Year: 2023


NACNS Shows a Strong Start to 2023

There have been so many great things happening that it’s hard to believe that the year is half over. Thanks to the hard work of the membership, we’ve scored a lot of wins we can all feel proud of so far. As people wind down for summer vacations, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on all that we’ve accomplished in the first half of the year.

In this article, we’ll talk about new committees, a new scholarship, a great conference, education updates, and the regulatory and legislative work we’ve done.

Two New Committees to Encourage Younger Members

In 2023, we started the Next Gen committee to build public awareness of the CNS role using Instagram and TikTok. Their second meeting took place on July 21, and they’re already excited about helping to promote the role on these wildly popular social platforms — stay tuned for the links.

The Novice to Exceptional Transformational (N.E.X.T.) CNSs also started this year, with their first meeting coming soon – and we’ll be sure to announce it. N.E.X.T. CNSs includes our 300 CNS student members and over 80 transition-to-practice members — our highest numbers ever for these groups. 

The committee is about helping new CNSs transition into their careers. Experienced CNSs nurture and mentor them, teach leadership skills, and provide all kinds of tips to help them launch their careers. Samantha Knight, a CNS student, is their first facilitator.

Annual Conference was a Huge Success

In March, our annual conference saw one of our highest attendance numbers yet. We had over 120 podium presentations including 12 pharmacology presentations. The increase in pharmacology presentations will only continue with the shifting paradigm of CNS practice to prescribing roles. We hope to have 25 pharmacology presentations at the next conference in New Orleans (March 10-13 2024).

Encouraging Diversity

In June, NACNS President Mitzi Saunders was a guest on a webinar for the National Association of Hispanic Nurses — an organization with thousands of members in 40 local chapters. You can watch the video on YouTube, moderated by Mayra Garcia, who is a CNS.

We had an extra 20 minutes of excellent questions at the end. A few of the people who attended are interested in the CNS role and have reached out to us to get more information or to get started. We need more diversity in the CNS role, and with this video, we are trying to do our part!

A New Partnership for Stronger Practice

The Helene Fuld Health Trust National Institute for Evidence-based Practice in Nursing and Healthcare promotes improved evidence-based practice (EBP) implementation science. NACNS has signed a contract with them for a partnership to assess the strengths and weaknesses of our members in terms of implementation science. A timeline is being worked on for a January 2024 rollout (keep an eye out at that time for a webinar signup).

To support this initiative, ex-officio board member and CNS Journal Editor Jan Fulton and a small strategic planning group have led the creation of a new Center of Excellence for Implementation Science. This Center will lead the execution of improvement initiatives once we’ve worked with the Helene Fuld team to understand our needs. This is a big opportunity to grow our strengths in this regard.

Finding New Ways to Share Our Census Data

Very soon we’ll be sharing two highly visual infographics that will introduce a storytelling element to the results of our 2022 census. Once you have them, we encourage you to share them, print them, and post them where you work as a conversation starter.

One of the most significant takeaways about the Census is the wonderful level of engagement. COVID hurt nursing badly, and some nurses even left the profession. Not everyone embraces a situation like this and tries to help, but our CNSs stepped forward.

Similarly, for the last three years, CNSs have ranked higher in career satisfaction than any other group (RN, LPN, NP, NM, NA, and CNS) in the Medscape survey; they saw the need for more nursing support. CNSs come to this career because they want to make a change happen, and there was no better time to do that than during COVID.

Partnership with Consultant on NACNS Messaging

Dr. Winifred Quinn of AARP is a non-nurse consultant with expertise in communications who assists nurses in practicing to the limit of their education. We’re working with her on primary target audiences and messaging.

She recommended that we highlight patient and family outcomes. She also recommended that we target the roles who are the ultimate decision-makers about using CNSs in healthcare systems: CFOs and CEOs. They are responsible for the financial health of their businesses, so we need to showcase the financial wins that CNSs are able to achieve. 

New Scholarship

The Katie Brush Critical Care CNS Scholarship was created in honor of Katie Brush, who suddenly passed in 2007. She was a strong CNS advocate, an NACNS board member, and critical care clinical nurse specialist for over ten years at Massachusetts General. We will announce this year’s awardees very soon.

Regulatory Action and Wins

New Position Statements

We created two new position statements: Entry for CNS Practice Position Statement and Clinical Nurse Specialist Full Practice Authority, with a third paper submitted for comments from our members. Two more are coming soon, one on title and role protection and the other on our position on compact states. In a nutshell, we’re for the concept of being able to practice in multi-state groups, but against the red tape that means we have to do more work to do what we do. 

ANA Hill Day

On June 15, NACNS members supported the American Nurses Association for ANA Hill Day. Linda Thurby-Hay, our secretary-treasurer, was on-site to formally represent NACNS, along with an enthusiastic group that included Pamela Moss, board members, CNS at Johns Hopkins Hospital as well as many other NACNS members.

This was our first year organizing a group to attend, but everyone who was there have said that they would definitely go again. We’re speaking with the CNS Institute to get funding so that more participants can attend next year. 

We are also looking at organizing also our own “mini” Hill Day. The Legislation and Regulatory Committee is working on this, led by chair and co-chair Elizabeth Duxbury and Elizabeth Hoxie, along with board liaison Rick Bassett.

A Win in Maryland

On May 3, the Governor of Maryland signed a bill giving clinical nurse specialists in the state to have prescriptive authority. While this was not an NACNS-led initiative, it is a huge milestone for CNSs in Maryland and all over the country.

NPI Campaign Continues

The campaign to encourage more CNSs to get NPI numbers continues. This is important because we want to change the Bureau of Labor statistics classification of CNSs from RNs to APRNs. Only when enough CNSs have NPI numbers can we work towards getting the classification corrected.

More Important Ongoing Work

We have many more important goals that we are working on.

Our EDGE learning platform is now in year two, and we have overwhelming engagement on the platform! We have four bundles of courses we’re developing this year, including more pharmacology. We’ll continue to develop courses and webinars and other materials to ensure our members have a convenient way to earn CE credits. It’s all about CNSs teaching CNSs, and we have a lot of talent in the group.

The work towards CNS recruitment and enrollment also continues. We have too few CNSs out there, too few programs, and too few students in those programs. One of the best marketing tools for something like this is word of mouth, so we’re trying to ensure that all of our students feel supported and well-mentored so they spread the word to their friends and colleagues. 

We’re also trying to appear on more podcasts to bring greater visibility to the CNS role.

Stay Connected for All the Latest Updates

There’s still so much to do, and always more to accomplish — but as they say, time flies when you’re having fun. To find out all of our new updates as they happen, follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.


The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists Releases 2022 Census Results

Data Shows Next Generation of CNSs Ready to Improve Healthcare for Everyone

RESTON, Va. – July 25, 2023 – New data shows that clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) want to further expand in order to use all of their training and education, according to results of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) 2022 Census of the CNS profession. The census was co-sponsored by the Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute. 

An infographic based on census data called “Leading the Next Generation: Insights from the 2022 NACNS Census” shows an opportunity for a strong new generation of CNSs with almost 30% intending to retire within the next five years. An infographic of the 2022 census is available. 

CNSs help to improve outcomes for patients and their families, improve skills and workplace experiences for nurses, and improve business efficiency for healthcare providers. Giving physical assessments, diagnosing and prescribing are all part of CNS education and training; however, some states and systems do not take advantage of CNSs’ full ability. 

“The data demonstrates the urge CNSs have to utilize their full potential in the workplace,” said Mitzi Saunders, Ph.D., APRN, ACNS-BC and NACNS president. “Our members confirmed that they want NACNS to support them so they receive role validation, title protection and state recognition. Right now, more than half of the surveyed CNSs feel like they don’t have hospital or healthcare system privileges that match their education and training. These are numbers we are hoping to change in the coming years.” 

NACNS surveys CNSs every four years collecting both demographic and professional data. Over 1,600 CNSs responded to the 2022 survey, with almost 65% being a member of NACNS. 

About the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists

The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) is the only national association representing the clinical nurse specialist (CNS). CNSs are the most versatile advanced practice registered nurses and work in a variety of health care specialties to ensure the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based, patient-centered care. As leaders in the acute, post-acute, and ambulatory health care settings, CNSs impact direct patient care, nurses and nursing practice, and organizations and systems to optimize care and drive outstanding clinical outcomes. NACNS is dedicated to advancing CNS practice and education, and removing unnecessary and limiting regulatory barriers while assuring public access to quality CNS services. Learn more and discover the benefits of joining the NACNS.

Media Contact
Jennifer Priest
NACNS Public Relations
jpriest@virtualinc.com


“Be a Part of the Next Generation of Clinical Nurse Specialists” Webinar with NACNS, Hosted by the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN)

NAHN and NACNS invite you to explore the field of the clinical nurse specialist and all the opportunities within the role. Clinical nurse specialists (CNS) are leaders in healthcare. Like other advanced practice registered nurses, they are trained in advanced physiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment in addition to their particular areas of specialty. They can diagnose, treat, prescribe, and bill like other APRNs as their state regulations allow.

This 60-minute webinar discusses:

  • The CNS role and the many ways it is operationalized at the APRN level
  • CNS education and how it prepares graduates
  • The differences in RN and APRN practice
  • Why a CNS program is the best choice for most nurses seeking graduate-level education
  • How to identify CNS programs and the next steps to apply

Moderators include Mayra Garcia, DNP, APRN, PCNS-BC and Crystal Loucel, RN, PHN, CDCES, HWNC-BC, AHN-BC, MPH, MS. The speaker is Mitzi M. Saunders, PhD, APRN, ACNS-BC, President, National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS).


The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists Opposes Recent Policy by the American Medical Association House of Delegates to License and Regulate APRNs

Mitzi M. Saunders, PhD, APRN, ACNS-BC, president of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) and the Board of Directors issued the following statement strongly opposing the American Medical Association House of Delegates (AMA HOD) recent policy that “certified nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists, certified nurse midwives, and clinical nurse specialists shall be licensed and regulated jointly by the state medical and nursing boards.”1(p7)

NACNS embraces collective decision-making based on the best available evidence, health care needs of the present and future, and respect for multiple perspectives before solutions are considered.2 The above referenced policy1 was thoroughly reviewed and provides no existing evidence that oversight by state medical boards at any level of nursing practice would benefit patient outcomes. Such oversight could lead to increasing health care access challenges, increasing health care disparities, and a worsening of patient outcomes created by unnecessary regulation from the boards of medicine in an attempt to govern advanced nursing practice. Professions are autonomous in regulating their own ethical standards, competencies of practice, regulations, and legal standards that align with their educational, certification, and licensure requirements. Nursing is a highly regulated and trusted profession practiced at various levels (RN and APRN) and therefore, only nursing truly understands how to effectively regulate nursing practice.

At this point in time, there is no foundational evidence to support the AMA HOD’s policy. Regulation of nursing licensure (even joint regulation) by a profession outside of nursing poses unnecessary oversight, the risk for incorrect regulation, and potential for harm to patients which must remain central in all decisions that impact nursing practice. The cost of making decisions based on opinions, emotions, beliefs, and preferences instead of evidence-informed decisions might have devastating results for patients.

Respectfully,
NACNS Board of Directors

References

  1. Geline, R. American Medical Association House of Delegates (A-23) Report of Reference Committee B. Accessed June 23, 2023. https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/a23-refcomm-b-annotated.pdf
  2. National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. Mission and Goals. Accessed June 23, 2023. https://nacns.org/about-us/mission-and-goals/

Ask Mitzi Anything: How to Create a CNS Dashboard & More

Hello readers! This edition read on to hear Mitzi discuss how to create a CNS dashboard, career path advice, if a CNS is considered a nurse practitioner, and more! 

Q: Do you have any specific recommendations for how to create a CNS dashboard?

Yes, start with what you know as baseline data. Know your exact product of CNS intervention. Is it patient satisfaction, nurse satisfaction, reducing length of stay, reducing readmission rates in complex patients, prescribing medications to decrease inefficiencies in care, completion of major projects as project lead, etc.? What are your products? Get the data from the last 12 months (LTM). Put it in a table. Then, start recording data every month on the same day. Your interventions should be clearly listed out as well. That way, over the months, you will know which interventions work the best and which are not moving the dial to the better (pivot time). Dashboards are critical and every CNS regardless of role or title should be using them and updating them every month. 

Q: As a current LVN in California taking psychology online for my bachelor’s, what would recommend I do next? Whether I’m able to start now or after achieving my degree?

I assume LVN stands for Licensed Vocational Nurse. You would need your RN at minimum to enter a graduate nursing program. The minimum level is BSN but some programs allow an RN (non-BSN) to MSN bridge in that a gap analysis is undertaken to see if you have completed enough courses or work experience in research, leadership, and community based nursing. Those are key components that differentiate the bachelor’s and non-bachelor’s degree in nursing. You will need to first address the BSN component and qualifications. It can be done but will take some work on your part to meet with a CNS program director to figure it out. See our CNS program directory for assistance in locating an all online program or a face-to-face program near you. 

Q: Is a CNS still considered a nurse practitioner?

No, a CNS is not considered a nurse practitioner (NP) and an NP is not a CNS. The two are unique APRN roles and titles. However, the CNS can do the advanced direct care role much the same as the NP as training in CNS programs is similar in that way. 

Q: Are affiliates permitted to accept non-CNSs (i.e. other APRN roles) into their affiliate group meetings?

That all depends on the affiliate’s definition of membership in their Bylaws. I suggest you get a copy of the Bylaws and go from there. Next, talk to the President of the affiliate about any concerns you have. You mention “meetings” – that is a big “it depends” and up to the leadership to decide who attends meetings and again, based on the Bylaws. 

For more information, feel free to reach out to Mitzi at (734) 355-2792. 

 


Get to Know Your New President, Mitzi Saunders

“Dr. Mitzi, as her students call her, has been a CNS since 1994 and an NACNS Board member since 2019. She has worked directly with thousands of patients, has authored or co-authored over forty research studies, and is now a tenured professor at the University of Detroit Mercy. You can read more about her credentials and career in her bio and connect with her on LinkedIn.

She started her NACNS presidency in March 2023, and declared that her main goals are to increase the number of CNSs, while ensuring the role has title protection and full prescription privileges.

We asked Mitzi about her work as a CNS, making the shift to academia, and why the work of NACNS is so important.

Q: Why did you decide to become a CNS?

Mitzi:  I started out as a travel nurse, but I was looking for more from my career. Like many nurses, I stumbled into the clinical nurse specialist role because there aren’t as many programs as possible for us. I knew that I didn’t want to be a nurse practitioner, because the role did not meet my needs for complex patient care and acute care. 

I had to do a little bit more searching around, but I found a program here in Detroit. I checked into their CNS program and it had exactly what I wanted, including being a practitioner, researcher, consultant — it had all these roles that I thought were just fascinating and so exciting.

I just felt like I could make a bigger difference at the patient-family level and beyond, with nurses, with the system, using all those business skills that you learn in a CNS program. I think that’s what draws most nurses to the CNS role. 

Q: Talk to us about your work with vulnerable patients at the level-one trauma center in Detroit. How did you try to make a difference as a CNS?

Mitzi: These were mostly very poor individuals, so they typically did not have insurance. When they came in, many already had very progressive diagnoses of heart failure or cancer, or something else that hadn’t been treated.

Many of them were at the point of end-of-life care because they didn’t have the resources to see a doctor, they hadn’t gotten an early diagnosis, and sometimes they weren’t following up with care.

Every patient that we saw required a lot of education, and it required a skillful way of finding low-cost medications, because if they weren’t affordable they probably wouldn’t be able to afford or take them. We also had to be so careful about any strong side effects, because it would also mean they wouldn’t take their meds.

I worked with a wonderful group of six physicians and six clinical nurse specialists. We would do four days in acute care in the hospital setting and one day in the clinic. On that one day in the clinic, we would see all the patients from the hospital who did not have a doctor. 

The physicians gave us full authority to diagnose and prescribe. They would see the patients in the emergency room, make the initial diagnosis and establish the plan. Then I would see their patients from that point on.

I know that many people in healthcare would say, “Oh, that sounds like nurse practitioner work.” But I really wore the hat of a CNS, because I was always thinking about outcomes and efficiency, and how I could progress patients through the system at a lower cost, and change the trajectory of care for a population.

One example of this efficiency was in my work with newly diagnosed heart failure patients. They typically needed treatment over five days, but I was able to get it down to four days through new ways of being really efficient and doing teaching from day one.

The other CNSs and I put together a report to show the value of our work, we were able to show that we saved four times over our salaries every quarter. We were just so good about making sure that none of the services were duplicated and ordering the right tests. We also knew the cost of everything, like MRIs and CAT scans. We were so careful about everything that we did, so that we were able to treat these people and the hospital did not lose money. What that meant was that we could treat more patients who couldn’t otherwise afford care.

We also had so many things going on besides just seeing patients, including presenting at conferences and running research studies. But it was the full breadth of what you think of as a CNS.

When you have the CNS training and full privileges to diagnose and prescribe, that’s the kind of difference that you can make.

I also worked with dementia patients. Like heart failure, dementia is fairly common: typically 50% of older persons over the age of 85 have dementia. My most recent National Institute of Health-funded study was on women caregivers whose husbands with dementia had passed away, and I’ve presented it at several venues.

Because of all my research, Springer Publishing came to me last year and asked me to write a book on family caregiving of adults with a gerontology focus. It’s called “Nursing Interventions for Family Caregivers”, and it will be out in 2024. It will feature at least 20 chapters from CNS authors to highlight the role of the CNS in family caregiver care. 

Q: You were fully credentialed and privileged in most of your roles. Can you explain a little bit about what that means for patients and health care systems? 

Mitzi: To be fully credentialed means that you’ve been through an academic program that has prepared you for the role of a CNS, and it’s prepared you to take the national certification exam. As long as you maintain those credentials, those would be the minimum standard for gaining privileges. In order to gain privileges, most states require that you’ve had training in the three Ps: advanced physical assessment, advanced pathophysiology and advanced pharmacology. 

This can be an issue because in some areas, nurses are given the title of clinical nurse specialist, but they haven’t had the full training. If we’re going to be able to prove the value of this role, everyone has to have the same level of training.

Being privileged means that you are qualified to assess the patient and prescribe medication or specialty equipment. To become privileged, you need to have had those foundational courses I mentioned, which now include lots of clinical hours associated with the practice of diagnosing and prescribing. So all of our students now are fully prepared to go into those privileged roles if the health care system offers them. 

Q: What made you decide to make the switch over to academia?

Mitzi: I happened to see a need for an instructor for medical surgical nursing at the University of Detroit Mercy, which I was qualified to do. It would allow me to use all my years in the trenches, and my experience doing research. Plus, I’ve always loved to educate, so it was a perfect fit for me. To make a long story short, I got hired.

I’ve always loved research, and any academic work requires that you to do research. During that time, I also went back and got my Ph.D. in nursing, so I really understood research well.

Q: Can you tell me about your work getting title protection and prescriptive authority for CNSs is in Michigan?

Mitzi:  It took us about four years to get title protection and prescriptive authority. 

At the time I was the secretary of the Michigan Clinical Nurse Specialist organization. I was working with a small team and we were on call constantly, ready to meet with legislatures whenever they wanted us to come forward to give testimony. We were on pins and needles for years to get that through legislation.

Part of what worked was finding the right legislative partners who wanted this for us, including the nurse practitioner organization here in Michigan. It’s a more powerful group, with more members and more money. 

Five years later, however, CNSs in Michigan are still struggling to get prescriptive authority. It became official, but I still only hear of handfuls of CNSs who are actively prescribing.

We need to be prescribers to fill in the gaps and get care for patients, and get it faster. Sometimes, we realize we need something else ordered and done for the patients so they can be discharged, but the physician is nowhere to be found. A CNS could quickly write for things like wheelchairs or diabetes supplies.

Q: What made you decide to run for the NACNS presidency? 

Mitzi:  When I started on the board a few years ago, right away it just felt so right to be at this level, helping to make decisions for the role, which is what the board does. 

I admired Sean Reed’s passion for the role and his style of leadership. It was very empowering and I felt like I could do it too. And that’s what you want to see: a great president that continues to move the organization forward, and makes everyone else want to move things forward too.

Like most other CNSs, I like being in charge of things. That’s why I’ve directed an academic program for years. I’m very comfortable in a leadership role and I have no problem delegating, but also not overdoing it and making sure that the work is equally distributed. I also think I have a good mind for strategic planning.

So three years later, here I am — and so far, I love it. 

What I’ve also learned is you can’t do this alone. What I love about the NACNS is that I always feel like if I can’t do it, I can ask Jennifer Manning, Phyllis Whitehead, Rick Bassett or the board. There will be someone who will be able to help me. 

It’s the strength of the people, the leaders in this organization, that I lean on. And I know if I don’t have an answer, they will.

Q:  Why is the NACNS so important? 

Mitzi:  Well, I think the nursing industry loves the idea that APRNs are filling the physician gap and providing access to care for patients. But, additionally, our nurses and healthcare systems are in desperate need of leadership and support. The CNS often fills those needs but unfortunately, they tend to not get as noticed as the nurse practitioners because of their direct focus on patients. CNSs often provide indirect care and focus on patient outcomes.  

So, unless someone like NACNS is promoting the role, it can be kind of invisible. NACNS knows what we do, and can help us speak to how important it is, and help us to be able to do that more strongly.

The CNS role is vital. We have a crisis in nursing right now, we really do. There’s a nursing shortage, and we could use CNSs everywhere, and we don’t have them. We have oodles of nurse practitioners, and that’s great, but that’s not doing anything about the nursing crisis. We need CNSs more than ever right now. .

What’s great about NACNS is that it is the only association that represents all CNSs. Each day, NACNS works to increase the visibility and influence of CNSs. 

We’re dedicated to advancing CNS practice and education, removing certification and regulatory barriers. Not only do we offer professional development and enhanced leadership possibilities and opportunities to network with other CNSs from around the country, we promote ground-breaking research done by CNSs. This further illustrates how CNSs are instrumental in raising the quality of health care, improving patient safety and reducing the costs of health care delivery.

Q: Looking back on your career so far, what are some of your proudest moments? 

Mitzi:  I think I am most proud of the students I’ve taught. I feel like their successes are my successes too, because I’ve nurtured them through the program. I’ve maintained contact with just about every student that I’ve had, and they let me know when great things happen. They’re like friends now, even though they still call me “Dr. Mitzi”. And I’ll say, “No, you can call me Mitzi now.” But they still keep saying Dr. Mitzi! 

In 2020 I applied for the Best Online Masters Program with the US News and World Report. I knew that in the first two years nothing would happen. But by the third year, I had three years of outcomes and data, and my program went up from the #130 position to #37. 

I am so proud of that, because there are probably a thousand online programs out there in nursing. Plus, I’ve been able to keep my numbers, and I always I keep enough students in this program, which is a lot of work — I do my own marketing and recruiting constantly.

I also think it’s wonderful that I’ve been asked to write a book; that I’ve done enough research and caregiving work to be noticed. Springer Publishing is a very well-known publisher in nursing and medical literature, so I’m very proud of being able to write that book right now. 

Q: Is there anything else that you’d like to share? 

Mitzi:  I came from a family of people who were not educated past high school. But my mother always said, “Be a nurse, help people.” That turned out to be great advice.

I would also say what’s been critical for me is to have a husband who has encouraged me and supported me 100% in everything. I’ve always been a working mom and my sons have seen that, and they respect that. I think they have more respect for women because they’ve watched a mom who worked and went to school, but was still a soccer mom and still supported all their activities. So I think having the support of your family has been critical for me.

Also, I encourage anyone looking for an educational program to become a CNS to visit our NACNS CNS program directory. We invite CNSs to join NACNS and become part of 2,000+ community of members working in hospitals and health systems, clinics and ambulatory settings, colleges, universities, and even non-traditional healthcare settings as entrepreneurs today. The benefits of joining the NACNS far outweigh the costs. The total value of a NACNS annual membership is more than $1,900. Actual membership dues are less than a fraction of that, making NACNS membership and a great way to advance your career and community engagement.

Finally, the best gift is the friendships and work colleagues with some of the best nurses in the profession that you will make. I encourage you to not only join but volunteer and make a difference in your life and the life of all CNSs. I love being a CNS and NACNS!

Connect with Mitzi Saunders on LinkedIn >


Ask Mitzi Anything: How to Become a CNS & More

Hello readers! Our Ask Phee Phee blog series has now transitioned to the Ask Mitzi Anything series with the recent election of Mitzi Saunders, Ph.D., APRN, ACNS-BC, to president. This edition read on to hear Mitzi discuss CNS specialty roles, how to become a CNS and more. 

Q: Is there a CNS palliative care role that exists? What would that job description look like and how do I build the business case for it? 

Yes! There is a specialty CNS role for everything. You could build the case by having nursing experience in working with patients in symptom management and quality of life, and by having a passion and seeing the need for change that would improved patients’ lives. You could build the case by showing a gap in services that you could fill. You could make the case for prescription too by showing how you would fill gaps in patient care. It is all about access to care and improving patient and family outcomes.  

A job description would have you in the patient/family care role everyday consulting on patients through a palliative care consult system, ideally. Then, you would meet directly with patients and families meeting their needs. It would be best to have privileges to prescribe cares, so teaming up with a physician or two would be best. Then, you provide the other two spheres in your job description with nursing support to carry out the treatment plan and time for system level improvement too when you see inefficiencies in meeting the needs of patients with palliative care needs. The three spheres should be in your job description but the most important is the patient sphere and having a caseload of patients you see everyday. Be careful to record your outcomes for a quarterly report to the CNO. 

Q: I am a certified pediatric nurse practitioner by licence and certified pediatric hematology oncology nurse and have been working as a pediatric hematology/oncology CNS for the past 12 years. My institution is hoping to apply for magnet and is requesting that I have official CNS certification. Can you advise the best route for me to take? 

You will need a post-graduate certificate from a pediatric CNS program. You would likely transfer in two of the three Ps and maybe all 3 depending on the program (the three Ps are advanced physical assessment, advanced pathophysiology, and advanced pharmacology). Then, you would take the pediatric CNS courses and 500 clinical hours. I know that sounds tough as you are already in the role, but it would be over in three semesters at best (that is the case for my program but it is an adult-gero post grad certificate). Check out our CNS directory for a program. Lynn Mohr would also be an excellent resource; she has a pediatric program in Chicago and would be happy to help you.

Q: Does NACNS not recognize me as a CNS, since I do not have the three Ps? I graduated from an accredited CNS (MSN) program in 2009. I graduated with a DNP in 2017. 

Yes, you are a CNS. Having the three Ps will be necessary if you are seeking prescriptive authority or privileges to prescribe; but, yes, you are definitely a CNS. 

Q: I hold an MSN in Nursing Education and I am a board certified Advance Diabetes Manager. What are your recommendations for obtaining CNS licensure?

You will need to obtain a post-graduate certificate from one of our very fine programs for post-grad certificate CNSs. But, do check your state board of nursing rules on CNS licensure. Most states protect the title, but a few do not. 

For more information, feel free to reach out to Mitzi at (734) 355-2792. 



United States and Canadian Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Associations Sign Agreement to Increase Visibility of North America’s 93,000 CNSs

The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (U.S.) and the Clinical Nurse Specialist Association of Canada Sign a Memorandum of Understanding

RESTON, Va. – April 4, 2023 – The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) announced today that the organization has signed and renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Clinical Nurse Specialist Association of Canada (CNS-C). The MOU unites North America’s two Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) associations with the joint objective of promoting activities that increase the visibility of the 89,000 US CNSs and over 3,000 Canadian CNSs in North America.  

CNSs are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who have graduate preparation, such as a master’s or a doctorate in nursing. Like other advanced practice registered nurses, US CNSs are trained in advanced physiology, pharmacology and physical assessment in addition to their particular areas of specialty. They are trained to diagnose, treat, prescribe and bill like other APRNs.

The collaboration includes joint legislative and regulatory advocacy as well as marketing activities. Each CNS association will continue to appoint liaisons to meet quarterly with the responsibility of coordinating efforts between the two organizations. 

“Both organizations have similar opportunities and legislative objectives such as advocating for title and role protection and prescriptive and full practice for CNSs,” said past NACNS president Phyllis Whitehead, Ph.D., APRN/CNS, ACHPN, PMGT-BC, FNAP, FCNS.There is strength in working together so that we have a more powerful CNS advocacy network. The continuation of this MOU ensures ongoing collaboration between our associations allowing us to combine efforts and present a united North American strategy to increase the visibility and value of the CNS role while promoting growth and attracting membership engagement for all CNSs.”

“At a time of nursing shortages, supporting the experts in nursing who can support general staff nurses is critically important. This agreement allows clinical specialists in nursing to collaborate and support each other as we support the health care systems of both countries,” said Elsabeth Jensen, RN, BA, Ph.D. (Nursing) and president, CNS-C. “While there are differences between the health care systems in both countries, there are many similarities. The challenges faced by clinical nurse specialists are similar. Sharing strategies for promoting the CNS role will benefit the public and improve health care across the continent. CNSs are uniquely positioned to bring focus and contribute to change in complex health care systems and improve patient and system level outcomes.”

About the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists

The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) is the only national association representing the clinical nurse specialist (CNS). CNSs are the most versatile advanced practice registered nurses and work in a variety of health care specialties to ensure the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based, patient-centered care. As leaders in the acute, post-acute, and ambulatory health care settings, CNSs impact direct patient care, nurses and nursing practice, and organizations and systems to optimize care and drive outstanding clinical outcomes. NACNS is dedicated to advancing CNS practice and education, and removing unnecessary and limiting regulatory barriers while assuring public access to quality CNS services. Learn more and discover the benefits of joining the NACNS.

About the Clinical Nurse Specialist Association of Canada 

The Clinical Nurse Specialist Association of Canada (CNS-C) / Association des infirmières et infirmiers cliniciens spécialisés du Canada (ICS-C) is the only national association representing the clinical nurse specialists (CNS) in Canada. CNS-C officially incorporated in January 2016 and have representatives across the provinces and territories of Canada. CNSs have advanced education and specialized clinical expertise within nursing practice. CNSs provide a leadership platform through which they can impact and influence cost-effective health care system change to support safe, quality care and superior outcomes. In Canada, there is a need to develop more CNS Master in Nursing programs and achieve CNS title protection to ultimately improve patient/client outcomes. For more information or to join CNS-C, please refer to our website. 

For any media inquiries in the US, please contact:
Melissa Bednar
NACNS Public Relations
mbednar@virtualinc.com

For any media inquiries in Canada, please contact:
Elsabeth Jensen
President, CNS-C
elsabethj@gmail.com

Paul-André Gauthier
Executive Member, CNS-C
Membre du Conseil Exécutif, ICS-C
paul_andre_gauthier@hotmail.com


National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists Announces 2023 Award Winners

Only US CNS Association Recognizes Outstanding Professional Excellence

RESTON, Va. – March 17, 2023 – The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) recently announced its 2023 award winners, president, and president-elect. Mitzi Saunders, Ph.D., APRN, ACNS-BC, was elected president and Jennifer Manning, DNS, ACNS-BC, CNE, was elected president-elect of NACNS. Five new board members were also recently elected. 

NACNS is the only US non-profit organization representing the 89,000 clinical nurse specialists (CNS) in our country, and is dedicated to advancing the practice and education of the role. CNSs are one of the four categories of Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN).

Awards were given out to NACNS members and affiliates in the CNS field whose achievements and contributions were outstanding. Award winners were nominated and selected by their peers. More information about the annual NACNS Awards Program can be found on our website

“In order to continue to drive forward the adoption of the CNS role, we need people like these eleven award winners that go above and beyond for their practice,“ said Mitzi Saunders, Ph.D., APRN, ACNS-BC and NACNS president. “I am thrilled to be able to honor these hardworking professionals and all they do for the CNS profession.”

The 2023 NACNS National Award Winners are:

  • Clinical Nurse Specialist of the Year: Marianne Hiles, MSN, RN, APRN-CNS, ACNS-BC, RNC-LRN, C-EFM, FCNS
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist Academic Faculty Award: Jackeline Iseler, DNP, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC, CNE
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist Evidence-Based Practice / Quality Improvement of the Year Award: Misty Lamprecht, MS, APRN-CNS, AOCN, BMTCN
  • Armed Forces Clinical Nurse Specialist of the Year Award: Major Kenneth Romito, DNP, APRN, AGCNS-BC, CNOR, CSSM
  • Rising Star Clinical Nurse Specialist of the Year Award: Matthew Keyes, MS, RN, CNS, ACCNS-AG, AGCNS-BC
  • NACNS Affiliate of the Year Award: North Carolina Affiliate of NACNS
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist Mentor of the Year Award: Kellie Capes, DNP, RN, AGCNS-BC, PCCN, CMSRN
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist Preceptor of the Year Award: Marcia Cornell, DNP, APRN-CNS, RN, ACNS-BC, NPD-BC, CEN, TCRN
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist Entrepreneur/Intrapreneur of the Year Award: Lisa Soltis, MSN, RN-BC, APRN, PCCN-K, CCRN-CSC-CMC, CCNS, CES-A, FCCM, FCNS
  • Sue B. Davidson Service Award: Dianna J. Copley, MSN, APRN, ACCNS-AG, CCRN
  • Brenda Lyon Leadership Award: Erica Fischer-Cartlidge, DNP, RN, AOCNS, EBP-C
  • President’s Award: Jan Powers, Ph.D., RN, CCNS, CCRN, NE-BC, FCCM, FAAN

About the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists

The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) is the only national association representing the clinical nurse specialist (CNS). CNSs are the most versatile advanced practice registered nurses and work in a variety of health care specialties to ensure the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based, patient-centered care. As leaders in the acute, post-acute, and ambulatory health care settings, CNSs impact direct patient care, nurses and nursing practice, and organizations and systems to optimize care and drive outstanding clinical outcomes. NACNS is dedicated to advancing CNS practice and education, and removing unnecessary and limiting regulatory barriers while assuring public access to quality CNS services. Learn more and discover the benefits of joining the NACNS.