similar opportunities. For example, Educators at my hospital are involved in curriculum development and education, staff development, and sit on committees. Guess I'll have to just reach out to CNSs there to see what exactly they do and how it differs from the educators.
Anyway, just interested in the latest thoughts on whether it's worth it to be come a CNS, especially for those not necessarily interested in having prescribing authority!
Thanks for participating! Interested in hearing more thoughts as well.
As an aside, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital in NYC hires CNSs, including in their cardiac PICU (i see openings for CNSs in their cardiac PICU, PICU, NICU, and peds ED). They're also opening a new infant cardiac NICU soon and are hiring CNSs (and NPs).
I saw that too MurseJJ. I actually am interested in going per diem in their new cardiac NICU - seems right up my alley and a great learning experience. They said they only wanted full time staff at this time unfortunately. MSK and Morgan Stanley seem to be the only hospitals I've noticed that actively hire CNSs. Maybe if I ever get over there I could talk to the CNSs in the PICU/NICU/PCICU and really see their role in action. I did have the opportunity of reaching out and talking with our new neonatal CNS in the NICU. She was very excited about her role and reiterated the joy she felt working in a true advanced practice nursing role. She said she took the same courses as the NNPs until about 3/4th of the program and split off for a few courses and obviously clinicals. That sounds perfect for me. I plan on asking to shadow her sometime to get a better "in the life" picture of what she does.
I do also see her at the bedside when sick patients arrive to the unit. ECMO is becoming bigger in our pediatric units, and the NICU nurses have been the most weary of it. She's been teaching hour long classes to the ICU nurses in pediatrics about her experiences with ECMO as a bedside NICU nurse. That's something I definitely could see myself doing in the future if I went the CNS route as well.
MGMR
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I saw that too MurseJJ. I actually am interested in going per diem in their new cardiac NICU - seems right up my alley and a great learning experience. They said they only wanted full time staff at this time unfortunately. MSK and Morgan Stanley seem to be the only hospitals I've noticed that actively hire CNSs. Maybe if I ever get over there I could talk to the CNSs in the PICU/NICU/PCICU and really see their role in action. I did have the opportunity of reaching out and talking with our new neonatal CNS in the NICU. She was very excited about her role and reiterated the joy she felt working in a true advanced practice nursing role. She said she took the same courses as the NNPs until about 3/4th of the program and split off for a few courses and obviously clinicals. That sounds perfect for me. I plan on asking to shadow her sometime to get a better "in the life" picture of what she does.
I do also see her at the bedside when sick patients arrive to the unit. ECMO is becoming bigger in our pediatric units, and the NICU nurses have been the most weary of it. She's been teaching hour long classes to the ICU nurses in pediatrics about her experiences with ECMO as a bedside NICU nurse. That's something I definitely could see myself doing in the future if I went the CNS route as well.