Public Health/Community Clinical Nurse Specialist

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What type of roles do you have? Administrative, educator, or clinician? Thanks for sharing, there doesn't seem to be too many of us around. :)

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Haven't seen a lot of these, I'm curious, what would be the difference between a public health CNS and a RN with a MPH?

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Specializes in OB, Women’s health, Educator, Leadership.

Don't know but since this is the direction I am hoping to go into it would be nice if somebody responds.

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A Clinical Nurse Specialist is considered an advanced practice registered nurse in most states. If you are an RN with a MPH you are not an advanced practice nurse, therefore, you cannot practice medicine. Depends where you live, but in Oklahoma and Texas CNS's are widely used, with that being said if you have your CNS you can always go into other roles. Hope this helps.

Matthew McGill APRN-CNS,MSN,CCNS,CCRN

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

No snark intended - but nurses do not 'practice medicine'. I suspect you meant something along the lines of prescriptive authority, but in no way shape or form do nurses 'practice medicine'.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Sorry, but APNs DO PRACTICE MEDICINE.

http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/documents/CAPNAH/files/36%20-%20White%20Paper%20-%20Status%20of%20APRNs%20in%20MO%202012.pdf

I assure you that my practice is medically based. You are right though in that prescriptive authority alone does not mean I practice medicine. Rather it is my level of assessment skills, ability to diagnose, order tests, interpret tests/labs and then (if needed) prescribe. I also write medical orders in the hospital, perform medical H&Ps, consults and discharge summaries. All of these encompass practicing medicine.

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Mary

I assure you APRN's (depending on state) can practice medicine. I work for a hospitalist group here in Oklahoma at Integris Baptist. In the state of Oklahoma, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses can indeed practice medicine. TraumaRUs, thanks for the back up. No snark taken. By the way prescribing medications, diagnostic orders, referrals, ect. are all a part of practicing medicine.

Matthew McGill APRN-CNS,MSN,CCNS,CCRN

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.
Mary

I assure you APRN's (depending on state) can practice medicine. I work for a hospitalist group here in Oklahoma at Integris Baptist. In the state of Oklahoma, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses can indeed practice medicine. TraumaRUs, thanks for the back up. No snark taken. By the way prescribing medications, diagnostic orders, referrals, ect. are all a part of practicing medicine.

Matthew McGill APRN-CNS,MSN,CCNS,CCRN

I have thought being an APRN is practicing medicine for a long time. I do the same job as my psychiatrist counterpart. My different education gives me a different perspective.

However we are nurses regulated by boards of nursing. My license says I am a nurse. I am a psych CNS with prescriptive authority working as a psych NP.

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Mary maybe right though. We can only practice some parts of medicine, but that goes for physicians as well.

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What state do you work in Psychcns?

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.
What state do you work in Psychcns?

MA and NH so far.

Licensed also in CT and OR-haven't worked there yet.

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Nevermind

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