What is the difference?

I am Critical care CNS. I cover 5 units right now, as one of the three of us resigned..getting married, moving back closer to home, etc...So, myself and the other CNS divided up her units....

I have 2 ICU's and 3 Tele units....That I cover...mostly staff competencies, staff education....Lots of committees (loads of fun)...Peer review cases to do, clinical risk review cases to review, policies/procedures to review, new nurses/PCT's to see and do their initial schedule and get them a preceptor...skills day which we have 7-8 times a year....lastly, the internship that we do twice a year....So it is a lot of work....I rarely do patient care anymore...I miss it sometimes and the 3 days a week too.....Good luck to all those who are thinking about CNS track...I enjoyed mine, so much I am in PhD program.....Best of luck.....

Is there much of a difference between ARNP and CNS salary?

You can follow the path you choose with either path. The biggest difference is prescriptive privileges. Not all states allow CNS to obtain them. However, in Indiana, with the appropriate preparation and continuing education, it is possible. I do agree that the primary roles of clinical nurse specialists have always been research and teaching, but there is also a huge amount of family contact. A MSN is required entry level into practice except for those persons grandfathered in years ago. You can do an ASN to MSN bridge for either degree. You need to think about how you want to work with young women in preventing pregnancy. If a school based clinic is what you are interested in and you want to prescribe the meds, then a PNP is the right choice. However, if you want to be more of a sounding board, community liasion, educator about birth control, then you might want to think CNS. Either major has a ANCC certification examination. There is also now talk about making a clinical doctorate a prerequisite for either role.I hope this helps. PS, I love my CNS role with children with developmental disabilities. Good luck.:balloons:

Alicia

There is also now talk about making a clinical doctorate a prerequisite for either role.

Is this possible prereq. a nation-wide issue? Meaning that in order to function as ANP or CNS you must completed your PhD? :imbar

Hi

Im still a bit confused about the difference between Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist. I have a Bachelor in Nursing from Europe and would like to get a Master in the US. I want to become a acute or anesthetic nurse, so should I be a NP or a CNS...dont understand and hope that someone can tell/gudie me about which one is the best to chose if I want to become acute or a anesthetic nurse..

thanks!