buzzalong

You all are great. Thank you! CNS is definitely the route I want to take, but I had to make sure it was sunny on the other side before I jumped the fence. No big complaints about bedside, but I know it'll get old as I get old and as the older get bigger and so on. Next obstacle is finding a good CNS program. NP's are taking over!

So true! I'm in an AGNP program now in California and I'm strongly considering switching to an AGCNS program. The roles seem to be distinct enough in CA to where the CNS would be more teaching (either continued ed as in seminars/workshops/nurse educator types role, or clinical educator for Nurse students) or to patient educator (once certified in a particular area-as in a diabetes patient educator). Also, they do research to either aid in their teaching/presenting, but also to create/revise policies. A CNS also does consulting, particularly once you're certified in a particular area. From what I've read, they prefer CNS' to be Legal Nurse Consultants (LNC) because they know best practice and the latest research. From my understanding, a CNS will continue to be in demand--especially as they consolidate exams (ie: AHCNS and GCNS to become AGCNS in April 2014) and as they create combined masters preparation as in a CNS-ED, preparing MSNs to take the CNS exam of their focus along with the Nurse Educator exam.

Is it difficult to find a CNS job? I am considering switching my MSN focus from AG-NP to AG-CNS. Does any one have insite into the future of the CNS profession?

pilgrim192, where are you doing your adult health/gero CNS? I'm looking into switching from my AGNP to AGCNS (get out of diagnosing and prescribing and go towards teaching, training, and researching.)

Valid point. I hadn't considered that. Thank you. Goodness...the thought of a law suit against me makes my skin crawl. Especially living in California, I feel like people are quick to cry "attorney". My hospital got sewed for a patient family member saying the nurse called her a cow when really the nurse was calling to another nurse to bring a Computer On Wheels ("Cow"). Sheesh!! Thanks for the heads up.

Thank you so much all! Great insite and advice. I wont go for it...like realmaninuniform point out, it's always a little sketchy to have a little known certificate charging $$$. I'm digging for certs to help boost my future AG-NP/AGCNS degree and stumbled upon it. ♪♫ in my ♥: I posted it here because I correctly assumed that pre-NP folk would be in-the-know about new/odd certification out there.

What would a DSD (Director of Staff Development) certification do for me? Can I obtain one as a BSN or is it worth more with an MSN? I understand that in CA I'll need 24 hrs of education...but will this get a DSD after my name or is it just a "DSD" next to "CPR" and "ACLS"? Thanks!

Thank you! It was to my understanding that once you become an NP, you can't go back to bedside. So I wasn't sure if the same applied to CNS'. Is that an incorrect assumption about NP's too?

Once I pass my CNS exam, would I still be able to work as a CNS in addition to working on the floor as a nurse PRN? Or does the CNS "nullify" (in a sense) my ability to work bedside?