What is a Clinical Nurse Specialist? Brief Overview of CNS:
A Clinical Nurse Specialist is a Registered Nurse who has completed master’s level or doctorate level education as a CNS. Most Clinical Nurse Specialists are also considered Advanced Practice Nurses (APN).A CNS is considered a “specialist” because their education is focused, or specialized, in a certain medical specialty, (e.g. orthopedics, oncology) or a particular medical setting, (critical care, ER) or a patient population such as pediatrics or geriatrics.
Job Responsibilities of Clinical Nurse Specialists:
The highly focused training and education provided to Clinical Nurse Specialists qualifies them for more in-depth involvement and improvement of the healthcare delivery system. Therefore, the role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist usually goes beyond patient care. A CNS may consult, educate, or evaluate their respective department and staff within it for quality improvement, and to increase efficiencies, and reduce medical errors. CNS nurses may also work in community outreach, educating patients to improve their compliance, lifestyle, and satisfaction with their health and health care.Certification for Clinical Nurse Specialists:
A certification for CNS is available for some CNS specialties, but not all of them. The certifying board varies based on the specialty in which a CNS is seeking certification.For a complete list of specialties and certifications, visit the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists.
