What is a CNS?

WashYaHands · Oct 2, 2004

Here's the textbook definition of a CNS.

Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) are licensed registered nurses who have graduate preparation (Master or Doctorate) in nursing as a Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Clinical Nurse Specialists are expert clinicians in a specialized area of nursing practice. The specialty may be identified in terms of:

A Population (e.g. pediatrics, geriatrics, women’s health)

A Setting (e.g. critical care, emergency room)

A Disease or Medical Subspecialty (e.g. diabetes, oncology)

A Type of Care (e.g. psychiatric, rehabilitation)

A Type of Problem (e.g. pain, wounds, stress)

Clinical Nurse Specialists practice in a wide variety of health care settings.

In addition to providing direct patient care, Clinical Nurse Specialists influence care outcomes by providing expert consultation for nursing staffs and by implementing improvements in health care delivery systems.

Clinical Nurse Specialist practice integrates nursing practice, which focuses on assisting patients in the prevention or resolution of illness, with medical diagnosis and treatment of disease, injury and disability.

Research about Clinical Nurse Specialist practice demonstrates

outcomes such as:

Reduced Hospital Costs and Length of Stay

Reduced Frequency of Emergency Room Visits

Improved Pain Management Practices

Increased Patient Satisfaction with Nursing Care

Reduced Medical Complications in Hospitalized Patients

An estimated 69,017 RNs have the education and credentials to practice as a clinical nurse specialist (CNS). Approximately 14,643 are qualified to work as a nurse practitioner and a CNS.

Average annual earnings of clinical nurse specialists in 2000: $50,800; up from $41,226 in 1992.

Hope this helps.

kimballina · Oct 2, 2004

I've never heard of this career. (I'm a nursing student, exploring my options) What do they do, where do they work, how much are they paid, and how do I become on? I'm only in a ADN program now.

Here in australia ,a clinical nurse specialist is a nurse with expert clinical knowledge in their chosen field ,but we do not need a Doctorate ! We do need to have worked in our chosen area for at least 5 years though. We provide ongoing education and actively work in the field that we teach,(those are the rules!!) so lots of hands on,constant refreshing and always available to fellow workers!!!!! :nurse:

Joy calkin · Oct 5, 2004

Here in australia ,a clinical nurse specialist is a nurse with expert clinical knowledge in their chosen field ,but we do not need a Doctorate ! We do need to have worked in our chosen area for at least 5 years though. We provide ongoing education and actively work in the field that we teach,(those are the rules!!) so lots of hands on,constant refreshing and always available to fellow workers!!!!!

Washyahands provides an excellent definition of CNS. CNS's and Nurse practitioners are both professional nurses of the larger group Advanced Nurse Practitioners or Advanced Practice Nurses. You may also want to go to the American Nurses Association website to look at the requirements for credentialling in various fields of nursing.

alanpe · Oct 31, 2004

In Spain there are just two specialist nurses:

Mental Health.

Obstetrics.

I would like to congratulate because this represents a good adventage for you.

Congratulations.

alanpe

wir5 · Sep 3, 2005

Here's the textbook definition of a CNS.
Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) are licensed registered nurses who have graduate preparation (Master or Doctorate) in nursing as a Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Clinical Nurse Specialists are expert clinicians in a specialized area of nursing practice. The specialty may be identified in terms of:
A Population (e.g. pediatrics, geriatrics, women’s health)
A Setting (e.g. critical care, emergency room)
A Disease or Medical Subspecialty (e.g. diabetes, oncology)
A Type of Care (e.g. psychiatric, rehabilitation)
A Type of Problem (e.g. pain, wounds, stress)
Clinical Nurse Specialists practice in a wide variety of health care settings.
In addition to providing direct patient care, Clinical Nurse Specialists influence care outcomes by providing expert consultation for nursing staffs and by implementing improvements in health care delivery systems.
Clinical Nurse Specialist practice integrates nursing practice, which focuses on assisting patients in the prevention or resolution of illness, with medical diagnosis and treatment of disease, injury and disability.
Research about Clinical Nurse Specialist practice demonstrates
outcomes such as:
Reduced Hospital Costs and Length of Stay
Reduced Frequency of Emergency Room Visits
Improved Pain Management Practices
Increased Patient Satisfaction with Nursing Care
Reduced Medical Complications in Hospitalized Patients
An estimated 69,017 RNs have the education and credentials to practice as a clinical nurse specialist (CNS). Approximately 14,643 are qualified to work as a nurse practitioner and a CNS.
Average annual earnings of clinical nurse specialists in 2000: $50,800; up from $41,226 in 1992.
Hope this helps.

I am soon (Dec, 05) to graduate with an MSN/MBA/HCM degree. I am interested in CNS in renal management. How and where can I find additional information? I would appreciate any help. Mary

WashYaHands · Sep 4, 2005

Mary,

The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists might have some information related to your specialty. They have an internet bulletin board where you can ask specific questions and touch base with others in your specialty. The url is http://www.nacns.org . My specialty is community health, so I can't offer much in the way of clinical expertise or knowledge of renal management.

Congratulations...December is just around the corner.

Linda