Parent - Child CNS?

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Hello!

Before my questions here is a quick look at my background: NICU nurse with 3yrs experience in high level University (teaching) hospitals. I recieved my BSN in 2006 and have always known that I wanted to obtain my MSN. Right out of school I planned on going back within 2yrs to obtain my Neonatal NP...but soon learned by watching/taking with the NPs on my unit that that career was not for me!:D I have no interest in acting like a "Dr." and would hate a long night of rounds/ordering things! Didn't take long to figure out that my interests were more in teaching/researching!

My old hospital had an amazing CNS (Neonatal) that was basically in charge of making sure our unit was completely up to date on evidence-based practice in the NICU (we used to complain about how often things changed....oh I didn't know how good I had it!). I honestly think she is one of the smartest nurses I know! My current hospital is WAY behind on evidence-based practice and the CNS doesn't seem to care (actually nobody has really been able to figure out what she does in her job!). Seeing the difference in the level of care these little ones get really does encourage me to go back so that I can hopefully make some changes...right now in the bedside role it is :banghead:.

But back to my question: I have looked around and haven't been able to find any Neonatal or Pediatric CNS programs within a decent commute. The two I've found in my area of CA would require me to drive 120 miles each way in LA or San Diego traffic 3X per week.....not going to happen! I did however find an online Parent-Child CNS program through Cal State and on a whim decided to apply (the deadline was in a week when I found it!). I just received my acceptance letter (YAY!) and now I'm unsure of what I got myself into (yes I know this isn't smart! I was just fed up with looking for programs and the online works perfect with my schedule!).

Does anyone have any idea of what a parent-child CNS is? What area could I work in? Do you think I would continue to do what I have wanted and work in the NICU as a CNS with this specialty? I've tried asking the people at the school but got very unhelpful answers! Can anyone help? I don't want to start and waste time/money if I can't do something I like!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

What certification test do you take with this degree? Check with ANCC (American Nurses Credentialling Center). That will tell you what role and who you can actually care for. I'm an adult health CNS and I care for people ages 16 and up. I'm thinking about a children and family CNS so that I can see kids. However, I would be taking the pediatric CNS certification exam.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I used to be a Neonatal CNS back in the old days. I have a friend whose job is that of a Neonatal CNS whose MSN is in Nursing Education.

Whether or not you can find a job in a NICU as a CNS will depend upon the particular availability of strong candidates in your geographic area -- and the specific requirements of your state BSN.

Also remember that there are other roles (with different job titles) that you would be eligible for. Their roles might involve a lot of the stuff you are interested in. For example, you could take a staff development job ... or a research job ... or a faculty job ... or a program coordinator job ... or a lactation consultant job ... etc.

The world is simply not "cut-and-dried." When people want to hire somebody to do a job, they look around and try to find the best qualified person who is going to be a "good fit" for the position. There are few hard and fast rules about qualifications for nurses who are not practicing in those roles that do not include "physician extender skills" such as the NP role. For the other types of jobs, there tends to be a lot of ambiguity. In the end, you just have to take your best shot and then have faith that you will find way through life somehow.

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Thank you for the responses! It doesn't say anywhere what certification test I would be taking so I sent off an email to the school! :)

I also know that I can do a CNS type role in with any MSN (although some of the hospitals I have been looking out have said they would really rather I had a CNS degree...) but the CNS program is over a year longer than the admin/edu programs! I really want to become an APN so that is why I an continuing to try to do the CNS program. I just want to make sure that I don't waste the extra time/money if this particular program won't get me where I want to get!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

It is also important that if you want the CNS APN role, that you check with your BON. I live in IL and CNS is considered equal as to APN status as NP, CNM, and CRNA. However, some states do not consider a CNS to be an APN.

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I am currently a NICU nurse, and I believe I just finished the parent-child CNS program you happen to be looking into! Feel free to contact me, as I just finished that program last week :)

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Specializes in ED, psych, burn ICU, hospice.

WOW! I think you are in a great position, especially if you have ruled out NP. For what you are wanting to do, or interested in, that basically leaves CNS. Also, I think you have some great options as to where to work: hospital vs. clinic vs. private practice. Personally, I am jealous of the private practice possibilities. For instance, with my working in an emergency department, I can tell you, PEOPLE REALLY NEED HELP WITH TAKING CARE OF THEIR KIDS -BIG TIME! We in the ER get calls ALL THE TIME from parents who don't know what to do and have no clue. You wouldn't need a hospital or clinic to provide education --YOU COULD DO THAT FROM HOME!!

I am seeing ALL kinds of possibilities. I know physicians are now seeing their ICU patients via cameras in the ICU --maybe you could do something comparable.

Of course, there are also all of those wonderful traditional CNS responsibilities...

I think you have it made.

I also need to mention my current school: University of South Alabama (USA). I am currently in their adult/geri CNS program --I REALLY LIKE THEY WAY IT IS LAID OUT. The don't have a parent-child program, but they do have PEDS and they do have WOMEN'S HEALTH. Each CNS program is 36 hours. The school prepares the CNS student for presciptive authority, if that is an interest (you might not be interested, but the more you can do, the better).

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So What does a Parent-Child CNS really do? The program I am looking at has this as one of their options.

Is this geared toward care of the "Family" versus just a specific group, such as peds, or gero, or psych? Any input would help! Thanks!

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Specializes in ED, psych, burn ICU, hospice.
So What does a Parent-Child CNS really do? The program I am looking at has this as one of their options.

Is this geared toward care of the "Family" versus just a specific group, such as peds, or gero, or psych? Any input would help! Thanks!

I have never seen "parent-child CNS." I think you are going to have to contact the school to get a definite answer. I guess I sort of had "mother-baby" in the back of my mind, with the "parent-child CNS" sort of falling into that type of scope. Contact them and let me know. I am still thinking though that you have it made. With the "CNS" focus, you are going to have a variety of things that you can do. And, with kids, there is like this "black hole" that sucks knowledge into it. You can talk to parents until you are blue in the face, but as soon as they get home, they need to talk to someone...they need a resource, but not necessarily a physician, but possibly a little more than an RN. I just think you'll have a lot of neat opportunities.

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Hi!

I would like to know what you thought about the parent-child CNS program at Cal State- Dominguez Hills. Also being that there is no certification exam (CNS Core Exam will be obsolete July 1, 2010), will this affect your employment opportunities/credibility?

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I am currently a NICU nurse, and I believe I just finished the parent-child CNS program you happen to be looking into! Feel free to contact me, as I just finished that program last week :)

Hi Myethpio!

I would like to enroll in the parent/child CNS program within the next few years. What did you think about the program? Also are you planning to take or have taken a certification exam? I know that the CNS Core Exam will be obsolete after July 1, 2010. If parent-child CNS's aren't allowed to certify will this decrease job opportunities and will it diminish the parent-child CNS specialty?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

What exam does this degree program fulfill? Peds CNS?

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