WASHINGTON, D.C. – National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) Board President Anne Hysong, MSN, APRN, CCNS, ACNS-BC, today commended President Trump for signing the Substance Use- Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act into law. Calling opioid misuse a “massive public health emergency that is devastating families and communities,” Hysong praised Congress and the Trump administration for coming together to enact this historic law, which she said is “a measure the country urgently needs.”
Year: 2018
Clinical Nurse Specialists Leader Commends Congress for ‘Potentially Life-Saving Move’ in Allowing APRNs to Prescribe Buprenorphine
Statement of National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) Board President Anne Hysong, MSN, APRN, CCNS, ACNS-BC
“Congress took a vitally important step to reduce the terrible toll our country’s opioid crisis is taking by expanding the health care providers who can treat opioid use disorder by prescribing buprenorphine. Clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) are among the advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) added to the list of buprenorphine-prescribing providers in the legislation the conference committee reported. This is a potentially life-saving move that will allow CNSs to use their skills, expertise and clinical knowledge to help end this devastating condition.
Esteemed Panel Composed of Leading Nursing, Health Experts Met to Revise, Validate Clinical Nurse Specialist Statement
In late July, more than 20 leaders from diverse nursing and health groups held a day-long meeting in Arlington, Virginia to validate the content of the Draft Revised Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Statement on Clinical Nursing Specialist Practice and Education, 3rd Edition. The Draft, which took three years to develop, was shaped by a panel of CNSs that included experts in education, practice and research. The final version of the Statement will provide guidance on the role of the CNS and the use of educational guidelines and core competencies in education and practice.
House Passage of Nursing Workforce Bill a ‘Major Step to Improve the Nation’s Health
Statement of National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS)
Board President Anne Hysong, MSN, APRN, CCNS, ACNS-BC
“The House of Representatives took a major step to improve the nation’s health today by reauthorizing the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Act of 2017 (H.R. 959) and by affirmatively including clinical nurse specialists – expert clinicians with advanced education and training in a specialized area of nursing practice – in the bill. This legislation will bolster the country’s nursing workforce by supporting education for a new generation of nurses and nurse leaders. With our health care system in transition, and health care needs growing due to our aging population, the fact that people are living longer but with more chronic health problems, and the shortage of primary care providers, we need to do all we can to support nurse education.
Leading Nursing Association Selects Virtual, Inc. to Provide Association Management Services
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has selected Virtual, Inc. as the association’s new management service and support team. The transition is effective today. NACNS is a widely respected membership organization devoted to advancing the unique expertise and values the clinical nurse specialist brings to delivering high-quality, evidence-based, patient-centered care and to reducing the cost of health care delivery. With more than 2,000 members, NACNS represents the more than 70,000 clinical nurse specialists working in hospitals and health systems, clinics and ambulatory settings and colleges and universities today.
National Nursing Leader Commends House for Passing the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, Urges Senate to Quickly Do the Same
WASHINGTON, D.C. – At a time when the opioid epidemic is taking a terrible toll, the House of Representatives took an important step forward Friday by passing H.R. 6, the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act by an overwhelming, bipartisan margin of 396-14. Section 303 of this massive bill makes permanent the authorization for nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe medication-assisted treatments (MATs) and expands that authorization to include clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse midwives and certified registered nurse anesthetists for five years.
National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists Opens 2018 Workforce Survey
Biennial Census of Clinical Nurse Specialists Tracks Education, Practice, Demographics
In what settings do Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) work? In what specialties do they provide care? Are most CNSs authorized to prescribe medication and/or medical equipment? What are the demographic characteristics of those in the field?
To answer those and other questions, the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) has opened its third biennial census of Clinical Nurse Specialists. The data collected about those in this field will be used to inform policy and practice agendas. It is the only source of workforce data on the CNS.
Nursing Association Invites Comments on Updated Statement on Education and Practice of Clinical Nurse Specialists
The National Association for Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) recently opened the public comment period for the Draft Revised CNS Statement on Clinical Nurse Specialist Practice and Education, third edition.
Clinical Nurse Specialists Inspire, Innovate and Influence
Statement of Anne Hysong, MSN, APRN, CCNS, ACNS-BC, 2018-2019 NACNS Board President
“The National Nurses Week theme this year, that nurses inspire, innovate and influence, is the description of what Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) do every day. The nation’s 72,000 CNSs are proud to be part of a profession that is on the frontlines of our country’s health care delivery system, has won the public’s trust and is improving care for patients across the country every day.
National Nursing Organization Offers ‘Next Best Option’ to Certify FALS Clinical Nurse Specialists
A recent report from the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) Family Across the Lifespan (FALS) Crosswalk task force recommends allowing FALS clinical nurse specialists acquire certification for state licensure by passing both the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) adult/gerontology and pediatric certification examinations. The NACNS Board of Directors and the task force note the recommendation is a proxy for a FALS population-specific CNS certification examination until such time that a valid and reliable FALS test and/or certification process is established.