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.
The 2018 CNS Census is an online survey designed to capture information about people who identify themselves – or who were, or are being, educated as – CNSs. NACNS is encouraging all nurses who meet those criteria to complete the survey before December 31 of this year. This year, the survey has been tailored so that students can take it easily.
Those who complete the survey will be automatically entered into a drawing to win an Amazon Alexa, donated by Springer Publishing Company, LLC, or one of two certificates for a free webinar from the NACNS 2018-2019 webinar series. (NACNS staff and Board members are not eligible for the drawing.)
“Clinical Nurse Specialists are on the frontlines of our nation’s health care delivery system. We are improving care for patients across the country every day by enhancing patient safety, implementing evidence-based patient care, reducing health care costs and much more,” said Anne Hysong, MSN, APRN, CCNS, ACNS-BC, 2018-2019 NACNS Board President. “This is the only survey that focuses exclusively on what we do. It is tremendously valuable and NACNS uses it to describe the population of CNSs and to differentiate what CNSs do. This information benefits our health care system, health care consumers and CNSs themselves. I urge everyone who has been educated or is currently being educated as a CNS to contribute to our census by taking the survey.”
Results of the 2018 CNS Census will be published in the Clinical Nurse Specialist: The Journal for Advanced Nursing Practice and on the NACNS website in early 2019.
Key findings from the 2014 CNS Census and the 2016 CNS Census are available on the NACNS website.
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Founded in 1995, The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists is the only association representing the clinical nurse specialist (CNS). CNSs are advanced practice registered nurses who work in a variety of specialties to ensure high-quality, evidence-based, patient-centered care. As leaders in health care settings, CNSs provide direct patient care and lead initiatives to improve care and clinical outcomes, and reduce costs. NACNS is dedicated to advancing CNS practice and education, removing certification and regulatory barriers, and assuring the public access to quality CNS services. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.