To those of you with PhD's or working on them.

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Sep 18, 2008

In my area, most of the CNS education tracks have been changed to specialized NP tracks. I think it's a shame, too.

allnurses Guide · Sep 18, 2008

Medic, I know you're in my program, and in our NP role practicum, we had a CNS talking to us about the CNS track. She said she's always happy to talk to anyone about it if you're interested.

Might have been Patricia Tuite?

medicrnohio, RN · Sep 19, 2008

I think the CNS idea is a good one and definitely one that I should look in to. It would certainly provide an advanced clinical education but with a different focus. Certainly getting a job with that degree could present a problem. Although I do recall a different thread on allnurses that discussed all of the possibilities with a CNS. One of the posters (I can't remember who) pointed out that nurses with the CNS degrees have a variety of positions and often times they are not positions that are labeled as CNS. I will try to talk to some CNS nurses, as ghilbert suggested. When I had my interview for grad school, my advisor and I briefly discussed the NP vs. CNS role. She lead me to believe that the CNS role was really only for people who wanted to work in staff development. While I wouldn't rule out a job like that, my goal is to teach in a nursing program. She seemed to think the NP route was a better option. I'm so happy to have my allnurses friends here to provide some other feedback and insight on this topic.

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 20, 2008

I think the CNS idea is a good one and definitely one that I should look in to. It would certainly provide an advanced clinical education but with a different focus. Certainly getting a job with that degree could present a problem. Although I do recall a different thread on allnurses that discussed all of the possibilities with a CNS. One of the posters (I can't remember who) pointed out that nurses with the CNS degrees have a variety of positions and often times they are not positions that are labeled as CNS. I will try to talk to some CNS nurses, as ghilbert suggested. When I had my interview for grad school, my advisor and I briefly discussed the NP vs. CNS role. She lead me to believe that the CNS role was really only for people who wanted to work in staff development. While I wouldn't rule out a job like that, my goal is to teach in a nursing program. She seemed to think the NP route was a better option. I'm so happy to have my allnurses friends here to provide some other feedback and insight on this topic.

I think I was the person who pointed out the CNS's often work in roles that aren't specifically call "CNS."

Also ... I find it interesting that you want to be a teacher -- and yet are not interested in a staff development role. Staff developers TEACH NURSES. If teaching nursing is what you want to do, why not take a job teaching nurses?

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Sep 20, 2008

Also ... I find it interesting that you want to be a teacher -- and yet are not interested in a staff development role. Staff developers TEACH NURSES. If teaching nursing is what you want to do, why not take a job teaching nurses?

You might get paid more in staff development, too.

medicrnohio, RN · Sep 20, 2008

I think I was the person who pointed out the CNS's often work in roles that aren't specifically call "CNS."
Also ... I find it interesting that you want to be a teacher -- and yet are not interested in a staff development role. Staff developers TEACH NURSES. If teaching nursing is what you want to do, why not take a job teaching nurses?

llg,

Thank you for clarifying that you were the one who pointed out the info about CNS's. I remembered reading it but couldn't remember exactly where.

I think I should clarify my goals a little. I want to teach and it has been a goal to teach in a nursing program. Like I said in my previous post, I wouldn't rule out a staff development job. The reality is that I just started my master's and as of right now I'm still in the ACNP major. If I decide to change to nursing education or to a CNS program, I hope that I will have the opportunity to be exposed to both staff development and traditional nursing education programs. Then I can make an informed decision about what direction my career will take. For now I am seeking information and advice from some nurses whom I believe have some good information and advice to offer, yourself included. This thread has been very informative for me and has opened my eyes to some other things that I need to consider. For that, I thank each and everyone of you who has shared their knowledge and wisdom with me.

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Sep 20, 2008

Medic- the good thing about moving toward a more education-specific major, is that you can teach as an adjunct, or assist in the classroom after getting so many grad credits. The hours are good, and the pay is getting better (at least in my area) for those positions.

allnurses Guide · Sep 20, 2008

I know a CNS (currently doing her DNP) who is employed at the hospital attached to our school as a cardiothoracic/critical care CNS, if you wanted to speak her about her role. She does a lot of education, research, quality improvement.

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 20, 2008

I've worked in a variety of roles that include both CNS and Staff Development components. They expose you to a lot, really facilitate "networking" with a lot of people in your area and open up a lot of possibilities.

Right now, I work in a Staff Development department running programs for nursing students in my hospital. For example, I run their nursing student extern program -- in which I work with student nurses as they experience the "real world" of nursing for the first time. That's fun.

I also head the nursing research and evidence-based practice effort at my hospital. As more hospitals try for Magnet status, they are creating positions for MSN-prepared or doctorally prepared nurses to lead those efforts. Such positions are usually based in the Staff Development Dept. (and they are paying salaries above those of the basic CNS or Staff Development Specialist pay.)

Those research and EVP activities would give you a chance to establish a foundation for an academic research career. Those positions seem to be evolving out of CNS and Staff Development roles -- sort of an "advanced" CNS or Staff Development role. The development of the "advanced" CNS has been a major focus of my career for the past 11 years -- after I graduated with my PhD while I was working for a hospital. At first, I was all alone, but now I am finding other hospitals seeking such people.

I also teach a class at a local university and serve on the Community Advisory Boards of 2 other schools.

So ... my current job is a hybrid between an academic nursing career -- and a hospital service job. I developed it from a CNS/Staff Development foundation that gave me the knowledge and experience in teaching nursing, working with administration, and conducting my own projects. NP roles often don't include those types of things.

But there's nothing wrong with NP roles or an NP education. If you are interested in the provision of direct primary care, then the NP role is really geared for that.

LisaDNP · Sep 29, 2008

ghilbert,

I'm confused. Why would a CNS opt for a DNP?? If you know, would you please clarify? TIA!

allnurses Guide · Sep 29, 2008

I don't know, I just know she is. I assume she wanted a terminal degree and found the DNP more clinically applicable than the PhD. Why does anyone do a DNP?

LisaDNP · Sep 30, 2008

>>>>Why does anyone do an DNP?

Hmmmmm......

Well, the reason I asked about the CNS is that the DNP degree is supposed to be clinically based with the student doing a prescribed number of hours in a precepted residency. How can a CNS do that?

I personally see a CNS in a PhD program as they are doing more formal staff education plus being a leader in evidence based care and research.

I too would like to see the CNS role continued and expanded as they have a unique skill set that is extremely valuable not only to staff but to the patients we serve.

Thanks for responding.