Recent CNS Graduate ?????

Euphrosyne7, MSN, RN · Oct 5, 2011

Hi:

From what I understand, CNS' will be grandfathered in as far as RI and in whatever respect they are working in; however, they will not be able to move to another state, etc, which is why, I decided to get my PMHNP instead.

Starting salary in RI for PCNS/PMHNP seems to be anywhere from $80,000-

$120,000+/yr (depending on how many pts you will be seeing, inpatient vs. outpatient, with/without benefits depending on facility. I know at this time, they are looking for a PCNS/Psych NP in Newport (PM me if you want the info as they emailed me yesterday)........also I know that there is a huge tuition reimbursement (approx. $60,000) being offered if you sign a two year contract at Thundermist in warwick & woonsocket. Not sure if that position is still open. Also family services of RI was hiring CNS/PMHNP not long ago, so they may still be looking. Good luck!

Carla

Euphrosyne7, MSN, RN · Oct 5, 2011

P.S. CNS won't be grandfathered in as "NP's" but as advanced practice nurses.

Trauma Columnist · Oct 9, 2011

Is this RI-specific?

I'm in IL and have never heard of this.

Euphrosyne7, MSN, RN · Oct 9, 2011

Hi TraumaRus:

I'm not sure what states are considering it, but it has to do with that whole matter of making advanced practice nurses scope of practice the same in each state which they are calling the advanced practice nurse consensus model.

In RI, we really don't have many psychiatric nurse practitioners. Most prescribing psych advanced practice nurses are psychiatric clinical nurse specialists. That being said, their curriculum at URI which is the college in RI which offered that track, didn't, until recently (if at all) include what they are calling the three requirements for all advance practice nurses.......advanced health assessment, advanced patho, and advanced pharm. Currently the CNS program at URI is now "on hold" and from what I hear they don't want to offer a Psych NP program because they feel there is "not enough interest". I don't know about other CNS's in other fields, but as far as psych is concerned, lots of CNS's here in RI are upset because if this thing passes, then they will be grandfathered in as a PCNS in RI and at their current job, but will not qualify to go to another state. (from what I understand)

I know of a PCNS who is on the board of this consensus model, and she, herself, was applying to psych NP programs so that she would have flexibility in the future if she decided to move out of state....and she has been practicing as a PCNS with prescriptive privileges for quite some time.

This link has some more info about the whole thing: http://www.rinpcouncil.com/news-views.html

Hope this helps answer your question.

Carla

bsnanat2 · Oct 9, 2011

Not all states recognize the CNS as an Advanced Practice Nurse, but the new national Consensus Model does. In Georgia, all CNS's just recently became recognized as an APN (previously, only psych CNS's were recognized). Existing CNS's who had not taken the "three" APN courses of Patho, Pharm and Health Assessment were given notice (and in some cases "X" amount of time) to take these courses. This put them in line with other APN's. No grandfathering was done or necessary. Those who chose not to do the three courses would simply be considered Master's prepared nurses or something like a Clinical Nurse Leader, but can no longer use the Clinical Nurse Specialist title, as it has become protected like Nurse Practitioner or CRNA. I have personally known of one who chose to take the courses, one already had them, and one chose not to. Pretty much every state recognizes NP's and CRNA's as APN's, but the consensus model should make CNS's APN's everywhere also, but existing CNS's may have to take the "three" classes to qualify. Some states may choose to "grandfather" existing CNS's by not requiring the courses, but not likely.

Trauma Columnist · Oct 10, 2011

Oh okay - thanks for the update. I've been adult health CNS for over 5 years but took adv pharm/patho/assessment for the peds CNS (2010) but not for adult CNS. I had the three courses but they were lumped into the post-MSN certificate.

stepbystep12, BSN, DNP · Jul 13, 2014

anybody heard of any changes on CNS in 2014?

Psychcns · Jul 13, 2014

I am still hoping that as we get closer to 2015, the remaining states will recognize CNS as APRN. I think that is the most direct way we can transfer from state to state and retain prescriptive authority.

The national CNS group is doing a survey now and I hope it is for lobbying. ( it is on their site). I am not sure where the APNA is on lobbying for us. The psych CNS was the first advanced practice nurse. The psych NP role came along because it was easier for advanced practice nurses to move state to state as an NP, since NP's had prescriptive privileges. I got my CNS with eligibility for prescriptive authority in the early 90's in MA. the 3 P's were integrated into the program and the foundation of the program was psychotherapy. There was no psych np till the mid-late 90's and at the time, the role was being talked about as doing physicals and mental status exams. More of a primary care role with psych add-on. Now, no one is doing therapy. Meds are much too dominant..

As far as the CNS transferring to other states, I am licensed to prescribe in MN OR CT NH and MA. I have looked into other states. AZ never heard of a CNS prescribing, they said. CA lets a CNS do therapy- no prescribing. WA said they would license me with my current credentials, and NY sent me a list of schools where I could get an NP. ( I work alongside NP's and do the same job, which I was prepared to do as a CNS). Oregon required me to take 45 contact hours of psychopharm to get licensed. (The Stephen Stahl course). Anyway, I am still hoping. For the CNS role to survive, I think they need to have optional prescriptive authority and this is part of the APRN consensus model.